Lameness is a pain-avoidance strategy adopted by horses, and is a common cause of poor athletic performance and compromised welfare.  Whatever the precise cause of pain (e.g. osteoarthritis,  tendon injury), that pain is caused by inflammation.  Inflammation is the cascade of chemical and cellular events that occurs following any type of tissue damage. By causing pain it alerts […]

Infundibular Caries is the name given to a condition affecting the upper molars of some horses. Horses have many adaptations in their teeth designed to help with the rough nature of their diet. One of these adaptations is the ‘infundibulum’. This is simply an extra area of enamel, one of the hardest compounds found in […]

Colic Colic is a collection of clinical signs shown by a horse that indicate abdominal discomfort. Changes in management, especially if not made gradually, can precipitate episodes of colic. At this time of year, horses undergo a significant management change, coming in from pasture to spend prolonged periods of time in their stable. Therefore, we […]

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an advanced imaging tool that is widely used in the veterinary and human healthcare fields. MRI has been developed for use on our equine patients and has been found to be invaluable in helping us to attain specific, accurate diagnoses for our patients. Did you know? Using MRI early on in […]

Pinworm (Oxyuris equi) infection is manifest by affected horses itching their peri-anal and tailhead regions. Adult worms reside in the large intestine with the female worm travelling down the small colon to lay eggs on the skin surrounding the anus (often indicated by a yellow discharge as seen in photo one below). This usually causes intense irritation manifest […]

Colic is the term used to describe abdominal pain. This is usually from the gastrointestinal tract but can be from any abdominal organ (e.g. the ovaries). Colic signs include curling of the top lip, pawing the ground, flank watching, rolling, increased recumbency (lying down) and change in the amount and/or consistency of droppings. Most cases […]