In cold seasons, salt helps promote enough water consumption to prevent dehydration. In warm seasons, salt replaces what is lost from perspiration.

For a long time tapeworms (Anoplocephala perfoliata) were not thought to cause problems in horses. Then some studies, notably in England, found an association between tapeworms and certain types of colic. Other studies have not confirmed a link.

Identification of a new pregnancy-supporting hormone in horses has resolved a reproductive mystery that has puzzled scientists for decades, and it may have important implications for sustaining human pregnancies, reports a team of researchers, led by a UC Davis veterinary scientist.

Equine Cushing’s disease, scientifically referred to as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), is typically an age-related neurodegenerative disorder. Many horses will develop Cushing’s as they get older, but the symptoms come on so gradually, the disease often goes unrecognized.

This is a wonderful time of year when foals are born. But when pregnancy and foaling don’t go as expected, this can be a worrisome and difficult time for horse owners. Foals can be susceptible to many illnesses, and recognizing the first signs of disease can be vital to successful treatment and care. Dr. Abraham will detail what to expect in a normal foal, how to recognize illnesses, and explain diseases that can affect young foals.

Gastrointestinal pain, generally referred to as colic, has been estimated to occur in 2.8–6% of horses following general anesthesia for elective procedures, the most common cause being impaction of the large intestine or caecum.

It confirms that hindlimb lameness is the most important cause of saddle slip and reveals a startling frequency of lameness in the general sports horse population.