Horses

tight shot of the legs of three harness-racing horses

Just like human athletes, athletic horses undergo a combination of physical demands, impacts, and repetitive stress that makes them prone to injury and lameness. Dr. Annette McCoy, an equine surgeon at the University of Illinois…
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a mare licks her newborn foal

Failure of Passive Transfer in Foals

March 12, 2024

Springtime means foaling season! Unfortunately, some new foals run into trouble and need veterinary support. Failure of passive transfer is one of the most common reasons that bring foals to the University of Illinois Veterinary…
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a horse eats grass from a wheelbarrow

Horses Get Gastric Ulcers

November 10, 2023

Horses of every discipline and lifestyle may develop ulcers in their gastrointestinal tract, leading to poor appetite, poor performance, and possible colic. Dr. Rebecca Bishop, an equine veterinarian who is completing a PhD at the…
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poster for Open House 2023

Have a Super Time at Vet Med Open House

September 18, 2023

This year the annual Open House at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine wants visitors to know that “Veterinarians Are Superheroes.” (Although they don’t—usually—wear capes.) People of all ages are encouraged to attend…
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two horses eating hay

Blister Beetles: One Cause of Summer Colic

June 07, 2023

Warmer weather entices many equestrians to hit the road with their horses. While you are ensuring that you have the needed certificate of veterinary inspection and negative Coggins test, you might need to think about…
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Dr. Giorgia Podico presents an orphaned foal to a nurse mare.

Grafting an Orphaned Foal

May 30, 2023

In the horse world, springtime means foaling season. But what happens when you have a foal with no mare to supply milk? Bottle feeding and hand-raising the foal is costly, time-consuming, and often leads to…
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The necropsy room at the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

Necropsy Reveals Cause of Death, and Much More

January 26, 2023

Like an autopsy in human medicine, a necropsy allows veterinarians to glean a wide range of information about a deceased patient. What steps are involved in performing a necropsy? And why would a necropsy be…
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closeup of a horse with snow on its face

Caring for Your Horse in Winter

January 19, 2023

Winter is here, and that means your horse’s diet and shelter may need adjustments. Dr. Scott Austin, an equine internal medicine specialist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, offers winter horse…
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