Veterinary Conditions.

The condition known as 'bighead' was first identified in Australian horses grazing on subtropical pastures in 1974. Since then, it has become widely recognised in horses grazing on buffel, pangola, setaria, kikuyu, green panic, guinea, and signal grasses. These tropical grasses, commonly planted along Australia's seaboards, contain oxalate - a chemical that significantly interferes with mineral utilisation by horses.

Developmental Orthopaedic Disease (DOD) is one of the most significant risks for foals and weanlings. It encompasses any orthopaedic issue involving tendons, joints, or bone tissue in growing horses. The diseases included under this definition are osteochondrosis (OCD), physitis and epiphysitis, angular limb deformities (ALD), flexural deformities (including contracted tendons), and wobbler disease.

Insulin resistance is associated with a range of diseases in both horses and humans. In horses, it is linked to conditions such as laminitis, hyperlipaemia, Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), Cushing's disease (PPID - Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction), osteochondrosis, colic, and grass founder. In humans, insulin resistance is connected to type II diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, polycystic ovary syndrome, and colorectal cancer.

The trouble with mud fever, also known as greasy heel, is that by the time you notice it, it’s usually already well-established. Immediate action is crucial to prevent it from progressing into a painful condition characterised by swelling, pain, lameness, scabs, discharge, and cracks in the skin. Multiple infections, including bacteria, fungi, yeasts, ringworm, and mites, can complicate treatment and prolong recovery.