Horse health conditions

Melanomas are skin tumors that develop from the cells responsible for skin pigment called melanocytes. Melanomas are most common in gray, but occur in other horses as well. The cause of melanoma is not completely understood.

Moldy sweet clover toxicosis is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the ingestion of moldy sweet clover plants.  Moldy sweet clover plants produce the natural anticoagulant dicoumarol.

Fumonisin toxicosis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when horses ingest fumonisin, a fungal toxin produced by Fusarium verticillioides or F. proliferatum fungi which grow on sweet corn. 

Monensin poisoning occurs when horses ingest a toxic dose of monensin, an antibiotic commonly used as a feed additive to promote cattle and poultry growth. Monensin is highly toxic to horses and commonly fatal.

Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU), or moon blindness, is an uncommon condition affecting horses, characterized by inflammation within the eye that occurs repeatedly. ERU cycles through periods where it is active, aggressive, and painful, as well as mild phases which often show no symptoms.

Mud fever is an inflammatory skin condition affecting the lower limbs of horses, caused by bacterial, viral, parasitic, or fungal agents that thrive on the skin over the pasterns and fetlocks.