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Degenerative Problems
Category:
Equine, Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Degenerative disorders are conditions that worsen over time. Some can be improved, or at least slowed, if caught early on. Here are a few common degenerative conditions that horses may face.
Myelopathy
Myelopathy is also called wobbler syndrome because of the affected horse’s unstable gait. This
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Cryptochidism
Category:
Equine, Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Cryptorchidism is a condition in which one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum. This is the most common problem affecting the sexual development of male horses. If both of the testicles remain in the abdomen, the horse will be sterile. Horses with an undescended testicle are sometimes
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Congential Defects and Disorders
Category:
Equine, Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Horses with congenital disorders are born with physical or physiological abnormalities. These may be readily apparent, or may be diagnosed as the foal matures. Unfortunately, the list of possible congenital deformities is long. These anomalies may affect the heart, ears, eyes or skin. The autoimmune,
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Cancer in Horses
Category:
Equine, Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
While cancer is not as prevalent in horses as it is in humans, horses do get several types of this disease. Here are a few of the common types of cancer that a horse might develop.
Melanoma
Gray horses over the age of 15 are the likeliest candidates to get melanoma. Melanoma tumors originate from cells
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Bacterial Infections
Category:
Equine, Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
There are many types of bacterial infections that can affect your horse. If you notice symptoms of any of the following common types of bacterial infections, contact us, so we can examine your horse and provide appropriate treatment options.
Anthrax is a bacterium that forms spores, which allows it
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Aural (Ear) Conditions
Category:
Equine, Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
If you’ve ever marveled at the responsiveness of your horse’s ears — the way they prick up for tiny sounds or flatten when it feels in danger — you realize how important these structures are for processing information and communication. Without good hearing, your horse will miss your vocal cues.
Horse
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Anhidrosis
Category:
Equine, Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Horses with anhidrosis lack the ability to sweat. Sometimes, they start out capable of this normal bodily function, and then suddenly lose it. Horses of all breeds, ages, colors and genders are at risk. Also called drycoats or puffers, victims of anhidrosis are most often active horses who live in hot,
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Abscesses and Cysts
Category:
Equine, Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Cysts and abscesses can both form lumps on a horse’s body. However, they stem from different causes. Infections cause abscesses, which are full of pus that accumulates under the skin. Cysts are typically present from birth or form during a horse’s development. In some cases, a veterinarian will recommend
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Hypothyroidism
Category:
Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Hypothyroidism is the natural deficiency of thyroid hormone and is the most common hormone imbalance of dogs. This deficiency is produced by several different mechanisms. The most common cause (at least 95% of cases) is immune destruction of the thyroid gland. It can also be caused by natural atrophy
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Seizures
Category:
Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Seizures are common in dogs, but more unusual in cats. Seizures are just symptoms which can occur with many kinds of diseases. They can happen because of diseases outside the brain or inside the brain. Low blood sugar that can happen with an overdose of insulin or with a tumor of the pancreas can cause
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Liver Shunt
Category:
Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
A liver shunt is also named a PSS, portosystemic shunt, portacaval shunt or portosystemic vascular anomaly. This abnormality occurs when a pet's venous blood from the intestine bypasses the liver. In the normal pet, blood vessels pick up nutrients from ingested material in the intestine and carry it
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Epilepsy
Category:
Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Epilepsy (often referred to as a seizure disorder) is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. It is commonly controlled with medication, although surgical methods are used as well. Epileptic seizures are classified both by their patterns of activity in the brain
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Vertigo or Old Dog Vestibular Syndrome
Category:
Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Vertigo is a syndrome in the elderly dog, which can be very frightening to the owners. The dog is suddenly afflicted with a balance problem, usually staggering, but occasionally unable to stand, and more rarely actually rolling over and over. There is a tilting of the head to one side and nystagmus,
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Obesity
Category:
Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Excess weight is a serious health problem for dogs and cats and is common in many countries. The two main causes of obesity are too much food and too little exercise. Other contributing factors can be due to hormonal influences, certain genetic factors, and other disease processes.
If you pet is carrying
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Diabetes Mellitus
Category:
Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a life long disorder of dogs and cats that results when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin to meet the animal's needs. Insulin is a hormone needed to transport glucose (blood sugar) into the body's cells. When there is a lack of insulin in the body, blood glucose rises
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Cancer
Category:
Pet Health, Chronic Conditions
Cancer, by definition, is the uncontrolled growth of cells. Any type of cells in the body can become cancerous. Once these cells grow out of control, they take over areas previously occupied by normal cells; sometimes these tumor cells break off and travel to other areas of the body. Wherever these cells
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