Service: Equine Field Service

Spice, a brown miniature horse

Collaborative care leads to a miniature horse’s full recovery

Spice is a miniature horse and patient at the CSU Veterinary Health System’s Johnson Family Equine Hospital. She arrived at CSU’s Equine Emergency and Critical Care service in early 2025 with a history of colic and acute laminitis that had developed in her front feet. While treating the laminitis, Spice was diagnosed with equine Cushing’s […]

closeup of a brown horse's two front hooves

Equine hoof abscesses: A real pain in the foot

Abscesses are a commonly seen hoof problem and cause of severe lameness in equine practice. An abscess is a pocket of purulent material (pus) trapped in the hoof, caused by bacteria that penetrates the protective, hard, keratinized epithelium of the hoof wall/sole. The bacteria can penetrate the hoof through a defect in the hoof wall […]

a close up picture of a horse's eye

Equine eye issues are always an emergency

Why do horses injure their eyes so much? The horse’s large globe and prominent placement on the sides of their head makes the eyeball very susceptible to trauma. Injury or discomfort to the eye can be subtle. Clinical signs include squinting, tearing, increased discharge, swelling around the eye, red conjunctiva, and/or the eyelashes pointing down […]

X-ray of laminitic hoof with significant coffin bone rotation

Laminitis in horses

A painful foot condition, laminitis can be the result of various disease processes. Once a horse has had a bout of laminitis, they may be more susceptible to future episodes, which is why recognition and prompt treatment of laminitis is critical to achieving the best possible outcome.

a white horse grazes on grass

Equine spring wellness exams

Spring wellness exams are routine exams to make sure your horse is happy and healthy as they transition out of winter and gear up for summertime.

a close up picture of a horse hoove

Winter hoof care for horses

Winter can mean some extra planning and care to keep your horse’s feet in their best condition. But if you manage him properly, you’ll be able to enjoy these fly-free months despite the ice and chill, and can help your horse put his best hoof forward come spring.

Veterinary man with his assistant treating a brown purebred horse, papillomas removal procedure using cryodestruction, in an outdoor ranch

Horse first aid checklist

Use the horse first aid kit checklist curated by our Equine Field Service team to ensure you have all the essentials!

a dramatic picture of four horses sticking their heads out of their stalls in a barn

How to prevent colic in horses: Avoiding a pain in the side

Preventing colic in horses starts with understanding what causes equine colic, then making adjustments to your horse’s dietary routine, introducing probiotics and prebiotics, avoiding equine obesity and parasites, and keeping up with regular dental care.

a dramatic picture of a brown horse in a field of yellow grass, green trees in the background

Do horses get allergies?

Just like humans, cats, and dogs, horses can also suffer from allergies. Allergic reactions can occur in response to insects, medications, food, and environmental factors. An allergic reaction can look like a breakout of hives, rashes, itching, and/or hair loss. If your horse is allergic to something that was inhaled, your horse may start coughing, […]

a brown horse grazing on green grass, a brown and white horse in the background, fall foliage surrounds them

Fall vaccines and deworming

Fall is a good time to add equine vaccination and deworming to your to-do list. Our Equine Field Service’s equine vaccination guidelines can help horse owners determine which vaccination schedule is right for their horse. Core horse vaccines Ideally, all horses in a herd should be on the same vaccination and deworming schedule. This helps […]

a group of brown horses grazing in a green field, the Tetons and trees in the background

Vesicular stomatitis in horses

Vesicular stomatitis is a viral infection that can cause disease in a broad range of animals, primarily horses, cattle, and pigs.

a white mama horse leads a brown and white baby horse in a pasture

Foaling guide

Our foaling guide details how to foal out your mare at home: foaling supplies, signs of foaling, labor and delivery, and post-partum care.