Horse Health Guide
Colic kills more horses than any other condition — and most owners miss the early signs until it's too late. Complete guide: the 5 equine emergencies every owner must recognize, vaccine protocols, deworming strategy, dental care, and the annual wellness schedule.
⚠️ COLIC — The #1 Killer: Know the Signs
Colic is not a disease — it's a symptom of abdominal pain that can be caused by gas, impaction, displacement, torsion (twisted gut), or enteroliths. Torsion/volvulus = FATAL within hours without emergency surgery. Red flags: pawing, looking at flank, rolling, no gut sounds, no manure, elevated heart rate, sweating, lying down and getting up repeatedly. A horse with colic that rolls violently may have a twisted gut — CALL THE VET IMMEDIATELY. While waiting: walk the horse (prevents rolling), remove all food, and monitor vitals every 15 minutes.
🏥 The 5 Equine Emergencies — Know These
- Colic: See above. #1 killer. Time = survival.
- Laminitis/Founder: Heat in hooves + bounding digital pulse + "sawhorse stance" (rocking back on heels to relieve toe pain). Remove from grass, call vet immediately.
- Choke: Esophageal obstruction — food stuck, green/brown discharge from nose, coughing, panic. Remove food, keep calm, call vet. NEVER occurs in the trachea — horse can still breathe.
- Tying-Up (Exertional Rhabdomyolysis): Stiff, painful muscles after exercise, reluctance to move, dark brown urine. Stop exercise immediately, keep warm, call vet.
- Eye Injury: Squinting, tearing, cloudiness. ANY eye problem is an emergency — hours matter. Do NOT apply random ointments.
💉 Core Vaccines (ANNUAL — Non-Negotiable)
- Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE): Mosquito-borne — 90% fatality rate. Annual spring booster.
- Tetanus: Soil bacteria enters through wounds — 80% fatality rate. Annual booster.
- West Nile Virus: Mosquito-borne — 30% fatality. Annual spring booster.
- Rabies: Fatal, zoonotic (transmissible to humans). Annual booster.
🦷 Dental — Annual Float Mandatory
Horses' teeth erupt continuously (~2-3 mm/year) and wear unevenly, creating sharp enamel points that cut the cheeks and tongue. Annual dental float (rasping down sharp points) is mandatory. Signs of dental pain: dropping feed (quidding), weight loss, head tossing, resisting the bit. Senior horses (20+) may need dental every 6 months.
🪱 Deworming — Strategic, Not Rotational
The old "rotate dewormers every 8 weeks" approach created drug-resistant parasites. Modern approach: fecal egg count (FEC) 2× yearly — only deworm horses with high egg counts. Target specific parasites with the right drug at the right time. Ivermectin in spring/fall for bots, praziquantel for tapeworms (fall), moxidectin for encysted small strongyles (winter).