Animal Health: Recognizing Diseases and Disorders in Equine and Other Livestock

Disease

Any condition that disrupts normal body function.

Disorder

A broader term for abnormal structure or function including diseases, injuries, toxins exposure, or developmental issues.

Infectious Causes

Problems caused by living agents that can multiply and spread, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and protozoa.

Noninfectious Causes

Conditions that do not spread from animal to animal; includes nutritional, toxic, metabolic, trauma, genetic, and environmental causes.

Nutritional Causes

Health issues due to deficiencies or excesses, such as poor-quality forage leading to weight loss.

Toxic Causes

Health effects from poisonous plants, chemical exposure, or drug reactions.

Metabolic Disorders

Body chemistry problems, such as ketosis in dairy cattle or equine metabolic syndrome.

Trauma Causes

Injuries like wounds, fractures, or foreign bodies that impact health.

Genetic Disorders

Inherited defects or developmental issues affecting health, such as orthopedic diseases.

Environmental Causes

Health problems related to conditions like heat stress, poor ventilation, and overcrowding.

Colic

A common digestive issue in horses with various noninfectious causes.

Laminitis

Inflammation of the hoof laminae leading to reluctance to move and other signs in horses.

Arthritis

A degenerative joint disease characterized by stiffness, swelling, and decreased performance.

Fractures

Breaks in the bone causing severe lameness, swelling, and sometimes abnormal limb positioning.

Heat Stress

Condition when an animal cannot dissipate body heat effectively, leading to clinical signs like increased heart rate and weakness.

Poor Air Quality

Contributes to respiratory issues like coughing, nasal discharge, and increased respiratory effort in animals.

Zoonotic Disease

An infection that can be transmitted between animals and humans.

Rabies

A fatal viral neurologic disease that can be transmitted through bat or animal bites.

Salmonellosis

A bacterial infection causing diarrhea in both animals and humans, spread through fecal contamination.

Immunity

The ability of the body to resist a particular disease, with active and passive immunity being the two main types.

Vaccination

A method to stimulate the body’s immune response to prevent diseases.

Active Immunity

Protection produced by the animal’s own immune system after exposure to an antigen.

Passive Immunity

Immediate protection received from maternal antibodies, primarily through colostrum.

Core Vaccination

Essential vaccines given to animals based on their health risks and species.

Biosecurity

Measures taken to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases in animal populations.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Gear worn to reduce exposure to hazards that can cause illness or injury.