ADVICE FROM VETERINARIANS
PPID OR CUSHING'S DISEASE IN HORSES AND PONIES
Veterinarian Valerie De Clerck
Recognise early signs of PPID (or Cushing's disease) in your horse and pony
Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction or PPID is the most common hormonal disorder in horses. It is more common in senior horses: 1 in 5 horses over 15 years suffers from this disorder. PPID used to be called Cushing's disease, after a similar disease in humans. As there are some differences between Cushing's disease in humans and horses, we now speak of PPID in horses (1).
LAMINITIS IN HORSES AND PONIES
Veterinarian Valerie De Clerck
Why too much fresh grass might be dangerous for your horse or pony
Laminitis is a very painful and emergency condition of the feet in horses and ponies, caused by a problem elsewhere in the body. It is frequently seen in spring as it is often associated with high amounts of sugar and fructans in lush pasture and can be further complicated by many other factors such as obesity and insulin resistance.
WHAT IS THE BODY CONDITION SCORE OF MY HORSE?
Veterinarian Valerie De Clerck
Is my horse or pony too fat, too skinny or just right?
You can asses whether your horse or pony is in good shape by using the Body Condition Score Tool. The Body Condition Score (BCS) is a way to visually asses the amount of fat and muscles of your horse. The BCS ranges from 1 to 9, with 5 being the ideal score. Find out what the Body Condition Score of your horse is.
HELP, MY MARE WON'T GET PREGNANT
Veterinarian Valerie De Clerck
The most common reasons why your mare may not become pregnant
You would love to breed a foal from your mare this year, but are unable to get her pregnant? Mare infertility is a frustrating and complex problem for both the owner and the veterinarian, and probably also for the mare herself... The cause of infertility can vary, we list the main causes and solutions for you.
JOINT PROBLEMS AND ARTHRITIS IN HORSES AND PONIES
Veterinarian Valerie De Clerck
Do feed supplements help for (osteo)arthritis in horses?
Arthritis is the most common cause of lameness in horses. Arthritis can be simply defined as inflammation of the joint. It can occur suddenly after trauma or gradually due to intensive training or ageing of the horse. Feed supplements can help to support your horse with joint problems in the long run.
HOW TO SUPPORT MY SKINNY HORSE?
Veterinarian Valerie De Clerck
Causes and solutions for weight loss in horses
If your horse is too skinny, you are not alone! Nearly 16% of geriatric horses and 6% of mature horses is underweight or too skinny. In this article we list the most important causes and possible solutions for weight loss in horses.