In-depth educational guides on the conditions horse owners are most likely to encounter — what each condition is, how to recognize it, the risk factors, what to do, and how to have informed conversations with your veterinarian. These guides are educational; diagnosis and treatment require a licensed equine veterinarian.
From colic and laminitis to EPM and pigeon fever, most equine health conditions are more manageable when horse owners understand the basics — what the condition is, what triggers it, which signs are urgent, and what questions to ask your veterinarian. Each guide below provides that foundation.
| Condition | Urgency | Key Sign to Watch For | First Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colic | Immediate | Any abdominal pain — pawing, rolling, looking at flanks | Call vet; take vitals; remove feed |
| Laminitis | Call Vet Same Day | Camped-out stance; bounding digital pulse; reluctance to move | Call vet; remove from pasture; no forced walking |
| Strangles | Same Day | Fever; yellow-green nasal discharge; swollen jaw lymph nodes | Isolate immediately; call vet; notify exposed contacts |
| EHV / EHM | Immediate if neurological | Fever post-event; hindlimb ataxia; urinary incontinence | Isolate; call vet; post-event temp monitoring for 14 days |
| EPM | Immediate | Asymmetric ataxia; stumbling; hindlimb weakness | Restrict movement; call vet; do not ride |
| PPID / Cushing's | Same Day — Non-Emergency | Coat failure to shed in spring; topline muscle loss; recurrent laminitis | Annual ACTH test; start pergolide if confirmed |
| Heaves / Asthma | Same Day if Acute | Labored breathing at rest; chronic cough; heave line | Move outdoors; call vet; hay soaking or alternative forage |
| Navicular | Schedule Evaluation | Intermittent forelimb lameness; pointing at rest; choppy stride | Schedule lameness evaluation; appropriate hoof balance |
| Kissing Spine | Schedule Evaluation | Cold back; bucking at transitions; resistance to collection | Schedule veterinary back evaluation; saddle fit assessment |
| Pigeon Fever | Same Day | Firm painful swelling on chest or belly; fever; weight loss | Call vet; isolate from others; aggressive fly control |