By Gemma  Sherlock  BVetMed  MRCVS. Ashbrook Equine Hospital.  The  disease  ‘Strangles’  is  so  called  because  of  the  clinical  signs  that  a  horse  may  present  with;  enlarged  lymph  nodes  which  can  result  in  respiratory  obstruction  and  difficulty  swallowing.  Strangles  is  caused  by  the  bacteria  Streptococcus  equi  equi  and  is  a  highly  … [Read more...]

By Vicky Rowlands Cert. EP MRCVS - Ashbrook Equine Hospital, Cheshire Atypical myopathy (AM, atypical myoglobinuria or seasonal pasture myopathy) is a muscle disease that hit the headlines in 2014 due to a peak in cases. The disease has been documented since 1985 but we have seen a gradual increase in numbers over the last 6 years. It has come under a lot of scrutiny recently … [Read more...]

By Julia Shrubb MA VetMB Cert(AVP)EM MRCVS Ashbrook Equine Hospital. Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome Equine gastric ulcer syndrome, commonly called "stomach ulcers", is a syndrome where the stomach lining becomes damaged. Stomach ulcers can affect any horse but are very common in competing horses. Some reports suggest that 2 out of 3 performance horses and over 9 out of 10 … [Read more...]

By Roger Dixon MRCVS - Ashbrook Equine Hospital, Cheshire To the frustration of many owners, some mares appear to be constantly in season. This can make ridden work very difficult and may affect the horse’s performance at competitions. The behaviour may be due to completely normal physiological events related to the mare’s oestrus cycle, or may be a sign of a more serious … [Read more...]

Roger Dixon BVM&S MRCVS - Ashbrook Equine Hospital, Cheshire Introduction Throughout spring and summer we frequently take phone calls from owners who find that their mare’s behaviour has changed. The mare may suddenly become difficult to handle. Ridden work, especially at competitions, may be impossible! These behavioural changes may be associated with the mare’s oestrus … [Read more...]