Keeping horses
healthy at shows and
events
Cathy Lombardi, DVM
The Oaks Equine and Farm Services
Smithfield, VA
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Vaccines
Coggins testing
Setting up a first aid kit
Safety at shows, trail rides and other
events
 Questions
Core Vaccines
 Vaccines that all horses should receive
whether or not they leave your property
 Diseases that are usually very serious or
even fatal
 Horse contracts disease from mosquitoes
(EEE,WEE,WNV), wildlife (rabies) or
environment (tetanus)
Viral encephalitis
 Caused by Eastern Equine Encephalitis
virus (EEE), Western Equine Encephalitis
virus (WEE) or West Nile Virus (WNV)
 EEE is the most serious and most horses
that contract EEE die or are euthanized
 EEE is VERY COMMON in unvaccinated
horses in this area
 EEE, WEE and WNV all have similar
signs
Signs of EEE
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Fever
Severe depression (“sleeping sickness”)
Ataxia (drunk, uncoordinated, fall down)
Seizure
Blind
95% fatality rate!
ALL HORSES MUST BE VACCINATED
EVERY 6 MONTHS FOR EEE!
WEE
 Signs are identical to EEE, but chance of
survival is higher (20-50% die)
 ALL HORSES IN THIS AREA SHOULD
BE VACCINATED EVERY 6 MONTHS
West Nile Virus
 First seen in the US in horses in 1999
 Fever, ataxia, circling, depression
 Muscle twitching in muzzle, neck and chest are
common
 30% horses with WNV die
 Treatment is supportive care (fluids, antiinflammatories) and can be costly ($1500 and
up)
 ALL HORSES SHOULD BE VACCINATED
EVERY 6 MONTHS
Rabies
 Contracted from wildlife biting horse
 Rare that bite wound is seen
 Uncommon disease, but because of
public health concern important to
vaccinate
 Usually takes the “dumb” form
 ALL HORSES SHOULD BE
VACCINATED ONCE A YEAR FOR
RABIES
Tetanus
 Caused by a bacteria in the environment C.
tetani
 Sawhorse stance, lock jaw
 Wounds, surgical sites (castrations), stepping
on nails
 ALL HORSES MUST BE VACCINATED AT
LEAST ONCE A YEAR AND BOOSTERED AT
TIME OF INJURY OR SURGERY
What if my horses leave the
property?
 Concerned about disease that they can
catch from other horses
 Influenza (Flu)
 Rhinopneumonitis (Rhino)
 Strangles (Strep equi)
 All respiratory diseases spread by direct
contact or aerosol from horse coughing
or sneezing
Flu and Rhino
 Viral respiratory diseases
 Runny nose, cough, fever, lethargic, off
feed
 Spread by aerosol
 VACCINES FOR FLU/RHINO SHOULD
BE GIVEN EVERY 4-6 MONTHS
Strangles
 Highly contageous bacterial infection of
upper respiratory tract
 Nasal discharge, fever, off feed, lethargy,
enlarged abscessed lymph nodes
 Can survive on wood for 7-9 weeks,
water for 6 weeks (DON’T USE
COMMUNAL WATER TANKS)
 Intra-nasal vaccine given annually may
prevent or lessen signs
Strangles
Other vaccines
 Botulism
 Found in soil, roundbales, rotting vegetation
 Shaker foal syndrome
 Vaccine only protects against 1 type “B” (3 shots
initially then once a year)
 Potomac Horse Fever
 Diarrhea, laminitis
 Vaccine lessens signs, may not prevent
 Every 6 months
 Pneumabort
 Herpes virus – abortions in mares, 5, 7 and 9
months of gestation
Should I do my own
vaccines?
 Anyone can learn to give a shot, the concern is
how the vaccine has been handled and stored
prior to giving it
 We have seen vaccine failures in owner
administered vaccines that were purchased
from on-line stores
 Seen outdated vaccine sold at tack stores
 Annual visit allows us to examine the horse,
give advice on feeding and husbandry
Coggins Test
 For Equine Infectious Anemia
 Fatal disease that has no treatment
 Horses may have no symptoms but can
spread it to other horses through biting
insects, reused needles
 If positive horse is found, euthanasia or
lifetime quarantine from other horses is
required
 b) No equine more than six months of age shall
be sold, offered for sale, traded, given away,
or moved for the purpose of change of
ownership unless accompanied by the
original official negative test for EIA
administered within 12 months prior to sale or
movement, except that equine which are offered
for sale at auction markets or sales may have a
blood sample drawn at the market by the
market's veterinarian at the seller's expense. In
such cases, the equine may be sold and
transferred contingent upon receipt of an official
negative EIA test. Until receipt of an official
negative EIA test, the equine must be isolated in
accordance with standards for isolation of
positive reactors, pursuant to 2 NCAC 52B
.0408(c)(2).
 (c) All equine brought to or kept at any
public stables or other public place for
exhibition, recreation or assembly shall
be accompanied by either the original or
a copy of an official negative test for EIA
administered within the previous 12
months. The owner, operator or person
in charge of any public stables or other
public place where equine are brought
or kept for exhibition, recreation or
assembly shall not permit an equine to
remain on the premises without the test
required by this Rule.
FIRST AID KIT - Basic
 Thermometer (+/- stethoscope)
 Wound Care (roll gauze, vet wrap, clean
towels, non stick pads, exam gloves)
 Sharp knife
 Rasp and pliers to pull shoe
 Duct tape and elastikon
 OTC meds (triple antibiotic ointment,
benadryl)
Safety on the road
 Make sure trailers are well maintained
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Tires (wear and pressure)
Floorboards (rotting)
Lights work (add reflective markers)
Breaks, Safety chains, etc
Hauling horses safely
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Leather or break-away halters
Tie at appropriate length
If hauling 1 horse, put in left side
Do up butt bar before tieing horse
Never load or tie horse to unhitched trailer
Supervise horses when tied to outside of trailer
– make sure ramp is up
 Have knife handy in case of accident
What to keep with you
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Copy of coggins test
Health Certificate if traveling out of state
First Aid kit
Water from home if horse is picky
Hammer if stalling overnight to pound in
protruding nails, etc.
Safety at events
 Pay attention to horses around you!
 If your horse tends to kick out at other horses
use a red ribbon in tail to alert others
 Avoid common water troughs
 Avoid overheating by finding shade, offering
water frequently
 Try to get vaccines about 3 weeks prior to your
“season” starting
Questions?