Marcia King
Marcia King is an award-winning freelance writer based in Ohio who specializes in equine, canine, and feline veterinary topics. She's schooled in hunt seat, dressage, and Western pleasure.
Articles by Marcia King
Deciphering Nutraceutical Labels
August 01, 2003
Did you ever go to the tack store and try to figure out the exact amounts per serving of each ingredient contained in some of the nutraceutical products? It can be an important issue if your horse's joint supplement, vitamin supplement, and food Read More
Upper Airway Problems in Horses
July 01, 2003
Noise and exercise intolerance...those are the usual signs of an upper airway disorder. Many things can go wrong with a horse's breathing mechanisms that don't involve the lungs. The diagnoses aren't always accurate, and treatments aren't totall Read More
Physical Therapy for Healing and Health
May 01, 2003
Call it what you will--equine physical therapy, equine therapy, physiotherapy, rehabilitation therapy, equine sports therapy, or even alternative therapy. The treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of movement dysfunctions, orthopedic ailment Read More
Saving Survivors
April 01, 2003
Amber is a 30-year-old Arabian mare which was slowly starving to death because her owners had run out of money to care for her. Because of her age and lack of potential and worth, Amber's owners allowed her to be pushed out of food and veterinar Read More
Common Skin Problems
March 01, 2003
We used to call it the "creeping crud"--a colorful, youthful label applicable to any gross-out skin disease the horse happened to have (and not to be confused with the cold-and-flu-like symptoms in humans that earned the same appellation). Read More
Ouch! That Hurts!
March 01, 2003
Pain. The Merriam-Webster electronic dictionary defines pain as 1: punishment; 2: usually localized physical suffering associated with bodily disorder (as a disease or an injury); also, a basic bodily sensation induced by a Read More
Vaccinations: Kick-Starting the Immune System
March 01, 2003
These days, research protocols are a little more sophisticated and complicated, although the basic premise for testing a vaccine is pretty much the same: The researcher vaccinates the animal against the infection or disease using some sort of disease Read More
Time to Say Goodbye
February 01, 2003
There comes a time in nearly all horse owners' lives when the last, best thing they can do for their horses is to release them from the agony of an untreatable condition or terminal illness via euthanasia. In some situations, the decision to Read More
Classic and Australian Stringhalt
February 01, 2003
It's a disturbing and distressing sight: You're backing your horse when one hind leg jerks forward and upward, nearly clipping his abdomen. It's the same every time you back your horse--this strange movement where his leg snaps up toward his Read More
Is Your Horse at Risk?
December 01, 2002
Like colds and the flu in humans, horses are at risk for contracting a number of common diseases such as mild respiratory ailments (colds) and flu, along with others that can have mild to devastating consequences. Fortunately, most of these Read More
Is His Heart In It?
December 01, 2002
Do you know why a Thoroughbred can deliver that great burst of speed to eat up a mile in 1 1/2 minutes, or how an endurance horse can maintain the strength and stamina to cover long distances at steady speeds? Of course you do: Conditioning. Read More
Hoof Dressings: What Studies Show
October 01, 2002
Hoof dressings aren't always what they're cracked up to be--at least not in the opinions of some experts. Ilka P. Wagner, DVM, owner of Equine Veterinary Services (Texas), and Susan Kempson, BSc, PhD, senior lecturer in Preclinical Veterinary Read More
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
October 01, 2002
You're preparing your mare for the upcoming breeding season. The stud owner insists on a bacterial culture of your mare's uterus prior to live breeding to reduce the chances of her passing any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) she might have Read More
Club Feet in Adult Horses
September 01, 2002
Some women love high heels. Walking in them might take some getting used to, but they provide the perfect look for big-city club-hopping or schmoozing at the latest gallery opening. They're not so great, though, for jogging or other sports. A Read More
Treat Hoof Punctures Early
May 01, 2002
It seems like such a mild problem, a nail or splinter in the tough hoof. The solution also seems simple--take the object out, clean the foot up, give the horse some time off, and everything will be all right. For superficial hoof wounds, that's Read More
Restricting Grazing
April 01, 2002
There are some food needs that just can't be argued against: 1) Humans need popcorn plus a cola at the movies; 2) Women need chocolate anytime; 3) Horses need forage at all times. While these combinations aren't equal in terms of supplying Read More
"Alternative Therapy" Associations
April 01, 2002
Whether you choose to embrace alternative or complementary medicines is, of course, up to you. However, a word to the wise: To protect yourself, your horse, and your bank account, select a licensed veterinarian who has taken advanced Read More
Smaller Horses, Bigger Reproductive Problems
March 01, 2002
Big gifts come in small packages. That's a fine sentiment when it comes to presents, but when it refers to miniature horse reproduction, that big gift/small package combo can be a little tough on the mare. It's not so great for the foal, either. Read More
Protecting Equine Investment
March 01, 2002
Equine insurance is not necessarily about how much the horse is worth, but how much the owner can afford to lose. Many horse owners in Kentucky, Ohio, and other states last year were struck by an unexpected, widespread loss of foals. Related Read More
Foaling Problems
December 01, 2001
A medical doctor once told me, "There’s only a 1% chance that a problem will develop, but if it develops in you, then it’s 100% a problem." So it goes with foaling: Foaling difficulties occur in less than 1% of births, but if it’s your mare, thi Read More
White Line Disease in the Hoof
December 01, 2001
Look up “white line disease” in your equine veterinary book, and you might not find it. This name for the condition was first coined in 1990, and the disorder is also known as seedy toe, hoof or stall rot, hollow foot, yeast infection, Candida, Read More
Maintaining Health Records: Keep Notes on Everything!
December 01, 2001
"Today ate 15 pounds of hay and six pounds of grain (very good). Chewed fence three times (better). Refused only two jumps (wrong color for my attitude). Rolled in mud 10 minutes after bath (very bad according to my person, but felt very Read More
Critter Control
November 01, 2001
Appreciating wildlife is fine, and horse people generally are wildlife lovers. However, when nature's creatures take up residence in your barns, sheds, or fields, they can bring disease and destruction. It's imperative to the health of humans, Read More
Hoof Pads for Healing
November 01, 2001
They come with an assortment of labels: "high-tech hoof pads," "comfort system pads," "hoof support systems," etc. They come in a variety of thicknesses and materials. But by whatever they’re dubbed, these designer pads have two things in common Read More
Coming Attractions: The Newest Dewormers
October 10, 2001
The next generation of dewormers is nearly here. Fort Dodge Animal Health anticipates final FDA approval for Moxidectin this year, while Pfizer Animal Health Group might see Doramectin reach the market in mid-1998. Like Ivermectin, Doramectin an Read More
