Horse Diseases & Cures

Identification

• In order to identify horse diseases, check for changes in the animal's behavior, such as lack of appetite or lethargy. Look for obvious signs of illness, such as coughing, nasal discharge, tremors, vomiting, fever and swollen lymph nodes.

Types

• Several diseases can affect a horse, if he is exposed to them. Tetanus is a potentially fatal disease that can lead to lockjaw in a horse. Equine encephalomyelitis and West Nile Virus are diseases carried by mosquitoes that can cause a horse's nervous system to shut down. Equine influenza is the horse flu and can cause coughing, nasal drip, weakness and loss of appetite. Equine herpesvirus is a type of disease that can cause respiratory problems, reproductive problems or neurological tribulations. Rabies is a viral infection that can cause major changes in the central nervous system. Strangles is a bacterial infection with symptoms similar to equine influenza. Potomac is spread through bacteria and causes problems in the blood and tissue of the animal.

Considerations

• Some horse diseases may be contagious to other animals, as well as humans, especially rabies. If you suspect your horse has rabies, quarantine the animal until it receives treatment from a vet.

Treatment

• A veterinarian will decide on the best cure for the disease that the horse has contracted. In some cases, such as with bacterial infections, there may not be any treatment options. For other diseases, your vet will probably administer antibiotics and recommend rest and water for the animal.

Prevention/Solution

• In order to prevent a horse from catching a serious or potentially fatal disease, follow your vet's recommended immunization schedule. Vaccines such as tetanus and rabies often need to be administered on an annual basis. Tetanus shots can be given to prevent infection, in case the horse suffers a serious wound.