Horse Diseases
Ringbone
Ringbone
Signs
If ringbone is caused by injury and seen in early stages, there will be evidence of heat, swelling
, pain on pressure, lameness. Ring bone resulting from poor conformation may develop slowly over long periods.
Many cases not diagnosed until horse shows signs of lameness. Closer examination reveals bony
swelling varying in size, seen and felt on pastern.
Causes
Condition not inherited but conformation that predisposes horse to ringbone is inherited.
Short or long upright pasterns increase concussion impact on the bone, causes inflammatory
reaction on its surface, stimulates a bony growth or swelling.
Toe in and toe out conformation predispose one side of pastern or the other to excessive strain.
In turn causes ligament and joint capsule strain or tearing, sets up inflammation where ligaments or capsule are attached to bone.
Injury such as a kick or blow to pastern can trigger off ring bone condition. Diet low in calcium
and high in phosphorus can also be predisposing cause.
Treatment
Consult veterinary advice. Stop all exercise and minimise movement by confining horse
to stable. Cold hosing and poultices will help to reduce inflammation. With the aid of an
X-ray, the veterinarian will vary treatment according to position, size and nature of the
ringbone.
Check the affected horse's diet and correct any calcium phosphorus imbalance.
Horse Diseases
Roaring
WhistlingThis is a diseased condition of the throat, due to paralysis of the muscles of the left side of the larynx. Whistling is a modified form of roaring
Symptoms
The horse makes a loud, roaring noise when breathing in, when exerted sound is greatly increased,
there is neither sound nor difficulty when breathing out.
Shows distress in long sustained gallop.
The only successful treatment is surgery
Ringworm
Signs
Lesions begin as circular areas of raised hair. Hair becomes brittle, falls out about 10 days after infection. Circular clumps of hair can be plucked out. Common sites of infection are head, girth and shoulders.
Causes
Ringworm may be spread by humans, contaminated boots, girths, rugs, other tack and grooming gear.
Direct contact is also a cause, one infected horse infects another where body contact is possible.
Disease may also be spread by indirect contact, infected horse rubs against fence,
depositing fungi in loose hair that can infect healthy horse if it rubs in same place.
Flies, mosquitoes and other biting insects can be responsible for spread of ringworm.
Ringworm
Treatment
Horse's with ringworm usually regarded as contagious for 3 weeks from time of infection,
thoroughly wash infected horse daily in iodine-based scrub. Gently lift and remove any loose
scab or crust when washing,any loose hair, should be collected and burned after washing, dab hairless areas with iodine.
Isolate horse from any other non infected horses.
Do not use on any healthy horse the tack
or grooming gear used on infected horse. Contact your veterinarian for further treatment.