Equine Internal Medicine

The Equine Internal Medicine Service cares for horses with complex problems associated with the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, muscles and other internal organs (kidney, liver, endocrine) in adult horses and neonatal foals. The Equine Internal Medicine Service can also help with infectious diseases either in individual horses or on a herd/outbreak bases.

Our clinicians, residents, students, and veterinary nurses provide outpatient services for horses with less complex conditions, and hospitalization services for horses that require observation during treatment or 24-hour critical care. Intensive care treatment and monitoring may include continuous fluid and electrolyte therapy, oxygen therapy, 24-hour medication administration and monitoring, blood pressure and electrocardiogram monitoring, among others.

This service utilizes advanced diagnostic techniques including videoendoscopy, dynamic endoscopy, ultrasonographic examination, computed tomography, digital radiography and diagnostic sample acquisition based on the patient's clinical signs. The equine internal medicine service consults with board-certified specialists in radiology to best interpret diagnostic images on the same day as the visit. An in-house laboratory (Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory) allows for same-day analysis of most blood samples by board-certified specialists in Clinical and Diagnostic Pathology.

We work closely with other services in the Veterinary Health Center. Our board-certified cardiologist work with us to interpret electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart) examinations. Our board-certified dermatologist helps to interpret skin biopsies and results of allergy testing. Board-certified ophthalmologists examine our equine patient’s eyes when problems arise and the two services work closely and harmoniously to determine the best possible treatment plan.

The equine medicine clinicians in the Veterinary Health Center have completed four to six years of advanced training beyond veterinary school and are board certified diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

WATCH: Taking care of your horses in the spring

Current Issues in Equine Internal Medicine

• Tying up in horses - could a simple change in diet resolve the problem?
• West Nile virus
• Disorders of metabolism. Why can't my horse lose weight?
• Headshaking
• Heaves – Airway allergies are more common then you think