The name for the Equine Flu condition is Allergic Respiratory Disease (ARD) and it shows up with flu-like symptoms rather than sinus or nasal difficulties. The horse's lungs will get inflamed, making them far more susceptible to virus and bacterial infections. This manifests as a recurring problem your horse never quite gets over. You'll also likely see coughing, excessive eye discharge and discover they get tired easily.

When you want to get the best treatment for ARD, figuring out what the problem is in the first place is half the battle and once you have that under control, your horse is well on his way to making a good recovery.

Arthritis and the Older Horse

There are a variety of home remedies or treatments you can use for your senior horse companion if he is having a lot of pain and inflammation with his arthritis. And several of them can be done at the same time. The thing to remember is that your horse is an individual and may not take too kindly to some treatments, and be just fine with others. Treat them accordingly and go with the flow.

You can try using a flexible ice pack or even a bag of frozen peas tucked in a towel on the swollen joint for 5 minutes. Remove for 15 minutes, repeat 3 times in a row. If you can wrap the joint, then try a standing bandage to help reduce swelling and inflammation. You can also try Neo-Ice Equine bandages or an ice gel that provides deep penetrating action to help reduce edema and inflammation.

Exercise should always start out slow and easy, a walk for 10 minutes, a slow trot, a walk, some turns and circles, some easy uphill work. When you first take him out, it will have to be for a shorter period of time to get him used to being out again. Over a period of time, based on his response, you can increase the duration of the exercises. Even if you walk and trot him by hand, he will enjoy the change of scenery.

Check your senior's diet and make sure he's getting the right dietary supplements in the right amounts. Don't assume his feed provides everything he needs. Check this with your Veterinarian. The large-intestinal function changes as your horse gets older, and they need higher-quality protein, alternative forms of roughage and supplemental vitamin B. Commercial senior feed is good for the older horse who cannot maintain weight. Just watch the deadly mixture of not enough exercise and too much rich food or you may wind up with a portly horse.