Glossary of Equine Health and Veterinary Terms
Understanding basic veterinary terminology helps with communication with the professional and allows for timely action in the event of a problem. This glossary compiles the most common equine health terms in the daily management of horses.
Terms
- Colic
- Abdominal pain syndrome with many possible causes; the primary equine veterinary emergency.
- Laminitis
- Painful inflammation of the internal laminae of the hoof; an emergency that can permanently damage the foot.
- Coffin bone
- Bone located inside the hoof (third phalanx); its position is key to foot health.
- Vetting
- Veterinary check, especially a pre-purchase exam or those during endurance racing stages.
- Fecal exam
- Analysis of feces to detect parasites and adjust deworming.
- Vibrissae
- Sensory hairs (whiskers) around the mouth and eyes; trimming them is prohibited in FEI competition.
- Abscess
- Accumulation of pus, common in the hoof, causing acute lameness and usually requiring drainage.
- Gray
- Horse coat color that lightens with age; also, a common mistake, not to be confused with a disease.
- Quittor
- Infection of the horse's foot, often associated with wounds or foreign bodies.
- Stereotypy
- Repetitive behavior (crib-biting, weaving) associated with compromised welfare.
- Cushing's
- Common endocrine disorder in older horses that affects the coat and predisposes to laminitis.
- Mucous membranes
- Tissues like gums, whose color indicates the horse's circulatory and hydration status.
- Digital pulse
- Palpable pulsation in the pastern; an increase can indicate inflammation in the foot.
- Colostrum
- The mare's first milk, rich in antibodies, which the foal must ingest within the first hours of life.
- Deworming
- Treatment to eliminate internal parasites, ideally adjusted by fecal analysis.
