Factsheets -
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Please note: some of these factsheets are several pages long and are large files, so please be patient when downloading!
Grass Sickness
Equine grass sickness (EGS) has been recognised in this country since the early 1900’s. It is found in countries around the world but is most common in the UK. It does not affect humans and is not contagious i.e. it is not passed from horse to horse.
Disease occurrence around the UK varies, being more common in the drier eastern counties and in Scotland. The incidence peaks in the spring and early summer. There are three forms of EGS: Acute, Sub-acute and Chronic. All are very serious and usually fatal. Occasionally, with good nursing and specialist care, chronic cases can recover.
Headshaking Syndrome
Headshaking sounds such an innocuous term but it can make the affected horse’s life a misery and render them un-rideable.
Horses may shake their heads for a variety of reasons: for example due to pain in the mouth or back. In some, it may be a response to stress or in anticipation of food or exercise. All of these are voluntary actions; the horse is choosing to toss his head. Headshaking syndrome is different, it is an involuntary action thought to be caused by pain in a nerve supplying the face.
Heart Disease in Dogs and Cats
It is estimated that heart problems can affect up to 10% of dogs and cats in the UK. Some heart diseases may be present when the animal is born, however the majority develop in adulthood. This leaflet will help you understand what can happen if your pet has a heart problem, how the condition can be diagnosed and how it can be treated.
Heart Murmurs
A heart murmur is a sound produced in the heart by the turbulent flow of blood. Due to the large size of the horse’s heart, this turbulence can be normal (physiological or flow murmurs) e.g. from a fast flowing large volume of blood, or from a high blood flow rate during exercise or in cases of anaemia. Murmurs also result from abnormal blood flow through the heart e.g. back flow through a leaking valve or flow through a hole in the heart.
Hoof Cracks
Hoof cracks can occur in all breeds of horses and ponies and can be a significant cause of foot problems and lameness. Once formed, the cracks can take many months to grow out and in severe cases can cause recurrent problems.
Recognising when your horse has a crack and getting suitable, prompt treatment, can help to significantly reduce the time and interventions needed to enable a crack to heal.
Horse Passports
All horses, ponies, donkeys, zebras and their crosses must have an equine passport. The only exceptions are listed wild and semi wild ponies in designated areas of Dartmoor, Exmoor and the New Forest.
Hyperthyroidism in Cats
Hyperthyroidism is a condition frequently seen in middle aged and older cats. It is caused by an excessive production of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland in the neck (or occasionally thyroid tissue found elsewhere in the body). Thyroid hormone regulates the metabolism so an overproduction of hormone increases metabolic rate and can have effects on all the body’s major organ systems
Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis - IBR
IBR is the most obvious clinical disease associated with infection by Bovine Herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1). IBR is a disease of the upper respiratory tract which varies in severity, depending on the strain
of virus involved and other factors which may influence the immune status of the animal. In severe
cases, damage to the upper airways may lead to pneumonia and sometimes death. BoHV-1 infection has also been associated with infertility, abortion, high temperatures and milk drop.
Infertility Problems in Dairy Herds
This factsheet provides details about infertility problems in dairy herds.
Inhalers for Respiratory Disease
Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is a common cause of coughing, nasal discharge and poor performance in many stabled horses. Whilst several therapies exist, the use of inhaled drugs plays an important role in the long term treatment of affected horses.