New England Equine Surgical and Medical Center, PLLC

Medical Articles

Our doctors have written a many articles on different topics like new treatment options or general information about diseases and conditions. We are continuously adding to this library.

What information are you looking for?

Our Field Service Veterinarian, Katy Raynor, DVM, also writes equine health related articles for the Cheshirehorse blog – Check out her posts here!

Source of Fetlock Bone Fragments

An osteochondral (bone/cartilage) fragment seen on radiographs in the joint of a young horse is commonly an osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) fragment. Osteochondrosis is a developmental disease process in which there is failure of growing cartilage to be replaced by bone (failure of endochondral ossification). The impaired bone/cartilage formation process at the articular (joint) surface creates flaps of cartilage termed osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). OCD fragments can detach and become free floating, remain in place or form attachments at another location.
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Strategies for Prevention of Gastric Ulcers

Gastric ulcers are a common source of discomfort or chronic colic episodes in domestic horses. Gastric ulcers can cause behavior changes (i.e. bucking or misbehavior under saddle), abdominal discomfort especially when the girth is tightened, and weight loss. Gastric ulcers can also be associated with discomfort after eating grain meals, as opposed to hay. Some horses are predisposed to developing gastric ulcers based on high-stress travel and competition or race schedules.
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Introduction to Equine Pain Management

Horses are a challenge when it comes to pain detection and management. As many of you know, horses are very stoic animals and do not often show outward signs of pain unless their pain is very severe. Because of this, equine pain is often overlooked and consequently not being treated.
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Equine Core and Back Musculature Training

When a rider is seated on the horse, the rider’s weight and the weight of the saddle is concentrated directly onto this weak point resulting in further extension of the intervertebral joints and compression of the dorsal spinous processes. This can lead to generalized back pain and impingement of the dorsal spinous processes. Exercises that train the core and back musculature can help to improve good posture and stabilize the spine.
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Sarcoids

Sarcoids are the most common skin tumor in horses, and they are also present in mule and donkey populations. Sarcoids do not discriminate based on breed or sex of horse. Young and old horses can be affected, though most cases are first noted when a horse is between 2 and 9 years old.
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Balanced Hooves for Balanced Horses

Plough horse, performance horse or pasture ornament, no matter the role your horse plays they all depend on the people in their life to pay attention to their wellbeing. The age-old adage of “no hoof, no horse” says it best in describing the importance of the equine foot in keeping your horse up and going.
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Umbilical Infections

Umbilical infections, also called omphalitis or omphalophlebitis, are inflammations of any one of the structures that make up a foal’s belly button. The umbilicus consists of two arteries, a vein, and the urachus.
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Strangles

Strangles is a highly infectious respiratory disease in horses. It is caused by the Gram positive bacterium, Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi). Outbreaks generally occur when a new horse(s) who are actively shedding the organism are introduced to a naive or susceptible herd.
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Equine leptospirosis

Equine leptospirosis is a sporadic disease (occurring occasionally, or in scattered instances) that can be acute or chronic. Infection is acquired through exposure to the organism via the mucous membranes or abraded skin.
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Vitamin E Deficiency

Vitamin E deficiency is something that is fairly common in the Northeast. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps maintain normal neuron function. An antioxidant is a substance that neutralizes free radicals, which are molecules that can cause cell damage.
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Navicular Syndrome

Navicular syndrome, sometimes also called navicular disease, entails the degeneration of the navicular bone and the surrounding soft tissue structures. The navicular bone is a baby carrot sized and shaped bone tucked behind your horse’s coffin bone within the hoof.
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Sedation

What type of sedation can I use on the farm? This article explains options for sedating a horse. Many of these sedatives have more than one route in which they can be administered, but the safest method for an owner on the farm is the oral route. Reasons to give sedation include transportation, working with fractious horses or to help take the edge off after surgery.
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Botulism

Botulism is caused by Clostridium botulinum. C. botulinum is an obligate anaerobe, meaning its spores only germinate and subsequently produce toxin in absence of oxygen. This toxins affects neurons, which are the cells that make up nerves. These cells form a chain, with a signal passing from cell to cell to produce a muscle contraction.
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Equine Corona Virus

ECoV (Equine Corona Virus) is a gastrointestinal virus that only became recognized in adults within the last 8 to 10 years. Most cases of ECoV are mild and self-limiting. Transmission of the disease occurs via fecal-oral route, meaning horses acquire the disease by ingesting contaminated feed and water.
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Cushing’s Disease

Cushing’s Disease, also known as Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction or PPID, is a dysfunction of the pituitary gland. Studies show that between 20 and 33% of all horses develop PPID by the age of 20, making it the most common endocrine condition of horses.
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Laminitis

Laminitis, commonly called founder (founder is when actual rotation occurs due to the inflammation), is inflammation of the lamina. But to understand what that definition means for you and your horse, it’s important to appreciate hoof anatomy.
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Melanoma

Melanomas are common neoplasms of the older horse, arising from dark pigmented cells called melanoytes or melanoblasts. These tumors develop in many gray horses as they age and are usually less dangerous in horses than in humans. They typically appear as firm, slow growing, dark lumps in the skin and are most often located under the tail.
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EOTRH

Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis, or “EOTRH”, is a painful disease of the incisor teeth most often seen in older horses. The disease begins by the body resorbing the bone and soft tissue around the roots of the incisors (and sometimes the canines).
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Equine Lyme Disease

The seroprevalence (the level of a pathogen in a population) for Borrelia in the mid-Atlantic and northeastern is relatively high within the equine population. What’s more, in New England, 45% of horses have Borrelia antibodies (antibiodies indicate infection or exposure).To determine if the horse is currently infected is difficult, and furthermore to determine whether clinical disease is associated with Borrelia is extremely difficult! Current serologic tests are very sensitive and specific for detecting either infection (previous or concurrent) or exposure, but may not distinguish between them.
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Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Eye

Squamous cell carcinoma, or SCC, is one of the most common forms of neoplasia to involve the eye. SCC can appear in many forms and in different locations within the eye and its surrounding structures. Ocular SCC typically is first noticed as an area that is more red than the surrounding tissue. It then often ulcerates, becoming open with intermittent bleeding and causing mild irritation locally.
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Equine Pediatric Orthopedics

There are several orthopedic problems seen in young horses that horse owners should be aware of coming into foaling season. Many of these conditions can be treated with prompt response but left untreated can have lifelong repercussions. There are three main categories of pediatric conditions discussed in this article. They include: 1) tendon laxity, 2) flexural deformities and 3) angular limb deformities.
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Osteochondrosis and Subchondral Bone Cysts

Osteochondrosis (OC) is a developmental disorder that leads to failure of bone and cartilage formation (endochondral ossification). Failure of normal bone and cartilage formation results in irregularities in the thickness of cartilage at joint surfaces.
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First Aid

Equine injuries can be just as common whether your horse is stalled or turned out to pasture. The best way to treat any injury, however, is to be prepared with a well-stocked, easily accessible first aid kit.
In fact, keeping even a few of the below first aid essentials could help save a severely injured horse’s life while you wait for your veterinarian to arrive.
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Equine Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease of the eye, which results in an overall increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) within the globe. The aqueous humor (nutrient rich fluid) is produced more than can be drained from the globe causing the pressure increase. This abnormal increase in pressure prevents the retina and optic nerve from functioning normally, disturbing the horse's normal vision.
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Nephrosplenic Entrapment

Nephrosplenic entrapment, also known as left dorsal displacement, is a type of colic that occurs when the left large colon gets entrapped over the nephrosplenic ligament. The nephrosplenic ligament connects the left kidney to the spleen in the horse.
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Equine Asthma

Many terms and abbreviations have been used in the past decade for a variety of inflammatory and hyper-reactive airway conditions causing cough in the horse.1 The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine has proposed that these various syndromes can be classified as equine asthma.
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Red Maple Toxicity

Red maple leaves (Acer rubrum) are toxic to horses. The fresh leaves themselves are safe, but they become toxic after the leaves have wilted. The wilted leaves can remain toxic for up to 30 days. Red maple leaf toxicity is common in the fall when the leaves begin to wilt and accumulate on the ground.
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Kissing Spine (Overriding Dorsal Spinous Processes)

In horses, kissing spine, more formally known as overriding dorsal spinous processes (ORDSP), is a condition where the spacing between the dorsal spinous processes (DSP) in the horse’s back vertebrae are narrowed and there is associated back pain. Thoroughbreds are overrepresented in the breeds commonly affected.

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Granulosa Cell Tumor in the Mare

The granulosa cell tumor (GCT) is the most common ovarian tumor affecting the reproductive tract of the mare. These tumors often present in middle aged mares and can have a slow and insidious onset and progression. They typically affect only one ovary but cases where both ovaries are affected have been observed. These tumors derive from sex cord-stromal cells and usually consist of granulosa cells but can also contain thecal cells. Diagnosis and treatment is often successful and can help to return many affected mares to a reproductive future.

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Roaring (Laryngeal Hemiplegia)

Laryngeal hemiplegia, commonly called "roaring" is a disease of the upper airway in horses. The larynx is the opening to the trachea, and consists of several pieces of cartilage. The arytenoid cartilages open to allow air into the trachea, and close during swallowing to prevent food and liquid from getting into the trachea.

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Equine Acupuncture – A Scientific Approach

Acupuncture has been a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 5,000 years and has grown in popularity in western medicine in the last few decades. With more evidence-based research emerging in human and veterinary medicine proving its effectiveness, it is becoming more recognized as a valid treatment modality in medicine. The World Health Organization has concluded that acupuncture is a valuable therapy in treating several human diseases. But how does this seemingly “voodoo” therapy of needling work?

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Understanding Equine Uveitis

One of the most common ocular diseases affecting the horse is a condition known as uveitis. This occurs when inflammation affects the uveal tract of the eye that is composed of the iris, ciliary body and choroid. This inflammation can be caused by a variety of conditions including ocular, systemic or immune mediated disease.

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Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome is a common condition in horses and foals. While any horse can develop gastric ulcers, they tend to be more common in horses in high levels of work. Studies have shown that the prevalence of gastric ulcers can be as high as 60-90% in show horses and thoroughbred racehorses.

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Basics of Equine Lameness

Equine lameness is an important and prevalent area of equine medicine. Whether solving a hoof abscess or diagnosing a meniscal tear in a stifle, the basic fundamental principles of a lameness work up apply. This article will cover the basic first steps of a lameness evaluation in addition to a few of the most common nerve blocks your veterinarian may perform.

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Equine Anaplasmosis

Anaplasmosis is an infectious disease affecting horses most commonly during tick season. A majority of cases are reported in California but it has also been identified all over the United States and worldwide including right here in New England. Knowledge of this disease and early recognition can greatly improve the prognosis for your horse.

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Equine Cushing’s Disease / PPID

Have you ever noticed a horse with a long curly hair that does not shed out in spring? This may be an early sign of Equine Cushing’s Disease. Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, often referred to as Equine Cushing’s Disease, is a common disorder in older horses and ponies. Research shows that it can occur in up to 25% of aged horses.

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Esophageal Obstruction in the Horse (Choking)

Imagine you just finished feeding your horses and are heading out of the barn when you hear coughing. You go to investigate further and find that in addition to the retching, Mr. Ed has feed material coming out of his nostrils and is salivating excessively. What should you do next? Call a veterinarian!

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Understanding Equine Cellulitis

Cellulitis can be a relatively common and frustrating condition affecting the limbs of horses. The condition results from inflammation and infection of the subcutaneous tissues that lie beneath the skin. It commonly affects only one limb at a time and is most likely in the hind end.

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Habronemiasis - A Sore Summer Topic

Habronemiasis goes by many names such as summer sores, jack sores, swamp cancer or bursatee. Habronemiasis is very common in horses in the South Eastern U.S., but can be seen in other areas of the country. Larvae of the stomach worm Habronema spp. cause this skin disease.

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Nailed it!!! Direct Penetrating Wounds to the Horse’s Foot

Uh oh ... Your horse has a nail in its foot – and it’s not one that the farrier has nailed in on purpose! Many owners have found their horses acutely lame due to a direct penetrating wound to the foot. Whether it is a nail, a screw, or any other sharp object, it is imperative that you have your veterinarian come take a look before removing anything so that they can confirm the tract of the penetrating object.

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Stromal Abscess

We’ve all dreaded it: the eye emergency. There are numerous eye emergencies, and the bottom line is if your horse is squinting, tearing, has discoloration in the eye or the eye is swollen it should be looked at by a veterinarian. Complications and compromise to the eye can occur if left untreated or if treated with the wrong medications. Let’s take a look at one of these complications: stromal abscess, which may result in loss of vision or expensive surgery to save the eye.
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White Line Disease

White line disease (WLD), is a multifactorial process that leads to a progressive separation of the inner zone of the hoof wall. The white line of the hoof can be visualized on the sole, and is the junction of the insensitive laminae of the hoof wall and the horn of the sole.
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Equine Metabolic Syndrome: What is it all about?

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is an endocrine and metabolic disorder that commonly affects young to middle aged horses. There are several breeds who are genetically predisposed to developing this syndrome and are often referred to as "easy keepers", such as the Paso Fino, Quarter Horse, Morgan, Arabian, Tennessee Walking Horse, Saddlebred, and pony. It is important as horse owners to recognize and understand the clinical signs associated with EMS so that your horses can be properly diagnosed and managed to prevent further complications associated with this syndrome.
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Equine Colic: More Than Just a Bellyache

Colic, a term that simply means “abdominal pain”, is anything but simple when it comes to horses. Colic is one of the leading causes of premature death in horses and the number one emergency for equine veterinarians. Whether the clinical signs are obvious or very subtle, the sooner that you realize your horse is colicking, the better the prognosis will be.
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Foaling 101

Foaling season is an exciting time of the year for both veterinarians and breeders. For first time breeders the pregnancy, foaling, and neonatal periods can be stressful, as they should be. Proper care for the pregnant mare and appropriate preparation for foaling and potential complications are key in an uneventful foaling and healthy newborn.
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Splints

One day as you are getting ready to ride your horse, you notice a bump around the cannon bone. Your horse seems sensitive to palpation, but overall is sound. You ask for advice from other people in the barn. They say it is a "popped splint", and before you know it, you are being flooded with advice and opinions leaving you confused and unsure of what to do.
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Omega Fatty Acids

Why all the talk about Omega Fatty Acids in horses diet? Unsure of how to supplement your horses diet appropriately? Read on for some insight into why horses are being supplemented to help you make the best educational choice for your individual horse!
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The Equine Eye - Corneal Ulcers

Despite its relatively small size, the equine eye is a complex organ which can go very seriously wrong, very quickly when injured. If your horse comes in from the pasture with his eye swollen shut, take no chances- have your vet take a look as soon as possible. These clinical signs could be due to anything from a bump, to a foreign body, to a disease process within the eye.
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Equine Cough

As a horse owner, it is often a clear decision as to whether your horse needs veterinary care. Examples include lameness, colic, choke, etc. But what do you do when your horse shows signs that are more vague, like a cough. It could be a mild irritation, or it could be indicative of an underlying condition that needs treatment. How do you decide?
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Pre-Purchase Exams

You have been actively looking for the right horse for months and have finally found one that is a perfect fit. Or maybe you see your dream horse standing in a field as you drive past and the owner is willing to sell! Or maybe you've been leasing a horse for months and decide you'd really like to own.

No matter the circumstances, before you commit to acquiring a new horse you want to know if it has any medical conditions that might become issues in the future. Now it's time to call a veterinarian and schedule a pre-purchase exam. You worry about what the vet might find and you wait with bated breath for the final verdict.
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Recognize your Horse’s Dental Problems

Horses with dental problems may show obvious signs, such as pain or irritation, or they may show no noticeable signs at all. This is because some horses simply adapt to their discomfort. For this reason, periodic dental examinations are essential to your horse’s health.
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Equine Proud Flesh

To understand what proud flesh is, it is helpful to first know how the normal healing process works after an injury to the skin. Normal wound healing involves a delicate balance of processes, with the ultimate goal being healthy skin. One key step in wound healing is called granulation, where cell replication fills the wound bed with tissue, which is later covered by skin. Unfortunately, certain steps in the healing process may go unchecked, which can lead to abnormal wound healing and proud flesh.
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Do I have an Emergency?

A horse owner's guide to basic first aid and physical examinations.
Most horse owners will experience some type of emergency with their horse at some point. Lacerations, colic, severe lameness, and other medical emergencies happen all too commonly with our animals. However, there are some steps that you can do on the farm and some information that you can give to your veterinarian to help guide the appropriate treatment and determine the urgency of the emergency.
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Equine Metabolic Syndrome

Equine metabolic syndrome is a health problem that affects many horses that are considered “easy keepers”. The disease consists of large regional fat deposits, obesity, insulin resistance or high fasting insulin concentrations and if not controlled, recurrent episodes of laminitis. In this age, obese horses are more the rule rather than the exception. Despite education by veterinarians and nutritionists to keep horses in moderate body weight, good willing horse owners continue to feed high-calorie concentrates and hay. More often than not, the result is a plump middle-aged horse that is anything but healthy or athletic.
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Deworming-Strategies

There are many theories in the horse world about how you should approach de-worming your horse(s) effectively. My goal with this article is to provide facts related to the common theories and deliver up to date information for owners to take a leadership role in determining the best strategies for their particular horse(s). An overview of common equine parasites is paramount to understand the effect they can have on your trusty steeds.
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Spring Shots

Spring Shots in the Dark?
As the snow begins to subside and the crocuses begin to rise from the earth, a knot is forming in your stomach. It?s almost that time. Spring vaccines. A sea of acronyms swirl around your mind like the robins returning from their equatorial holiday. WNV, EHV, PHF, EVA, EEE, WEE, VEE. It is enough to make a VIP at MIT go ZZZ. Deciding which vaccines your horse needs, or doesn?t need, this Spring can be a daunting task. The following is a brief explanation of vaccines available and rationale for use.
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Potomac Horse Fever

Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) is the common name given to the equine infectious enterocolitis (an inflammatory condition involving the small intestine and colon) caused by the rickettsial organism Neorickettsia risticii previously named Ehrlichia risticii. The disease was first reported along the Potomac River in Maryland in 1979 but presently has been confirmed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Potomac Horse Fever has a seasonal occurrence generally from June through September with most cases seen in the summer. It is frequently reported to be associated with close geographical proximity to a body of water such as a river, stream, or pond although this is not a prerequisite.
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Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencepthalopathy

Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencepthalopathy (EHM) is a neurologic condition that develops as a result of infection with Equine Herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). EHV-1 is prevalent around the U.S. and the world, and primarily affects the respiratory tract but can also cause abortion and neonatal death. EHM can develop in outbreaks of EHV-1and may be seen in anywhere from 10-50% of infected horses; in some cases, the percentage may be greater. Research is still being conducted as to why and how EHV-1 infection can lead to EHM. At this time, studies have shown that there are a multitude of factors such as the level of infection (amount of virus in the blood), the horse's own immune response to the infection, and the possible affects of genetic variation in the herpesvirus itself.
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Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) is one of three in a group of viral diseases causing inflammation of the brain and spinal cord in horses and people (as well as several other mammal species). The other two diseases in this group are Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (WEE) and Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis (VEE). All three strains have been recognized in the Western hemisphere and exist in both temperate and desert climates.
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Battling Sand Colic

Horses eating sand is not commonly thought of as a regularly occurring event. However, being natural grazers, horses are constantly ingesting a certain amount of sand and dirt from their environment.
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Neck and Back Anatomy and Pain in Performance Horses

Neck and back pain is widely acknowledged to have negative effects on equine performance. However, neck and back issues are often undiagnosed and go untreated. There are many causes for pain associated with the spinal column and most can be treated once they have been properly identified.
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Minimally Invasive Abdominal Surgery: LAPAROSCOPY

Most commonly performed laparoscopic surgeries include ovariectomy, cryptorchid castration, nephrosplenic space closure, castration without testicule removal and biopsies. A laparoscope is a specialized camera that allows the veterinary surgeons to examine the inside of the abdomen (belly). The laparoscope is attached to a video camera, which displays the image on a monitor. Unlike traditional abdominal surgery techniques, which require large openings to allow the surgeon's hands to enter the abdomen, laparoscopic surgery is performed through very small incisions.
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The Dummy Foal

Dummy foals are a potential problem faced by breeders during foaling season. Numerous terms have been used to describe this syndrome including barkers, wanderers, or convulsants. Veterinary terminology includes neonatal maladjustment syndrome, perinatal asphyxia syndrome, and most commonly hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). These terms are used to describe newborn foals that have behavioral or neurologic abnormalities that do not have an infectious, toxic, congenital or metabolic cause. The condition results from decreased blood and oxygen supply to the brain.
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Your Foal's First Challenge: Passive Transfer of Immunity

When a foal is born, they have very little circulating antibodies in their blood. Immunity from diseases is obtained from antibodies which are transferred from the mare to the foal through the mare s milk. The milk that is rich in antibodies and other nutrients is called colostrum.
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Preventing Injuries to Your Horse During Training

The most common musculoskeletal injuries of horses in work include tendon and ligament injuries, stress fractures, chip fractures, joint sprain/strain and foot soreness. The severity of the injury a horse may have depends on the type of training it is undergoing. Harness racing horses rarely develop bucked shins, while most flat racing horses often have some shin soreness during their early training period. A horse in dressage training is unlikely to develop a chip fracture, but may develop back soreness as it strengthens its top line and neck muscles. Some injuries, such as joint swelling due to osteochondrosis (OCD), occur because of an abnormality in joint development.
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Platelet-Rich Plasma:
A New Treatment for Tendon and Ligament Injuries in Horses

Tendon and ligament injuries are a common cause of lameness in horses. Over 30% of racehorse lameness is due to tendon or ligament injury. Traditional treatment of these injuries often requires 6 to 12 months for rehabilitation. Healing may be incomplete, resulting in a weaker healed tendon. Also, traditional treatments have a 30-50% failure rate.

Because of these factors continued research for new treatment techniques for tendon and ligament injuries is an active area of equine research. In this vein, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy for equine tendon and ligament injuries has been investigated at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and is being used in clinical cases at New England Equine Medical and Surgical Center.
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Developmental Orthopedic Disease:
joint and bone abnormalities of the growing horse

Developmental orthopedic disease (DOD) can be a significant problem for growing horses. By being aware of the manifestations of DOD, the possible treatments and methods of prevention, the horse owner is posed to limit the adverse effects of these disorders. DOD may result in angular limb deformities such as knock knees , osteochondrosis (OCD) and juvenile arthritis. Any of these problems may cause future unsoundness if not treated appropriately.
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Open Your Eyes to Equine Uveitis

One of the most common eye diseases and the most common cause of blindness in horses is equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), also called moon blindness or periodic ophthalmia. Uveitis is defined as inflammation of the uveal tract of the eye, which consists of the iris and ciliary body (anterior uvea) and the choroid (posterior uvea). The clinical disease, however, involves all aspects of the equine eye.
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Could My Horse Have Gastric Ulcers?

Sometimes our horses are just not doing right and we just do not know why. We start thinking of all the possible reasons, and one of them just might click & What about gastric ulcers? You have heard of gastric ulcers and the multitude of clinical signs that accompanies the disease including colic, decreased appetite, irritability or attitude changes, diarrhea, weight loss, decreased performance, and girthiness to name a few, but you are not sure if your horse has been affected by this disease, what causes it, how it can be diagnosed, and how it can be prevented and/or treated. This brief summary will attempt to answer some of those questions.
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Red Maple Leaves: A Toxic Treat To Your Horse

OVERVIEW: Red maple (Acer rubrum) trees are common in the eastern United States. Intoxication of red maple leaves to horses is a seasonal problem that occurs most commonly in the summer and fall. Wilted and dried leaves are toxic to horses, as well as the bark.
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Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD)

If your horse coughs several times at the beginning of exercise he may have upper airway irritation, tracheal irritation, allergies or a respiratory condition called inflammatory airway disease (IAD).
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Headshaking

Headshaking in horses is characterized by spontaneous flipping of the nose, head tossing, rubbing of the nose on objects, snorting, and sometimes striking at the muzzle.
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Hives

Hives are variable-sized patches of edema (swelling) that can occur anywhere on the body, especially on the neck, sides of the body, and upper areas of the limbs.
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Lice

Lice are highly host specific parasites that spend their complete life cycle on the host meaning that lice that infect horses do not infect people. There are 2 main types of lice, the sucking lice and the biting lice.
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