Horse health conditions

Hairy vetch toxicosis is a rare and life-threatening condition in horses caused by the ingestion of the hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) plant.

Heart disease in horses is a very serious condition. The heart is a vital organ of the body and it pumps oxygenated blood and nutrients throughout the body. Early diagnosis and treatment can manage the symptoms and delay or slow down the progression of the condition, however, left untreated it can be fatal.

Heaves, or Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), is a severe form of equine asthma. It is an inflammatory reaction in the lower respiratory tract to inhaled dust particles, endotoxins, or mold spores typically found in hay and straw.

Heavy metal poisoning is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when horses ingest toxic levels of heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, or mercury. Common symptoms include weight loss, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Hemangiosarcoma in horses is a rare yet aggressive cancer of the blood vessel walls.

Hemlock poisoning is a potentially life-threatening condition in horses caused by the ingestion of a toxic dose of the Conium maculatum plant, also known as hemlock or poison hemlock. 

“Ringbone” refers to ring-shaped bony protrusions formed due to osteoarthritis in either the pastern joint or coffin joint in horses.

Hoary alyssum poisoning in horses is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition resulting from the ingestion of large quantities of hoary alyssum (*Berteroa incana*) plants.

A hoof abscess is an accumulation of pus (infection) within a horse’s hoof, which can lead to severe lameness and more serious infections.

Thrush is a common bacterial infection of horse hoof tissue caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum.

Hypothermia happens when the core body temperature drops below normal. Hypothermia is a rare condition in horses, and it is usually caused by environmental accidents such as falling into a frozen body of water.