Q: I've fallen in love with a particular horse and am desperate to buy him. The problem is that he is lame. He's only just come off the track and apparently pulled some muscles in his back while still racing. I’m hoping his lameness will come right but everyone tells me to avoid him. What…
Q: Is it possible for horses who are not grey to get melanomas? A: Melanomas are much rarer in horses with non-grey coats, but they can and do occur. Unfortunately, when these tumours appear in non-grey horses they tend to have a much worse prognosis, as they are more aggressive. When melanomas occur in grey horses,…
Horses are trickle feeders, designed to eat fibre all day long, rather than consuming large meals less frequently. Fibre digestion takes place in the hindgut where a population of micro-organisms break down the fibre, in a process called fermentation, to provide a source of slow-release energy. Fermentation requires a healthy population of bacteria in the…
If a sharp object penetrates a horse’s foot, it can damage the sensitive tissues and deeper structures underneath Puncture wounds of the equine foot are common and can be very serious. The most common objects that penetrate horses’ feet are nails and screws, but other sharp objects such as pieces of farm implements can sometimes cause…
A flexion test involves compression of joints and soft tissues through forced bending of the limbs [dropcap]F[/dropcap]lexion tests of both the fore- and hindlimbs are common diagnostic tools, particularly used for the purposes of pre-purchase examination. Many of us have heard the words ‘failed flexion test’ or ‘positive flexion test’ when looking into buying or selling…
