Horse health conditions

Cancer is a group of diseases that causes changes in normal cell growth where cells begin to multiply chaotically. This multiplication of cells can form masses which can impede the normal function of the body.

Canker is a rare bacterial infection characterized by irregular, smelly, cauliflower-like growths on horse hooves.

Cardiotoxic plant ingestion occurs when horses ingest plants containing cardiotoxins: toxins that damage the heart muscle. Cardiotoxic plants can cause various symptoms, including abdominal pain, excessive sweating, seizures, collapse, and sudden death.

Carpitis is inflammation of the soft connective tissues on the surface of the bones of the carpus of a horse. The horse carpus is the equivalent of the human knee joint. This inflammation can involve the fibrous joint capsule, synovial membrane, and associated ligaments and bones of the carpus.

Caudal heel pain syndrome in horses (formerly known as navicular disease) is the degeneration of the navicular bone seen in conjunction with damage to various surrounding tendons, bursa, and ligaments.

Choke is an esophageal obstruction caused by poorly chewed food or other material that gets stuck in the throat of horses. Unlike choking in humans, the airway is not compromised, therefore choke is not immediately life-threatening in horses.

Club foot in horses is a common deformity of the coffin joint that causes asymmetry in the hooves.

Contusions also known as bruises are caused by blunt trauma to a horse's head, body or leg. When a horse takes a direct blow to its body, the underlying structures (like muscles and blood vessels) can be damaged or broken.