Horse Veterinarian

PLS Cruising Suzy was advancing in her jumping career when her owner noticed a swollen hock. After a complicated but successful surgery, Suzy is back to jumping and winning.

What is Equine Influenza? Equine influenza, or “horse flu,” is a highly contagious respiratory virus that affects horses of all ages. Similar to the human flu, it spreads through: Direct contact, especially nose-to-nose Inhalation of airborne droplets from coughing Contaminated hands, grooming tools, and shared surfaces Common Symptoms…

The UF Large Animal Surgery Service is informing horse owners about the dangers of cribbing, a stable vice that can lead to epiploic foramen entrapment, a type of colic that can cause death if not treated promptly by surgery.

Although certain illnesses and conditions will have obvious signs and indicators that a veterinarian should be called, others may not. It is critical to know the normal behavior, attitude, and gait of your horses, since changes that could require veterinary attention may be subtle at first. No one knows your…

As equine veterinarians, we often see horses with congenital or acquired deformities that can significantly impact their quality of life and future prospects. One such condition is a club foot, a type of flexural limb deformity that occurs at the level of the coffin joint, typically seen in horses between…

Strangles is one of the most commonly diagnosed contagious diseases in horses worldwide, and was first reported in 1251. The bacteria typically infect the upper airway and lymphoid tissues of the head and neck, causing enlarged lymph nodes, nasal drainage, and abscess formation. Strangles is highly contagious in horse populations and can cause outbreaks when an infected horse is introduced into a new group or herd.

UF Veterinary Hospitals Caryn E. Plummer, DVM, DACVO Associate chair and professor in comparative ophthalmology at UF College of Veterinary Medicine. A proud native of Florida, Dr. Caryn Plummer…

Although it’s the end of Florida’s rainy season, the rain has not stopped! Horse owners need to be aware of a persistent disease threat to horses called pythiosis. Pythiosis is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by the pathogen Pythium insidiosum, which can lead to painful and debilitating skin lesions.

Equine Reportable Disease Map Florida’s Equine Reportable Disease Map is an interactive way to look at disease occurrence within the state. Disease information can be viewed by county, with monthly and calendar year information available. The map uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology…

UF Large Animal Hospital Heart Murmurs in Horses: What You Need to Know Just like in humans, heart murmurs in horses can be a normal part of life—or a sign…