It is hard for many owners to see their horse as stressed and even more true for pet owners. This is a hard concept to grasp for some reason but likely stems to our perception of what stress is, attempting to relate our lives to theirs. […]
The Horse, Stress, and Their Health Read More »
Skin problems are very common in the world of veterinary medicine and likely impact the horse just as much as any other species, including humans and companion pets. The skin is an organ system of itself and at the mercy of other organ systems. They must
Rain Rot and Skin Dermatitis in the Horse; Case Study Read More »
It seems in recent years that all sorts of health conditions are on the rise in the horse. These are ailments impacting soundness, including joint disease and tendon injuries, but also health conditions ranging from allergies to EPM or Lyme. When I see this rise in
Immune Health, Stress, Healing and the Use of Ashwagandha in the Horse Read More »
Lack of energy, breathing problems, poor recovery and stamina, and impaired healing are all symptoms that often plague the equine athlete. Cordyceps sinensis is a long time, well-revered and cherished herb for overall health and vitality. It is viewed as being a re-builder of health on
Cordyceps sinensis; Rebuilding & Enhancing the Horse Read More »
EPM or Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis has plagued horse owners for decades with an estimated clinical prevalence of less than 5% of horses being affected. Despite this being a low number, relatively speaking, impacting less than 5 out of 100 horses, the impact when it does happen
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) in the Horse Read More »
Stress, anxiety, and even depression dramatically impact the horse mentally and physically. This is especially true of the competitive equine athlete, but is also true for those horses stalled a lot or recovering from an illness or injury. Stress is a physical response in the horse,
Adaptogens and the Horse; How and Why? Read More »
The horse’s immune response is a very important factor to their overall health and well-being, not to mention soundness. All too often, as owners and even veterinarians, we often overlook this key element to their health, and only see a problem in the immune response when
Medicinal Mushrooms and the Horse; A Powerhouse of Benefits Read More »
by Tom Schell, D.V.M, CVCH, DABVP(eq)
Introduction:
Anxiety and stress in horses are a common problem in the equine industry, contributing to behavioral problems, training issues and poor performance. In some cases, increased levels of anxiety are associated with health related issues such as gastric ulcers, which have been shown in some studies to impact a large percentage of horses, necessitating long term administration of anti-ulcer type of medications.
Exact causes of stress in the horse can be hard to determine, but are often linked to herd issues, housing conditions, environmental factors, handling methods, training, transportation and competition. Horses are very similar to humans in the respect that they respond better to consistency and routines on a day to day basis. Any upset in that routine can contribute to stress formation which then manifests as behavioral issues. Learned behaviors or responses to stress in prior environments can transfer forward even though the prior initiating factor has been resolved.
The common cold, influenza, allergies and even cancer have one thing in common…the immune response. The immune system is a complex network of cells and secretory chemicals designed to protect our bodies against the invasion of foreign substances including bacteria, viruses and fungi. Despite the well intentions and overall importance, sometimes thing can go wrong contributing to a host of health problems not only for ourselves, but our pets and equine companions. As a veterinarian, a high percentage of problems in our patients can be contributed to what is termed ‘immune dysfunction’, but the ultimate question lies in how these problems are best managed to improve overall health and performance. The same problems are often encountered in people additionally, leaving an open door for desirable means of supporting the immune response.
Immune Dysfunction Read More »
