Herd Health Management
Equine Science II
Know Your Equine
1.
2.
3.
The equine should be in good body
condition and move freely
Normal vital signs may vary from one
equine to another
Determine normal vital sign when the
equine is at rest.
4.
Recognize changes
a.
Loss of appetite is one of the
first warnings that something
is wrong.
b.
Observe changes in the color,
texture, amount, etc. of
manure.
c.
Dullness of eyes and coat, a
runny nose or a persistent
cough can all be indications
that something is wrong.
Respiration
1.
The normal rate an equine breathes while
at rest is 8-16 breaths per minute.
a. Any kind of distress or activity
increases a equine’s respiration rate.
b. When respiration rate exceeds the heart
rate, the equine has a serious problem.
Normally the heart beat about four
times per breath the equine takes.
2.
Respiration rate can be determined
without special equipment by:
a. Counting the number of times the flanks
move in and out per minute. (Flanks
move in and out with each breath).
b.
c.
Counting the number of times the
nostrils flare and contract per minute.
(the nostrils flare and contract with each
breath.)
Holding the hand in front of the nostrils
to feel the breaths that the equine takes
may also help.
Temperature
1.
The normal temperature range is 99.5101.5 degrees F.
a. 102 degrees F is a mild fever, 104
degrees F is moderate and 106 degrees
F is a high fever
b. The chance for recovery by an equine
with a high temperature is low.
2.
Rest equine with a 102 degree F
temperature and call a veterinarian when
the temperature rises to 103 degrees.
3.
Use a veterinary thermometer to check a
equine’s temperature.
a.
Always take the equine’s temperature
rectally.
b.
Allow three minutes for accurate
reading
c.
Use the string attached to the
thermometer to secure and retrieve.
d.
Inserting the thermometer full length
helps prevent breaking
4.
Procedure for taking equine’s temperature:

Shake the mercury down to the 95-97
degree range.
Dip the bulb of the thermometer, bulb first,
full length into the rectum
 Fasten the thermometer to the equine’s tail
using the clip-on string.
 Remove after 3 minutes, read and then
wash the thermometer with soap and cool
water
 Finally, dip the thermometer in a
disinfectant solution and rinse it again

Heart Rate
1.
Normal heart rate varies

Adult: 28-40 beats per
minute

Newborn foal: 80-120

Older foals: 60-80

Yearlings: 40-60
2.
Establish the normal rate for the equine by
checking the rate when the horse is calm, cool,
and relaxed.

The heart rate may have to be checked several
times to identify a comfortable range for the
normal rate

An ill equine may have a heart rate from 80120 beats per minute for long periods
3.
Determine a equine’s heart rate by
counting the pulse for 30 seconds and
multiplying by 2
a.
Locate an artery at one of the following
points








Lower jaw
The cheek 4” below eye
Under the tail close to the
body
Inside foreleg
Inside left elbow
Against chest wall
Behind the knee
Inside or outside of the
pastern
b.
c.
Press the fingers against an artery and
count each throb.
Use a stethoscope just behind the
equine’s left elbow
Why First Aid

The nature of equine makes them accidentprone and they are subject to:
 Kicks or bites from other horses, falls and
injuries sustained by running through or
over obstructions when frightened

Equines are naturally
curious and may be
injured as a result of
pawing objects or sticking
their heads through holes
in fences or stall walls.

Equines may develop unsoundness from
injuries because of stress and strain to
tendons, ligaments, muscles, bones, etc. and
are caused by:
 Overworking or over exercise from
trainers, riders, etc.
 Improper exercise (too little followed by
too much)

First aid measure are needed for open
wounds so that:
 Excessive bleeding which can result in
death is controlled. (Some controlled
bleeding is good because it helps flush
the wound of contaminated material)
The contaminated
wound becomes a
clean wound.
 The wound heals
rapidly


Other reasons for first
aid treatment include
reducing pain, calming
the animal until a
veterinarian can arrive,
and preventing further
injury.
Common First Aid Treatments
Wounds
a.
Abrasions (skin scrapes) are superficial
wounds caused by falls or tack and are
treated by gently and thorough washing
of the area with lukewarm water or a
saline solution and when possible
applying a light bandage.
b.
Equine who suffer wounds more
serious than abrasions or superficial
cuts must be treated by a
veterinarian, but first aid used for all
open wound should be used until a
vet arrives.
1. Move the equine to a quiet area
and calm it down.
2.
3.
Hose the wounded area to remove dirt, clay
and other contaminants. (Excessive
pressure may force foreign materials
deeper into the wound.
Clean the wounded area with either saline
solution (1 tsp of salt in 1 pint boiled water
is .84% salt solution) or diluted solution of
mild skin antiseptic in warm water (1%
iodine-based washes such as Povidone
Iodine or Chorhexidine)
4.
5.
Remove foreign objects from puncture
wounds and apply a poultice to draw out
contaminating materials and keep the
wound open
Applying firm, direct pressure with a
sterile pad to the wound and holding it in
place to control arterial bleeding (spurts
our of the wound and is bright red).
Reconstituted cellulose and absorbable
gelatin sponges help blood clot and may be
left in the wound since they are absorbed
by the body.
Lameness
a.
Check each hoof for any foreign object
lodged in the sole or frog, remove the
object and observe the equine for signs of
lameness and rest the equine.
b.
First aid treatment for closed wounds,
injuries or swelling include:
1. Application of cold is a common first
aid treatment because it reduces pain,
swelling, bleeding and inflammation
2. Cold treatment should not continue
past the first 24-48 hours
3. Apply cold treatment for 20-30
minutes and then wait one hour before
starting another 30 minute treatment
Bruises and Fractures
a.
b.
Call a veterinarian
If leg fracture is suspected,
immobilize the leg with a
pillow held in place as tightly
as possible by wrapping
bandages tightly around the
pillow and leg.
Strains and Sprains
a.
b.
Muscle strains/sprains to tendons and
ligaments may be treated with an alcohol
rub or liniment
After the application of liniment, the
owner or caretaker should wrap the
horse’s legs in rest bandages.
Bandages used for wounds,
sprains and support
1.
Bandages may protect a wound from
dirt, decrease movement of the
wounded or affected area, allow faster
healing, cover medications, minimize
swelling and provided support.
a.
Bandages consist of padding
material and an adhesive, elastic or
not-elastic wrap
b.
Vet rap is a self-adhering, elastic bandage
with contouring qualities which can make
it useful for bandaging difficult areas,
pressure bandages and ice packs
2.
A stable bandage extends from below the knee
or hock to the fetlock and is used to support the
lower leg: support the leg opposite an injured
leg: or for wounds. Apply a stable bandage by:
a.
Wrapping padding snugly around the leg from
just below the joint to below the fetlock and
cover with wrapping flannel or knit wrap
starting near the middle of the cannon bone.
b.
c.
Tuck the end of the wrap under the edge
of the padding, and wrap once around the
leg to just below the fetlock joint.
The bandage should wrap below the back
of the joint but rise higher in front,
causing an upside down “V” on the front
of the joint.
3.
Cold water bandages are used to apply
cold pressure to cool a warm strained leg.
Apply a cold-water bandage by applying
cold water to the leg or soaking padding in
ice water and applying padding directly to
the leg without wringing it out.
a.
b.
Wrap the padding snugly
with a knit leg wrap.
Run cold water over the
bandage frequently and do
not let the bandage dry out
4.
Bandages should be changed when they
are no longer functional; the leg is swollen
above or below the bandage; the equine
shows signs of pain; the bandage slips out
of position or the bandage becomes dirty.
Hoof Anatomy
1.
Parts of a horse’s foot
a.
The hoof wall is a horny substance made of
parallel fibers protected by a varnish-like
coating called periople that also holds
moisture in the hoof.

The hoof wall functions to: provide a
weight bearing surface, protect the internal
structure of the foot and maintain moisture
in the foot.
b.
c.
The coronet, or coronary band is an area
directly above the hoof wall that serves as
the source of growth for the hoof wall.
The pastern- The part of the horse’s leg
between the fetlock and the coronet that
affects the stride of the horse.
d.
e.
The sole of the foot is a horny substance
that protects the sensitive inner portions.
The frog is a triangular shaped formation
in the sole of an equine’s foot. The frog of
a healthy hoof must remain elastic as it
acts like a shock absorber.
2.
The hoof is designed to change shape
when weight is applied. As weight is
applied the sole flattens and the hoof
expands laterally at the heel.
Growth of the Hoof
1.
The growth rate of the hoof is about 3/8”
per month depending on exercise and
general health of the equine.
a. Hind hooves grow faster than front
hooves because they have less weight
to rise.
b.
c.
Unshod hooves grow faster than shod
because the nails and shoe of a shod
hoof limits movement.
The hooves of mares and geldings grow
faster than stallions because they get
more exercise than stallions.
2.
The hoof grows at a 45-55 degree angle
with the ground.
Important Points in Foot Care
1.
Foot care is often neglected as a horse
management practice. Foot care includes
a. Routine cleaning with a pick. Pick from
the heel to the toe of the foot to prevent
injury.
b. Trimming the hooves every 4-6 weeks
so they retain proper shape and length.
c.
d.
Correcting minor imperfections by
trimming such as splayfoot, toed in and
toed out.
Treatment of foot diseases and injuries.
Thrush is a bacterial infection that
penetrates the frog, making it soft and
mushy. Thrush is related to lack of
cleaning. Wet conditions cause rapid
drying out of the horse’s foot.
Reasons for Shoeing
1.
2.
3.
4.
Protect the hooves from excessive wear.
Provide better traction.
Help correct defects of stance or gait such
as forging.
Help cure diseased or defected hooves
such as inflamed tendons.
5.
Shoes can provide relief from the pain of
injured parts such as bruised soles and
hoof wall cracks.
6.
Shoes do not make walking easier; shoes
do not improve agility; shoes do increase
shock and road concussion and nail holes
made in attaching shoes weaken the hoof
wall, may cause separation and may
provide entry for infection
7.
A proper fitting shoe should follow closely
the outline of the trimmed hoof at the toe
and around the wall to the bend of the
quarter. Then it should widen gradually
until it extends laterally 1/8” beyond the
hoof wall at the heel. This provides
support for the expanded hoof when the
horse places weight on the shod foot.
8.
9.
The branch of a properly fitted shoe
should not project beyond the upper part
of the hoof at the heel.
The last nail should be placed on the
widest part of the hoof. Placing the nail
too far to the rear hinders the lateral
expansion of the foot at the heel.
Common Dental Problems
1.
2.
A common problem is painful sores in the
equine’s mouth as a result of sharp edges
of hooks on the molars caused when the
equine’s molars do not meet evenly.
Wolf teeth (one to four small teeth that
may develop in front of the molars) can
cause “bit” problems.
3.
Canine teeth on older equine can get too
long, hit the opposite gum and cause
sores.
4.
Temporary teeth (caps) that fail to fall out
may stick to the equine’s gums while the
permanent teeth are coming in and can
make chewing difficult.
5.
Parrot mouth is a common problem that
results when the lower jaw is too short and
affects the equine’s ability to graze.
6.
Chipped or broken incisors may result
from the bad habit of cribbing.
a. Cribbing a bad habit of equines living in
stalls that results from boredom.
b. Cribbing occurs when an equine grabs
objects with their teeth, arch their necks
and swallow air.
Recognizing Dental Problems
1.
Observe the equine while it is eating to
learn if it has problems chewing. Signs
are:

The equine moves food around it its
mouth a lot prior to swallowing and
food falls from the horse’s mouth as it
eats.

The equine refuses to eat
2.
Make an examination of the equine's
mouth by:

Grasping the equine’s lower jaw with
one hand to open the mouth.

At the same time use the other hand to
pull and hold the equine’s tongue to the
side of the mouth so that visual
inspection can be made.
Correcting Dental Problems
1.
2.
A veterinarian uses a special rasp called a
float to file and remove sharp edges from
an equine’s teeth.
A veterinarian can pull wolf teeth.
3.
4.
Equine with parrot mouth should not be
bred since parrot mouth is an inherited
defect.
Equine may be prevented from cribbing
by placing:

Cribbing strap around the equine’s
throatlatch.

The strap presses on the equine’s
trachea when it arches its neck.
Internal Parasites
An internal parasite lives at least part of its
life cycle inside the host.
 There are more than 150 types of internal
parasites that can infect equine.

No individual equine is ever completely
free of internal parasites but relatively few
internal parasites cause serious damage to
the equine.
 Most internal parasites live in the digestive
tract, lungs, bloodstream or body cavity of
the equine.


The extent of injury from internal parasites
depends on:
 The kind of parasite.
 The number of parasites involved, and
 The length of time the parasite lives in
the host.

The general life cycle of internal parasites
includes five stages:
Stage 1- Eggs from the internal parasite
pass out of the equine in the feces and is
deposited on the pasture.
 Stage 2- Eggs hatch on the pasture and
become infective larvae.
 Stage 3- The equine ingest the larvae on
the grass stem.

Stage 4- The immature parasites migrate
through the equine’s tissues.
 Stage 5- The mature parasites live in the
digestive tract and lay eggs.


The MOST abundant and harmful internal
parasites affecting equine are:

Large strongyles (bloodworms) pose the
most serious threat to the equine’s health
out of all internal parasites.
 Migrate within artery walls from the
digestive tract toward the heart.
 May cause damage to arteries so the
equine bleeds internally and dies.

Small strongyles spend their entire life
cycle in the intestinal walls.
 Cause ulcerations in the intestinal
walls that may interfere with
digestion.
 They do not attach to the lining of the
intestine and they do not suck blood.

Ascarids (large roundworms) are the
largest parasite that infect equine.
 May grow to 15” long and be the size
of a pencil.
 Affect young equine less than two
years of age.

May damage the heart, liver, lungs, and
cause lockage of the small intestine
resulting in colic or death should the
intestine rupture.

Pinworms are more of a nuisance causing
digestive problems but resulting in little
damage.

Bots are flies that lay eggs on various
parts of the equine.
 Eggs hatch into larvae and are
ingested by the equine when the
equine licks the area where eggs are
laid.
 Other eggs hatch and larvae crawl into
the mouth, from the nostrils and lips
where they mature in the gums and
membranes of the inner lips.
When horsemen refer to bots, they
usually mean the mature larvae that
attach to the lining of the stomach.
 Bots cause stomach problems and can
block the entrance to the small
intestine causing the stomach to
rupture.


Management practices and treatment
include:
 Proper manure disposal which includes:
 Timely removal on a weekly basis
 Composting prior to spreading on
pasture grazed by animals other than
equine or spread on cropland or
ungrazed areas.

Proper pasture management that includes
 The use of temporary pastures where
possible.
 Frequent mowing and grain harrowing.
 Rotational grazing when possible.
 Separate pasture for young and old
equine.
 Avoiding overstocking.

Never feed equine from the ground.
Always use troughs and mangers.

Regular use of dewormer under the
supervision of a veterinarian.
 Ivermectin, a form of avermectin,
controls al common internal parasites.
 Dewormers may be administered
easily with little chance of injury by a
paste.
The most effective way to administer a
dewormer is by a stomach tube but
usually a veterinarian is required for
that procedure.
 Feed additives are effective as long as
the equine will eat the materials.

External Parasites
External parasites annoy equine and may
infect equine with deadly diseases.
 External parasites may leave a equine weak,
lower feed efficiency and produce raw
sores.


Some common external parasites that attach
equine include:
 Ticks can cause damage and transmit
disease such as African equine fever.

Lice are most often found on neglected
equine.
 Two types of lice live on equine: The
biting louse and the sucking louse.
 Lice spread quickly from equine to
equine.

Mites cause the condition mange or
scabies in equine.
 Mange is very contagious
 Separate equine with mange from
healthy equine and use different
grooming equipment
Gnats are bloodsuckers and cause
extreme itching after they bite.
 Mosquitoes carry viruses and bacteria
which cause diseases such as equine
infectious anemia (sleeping sickness).


Flies are annoying to equine and carry
stomach worms from equine to equine.
 Female screworm flies lay eggs in
fresh wounds on animals that hatch
into larva that feed on the tissue
resulting in large sores.

Management practices and treatment for
external parasites include;
 Regular removal of manure, dirty stall
bedding and materials which encourage
the breeding of parasites.
 Maintaining fresh water supplies to
discourage breeding by external parasites.
Use chemicals according to label
instructions as repellants and control
methods.
 Use regular insecticide application on
infected animals according to label
instructions.

Use biological controls such as predator
wasp to reduce the need for chemical
controls.
 Use mechanical controls such as a face
mask made from scrap leather or
commercial vinyl masks to keep face flies
away.

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)
1.
2.
A viral diseases that affects the equine’s
immune system resulting in recurrent
fever, weight loss and anemia.
Once an equine is infects, it remains
infected for the rest of its life.
3.
Chronically infected equine may go for
years without showing signs of anemia
only to have the sign recur when stress,
environmental conditions or other disease
affects the equine.
4.
5.
Horseflies and deerflies are the major
natural transmitters of the virus from one
equine to another.
Detection- A blood test called the
“Coggins test” is used to detect the
presence of EIA.
6.
7.
Equine must have a negative Coggins test
before they can compete or be placed in
events in North Carolina
Prevention involves isolation from equine
that are not infected and protection from
biting, flying insects.
8.
Treatment

There is no effective treatment or
vaccination for the disease

In some cases, equine with EIA are
required to be euthanized.
Equine Influenza
1.
There are two common features of this
viral infection

Extremely rapid spread of infection

Frequent, dry cough
2.
3.
Equine with influenza have an elevated
temperature of 102.5-105 degrees F which
persist up to 5 days
The death rate from influenza is very low
4.
The virus is spread to other equine when
the equine exhales or coughs and may be
carried by handlers on equipment that
have been in contact with an infected
equine.
5.
Prevention

Use two intramuscular injections of
influenza vaccine scheduled 2-4 weeks
apart followed by a booster shot at 3-4
month intervals for horses at risk.

Isolation of infected equine and
screening animals prior to
transportation will reduce the spread of
the disease.
6.
Treatment

One week of stall rest is recommended
for each day the equine has an elevated
temperature due to influenza

Maintain a dust free environment during
the illness and recovery by wetting hay
and providing clean bedding.
Equine Rhinopneumonitis
1.
2.
This is a respiratory disease caused by
EHV virus.
The infection is accompanied by a gold
colored nasal discharge among foals.
3.
4.
The virus associated with this disease also
may cause abortions in pregnant mares
and occasional paralysis.
Equine may develop a temperature of 102106 degrees F which lasts for 12-48 hours.
5.
Equine become infected when they inhale
the virus exhaled by sick or even
apparently healthy equine that are
infected.
6.
Prevention requires a combination of:

Sensible management practices
 Mares should be isolated and
separated from other equine
 Thorough cleaning and sanitation in
the event of dead or aborted fetus

Vaccination
th th
 Vaccinate pregnant mares in the 5 7
and 9th month of pregnancy.
 Young equine should receive two
injections followed by a booster
according to manufacturer’s
recommendations
7.
Treatment is limited as there is not
specific anti-viral therapy available.
Strangles
1.
2.
A highly contagious bacterial infection
most commonly found in young equine
from one to five years of age.
Early signs of strangles include fever,
depression and loss of appetite due to
difficulty with swallowing.
3.
4.
As strangles progresses, the lower jaw and
throatlatch region may become hot,
swollen and painful with abscesses
forming and rupturing onto the skin.
Pus from ruptured abscesses may
contaminate water buckets and communal
feeders for months.
5.
When strangles
develop and
abscesses from on
internal organs,
mortality may be
as high as 10%.
6.
Prevention and treatment are used in
conjunction.

Treat ruptured abscesses with a mild
antiseptic solution to hasten healing



Administer Procaine penicillin G as an
antibiotic treatment until clinical signs no
longer exist for five days.
Isolate affected animals from all other
equine
Vaccinate with 2 or 3 injections one
month apart and apply a booster annually.
Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA)
1.
2.
EVA is a viral infection that causes
respiratory illness with nasal and ocular
discharges, swelling (stocking up) of the
hind limbs and other areas of the body and
sometimes abortion.
EVA may be passed by respiratory
transmission when equine come in close
contact.
3.
4.
Equine invariable make uneventful
clinical recoveries even without treatment
Perhaps EVA is most pronounced as a
breeding disease through the venereal
spread of the disease by acutely affected
stallions.

Viral persistence in the stallion can
range from several weeks to the entire
lifetime of the equine

Mares can be infected either at time of
natural breeding or artificial breeding.
5.
Prevention

Immunize the breeding stallion
population with MLV vaccine.

Immunize all mares if they are
inseminated with EVA positive semen.
6.
Treatment

There is no specific anti-viral treatment
for equine with EVA

Infected stallions should receive forced
rest if they show symptoms of the
disease.
Eastern, Western and Venzuelan
Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE,
WEE, and VEE)
1.
EEE, WEE, and VEE are viral infections
that result in the inflammation of the
brain.
2.
The viral infections are spread by insect
contact.

The virus may live in reservoir hosts
such as birds and rodents for long
periods of time without harming the
host.


The virus is transmitted and spread by
mosquitoes (vectors) to equine and
humans.
The viral infection is not transmitted
between equine and humans.
3.
The disease has high mortality rates:

EEE is 75-100%

WEE is 20-50%

VEE is 40-80%
4.
5.
Complete recovery is rare with equine
frequently continuing to exhibit
clumsiness, depression and abnormal
behavior.
Signs of EEE, WEE, and VEE include
aggression, propulsive walking,
excitability, and a number of things that
indicate the equine is confused.
6.
Prevention focuses on mosquito control.

Use insecticides and repellants when
possible and practical

Eliminate standing water

Screen stalls, use fans to move air, and
limit the use of incandescent lights in
stall areas


Brings equine inside prior to dusk
Vaccinate with 3 injections at 3, 4, and 6
months of age and give a booster at the
beginning of insect season
7.
Treatment

There is not specific treatment available
Equine Colic
1.
Colic is the behavioral signs of abdominal
pain in equine characterized by various
activities including, but not limited to: tail
twitching; head tossing; kicking toward
the belly with one of the hind limbs;
pawing the ground; grinding the cheek
teeth and frequent attempts to lie down
and roll on the back, etc.
2.
3.
True colic is due to intestinal obstruction or
disease which causes pain
95% of all colic cases are from two causes

Spasmodic causes where their is intestinal
spasm caused by numerous things such as
stress, anxiety, diet change, parasite damage,
dewormers, etc.

Large intestinal impaction (constipation)
caused most often by improper diet and
exercise (Human management is often
culprit)
4.
Prevention

Use a parasite management program to
avoid problems

Careful rotation of pasture helps
reduce levels of parasites

Avoid overstocking pastures

Use “Ivermectin” as a deworming
compound

Pay attention to the equine’s diet
5.
Treatment

Place the equine in a safe environment

Treat with analgesia for pain relief

Treat with mineral oil as a laxative


Remove feed until the equine has
improved and then reintroduce feed
gradually
Do not allow the equine to eat too much
hay or roughage (lightly grazing the
pasture is recommended)
Founder
1.
2.
Characterized by the hoof collapsing as a
result of laminitis (inflammation of the
supporting tissue between the hoof wall
and pedal bone)
Causes lameness in the horse and if left
unchecked can cause permanent lameness
or even require euthanization.
3.
4.
The leading cause of founder is
gastrointestinal disturbance from any
number of factors such as colic, grain
overload, lush grass, excessive cold
water, etc.
Other factors that cause founder are
exhaustion, excessive concussion (road
founder) contact with black walnut
shavings, etc.
5.
Prevention

Control diet

Avoid overworking the equine
6.
Treatment

Identify cause and direct treatment
toward alleviating the problem

Increase blood flow to the laminae
through the use of drugs and IV fluids

Use aspirin or heparin to thin blood



Use anti-inflammatory non-steroidal
drugs (Ketaproten) to reduce laminar
swelling
Pack the frog and sole to increase support
Use specialized shoes to relieve pressure
to the hoof area.
Tetanus (Lockjaw)
1.
2.
Caused by a neurotoxin that allows
uncontrolled muscle contraction and
muscle spasms
Affected horses most often have sustained
a wound from 2 days to a month prior to
the onset of tetanus; however, tetanus
bacteria also live in the equine’s digestive
tract
3.
4.
Tetanus has become less common due to
vaccination, but is still highly fatal
Equine usually die from suffocation,
cardiac arrest or starvation since their
muscular system does not function
5.
Prevention

Vaccination with two doses of toxoid
vaccine given one month apart followed
by a booster shot annually

Equine that are injured should receive
the toxoid booster if there is no record
of prior shots
6.
Treatment

Administer penicilln

Aggressively clean the wound

Administer tetanus anitoxin

Use tranquilizers and muscle relaxes to
relieve spasms and muscle pain

Provide IV fluids and nutritional
support
Potamac Horse Fever (PHF)
1.
2.
PHF is a disease which in its extreme form
results in profuse, watery diarrhea, fever,
shock and laminitis
The occurrence of PHF disease is
consistently within 5 miles of a river
3.
4.
PHF is caused by an organism that can
survive within living cells and must be
transmitted through blood cells by insects
such as ticks
Equine with PHF are not considered
contagious to other equine
5.
Prevention

Vaccinate with two injections one
month apart

Give a booster injection annually in
May or June
6.
Treatment

A veterinarian should use tetracycline
(anti-microbial drug) for 4-5 days

IV fluids, frog pads, sole support, and
anti-inflammatory drugs also help
Borreliosis (Lyme Disease)
1.
2.
3.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection
transmitted primarily by certain ticks
Rare among equine and only a problem
where Lyme disease is found among
human populations
Arthritis is the most commonly reported
sign of Lyme disease in equine
4.
Prevention

Careful grooming to remove ticks

Avoiding tick-infested areas
5.
Treatment

Use antibiotics such as tetracycline and
ampicillin

Prolonged treatment of 10-30 days
usual
West Nile Virus (WNV)
1.
Viral infection that can cause
inflammation of the brain and often
mimics EEE in equine

First introduced in western hemisphere
in 1999

Equine are more often affected by WNV
than any other domesticated animal
2.
WNV is spread by mosquitoes when they
bite an infected bird and then bite a human
or an equine

Equine are not contagious and do not
pose a health risk to other animals or
humans

About 30% of horses who show clinical
signs either die or have to be euthanized
3.
Clinical sign of WNV may include
circling, aimless wandering, head
pressing, impaired vision, hyper
excitability, etc.
4.
5.
Prevention

See mosquito and control techniques
listed for EEE, WEE and VEE

A veterinarian should vaccinate with
“protocol” and follow with a booster
injection three weeks later
Treatment is still developing
THE END!!!