Equine Herpesvirus
Equine herpesvirus-1 (also known as "rhino"), which causes upper respiratory infection, can also cause neurological signs. There is currently no known method to reliably prevent the neurological form of EHV-1 infection. It is recommended to maintain appropriate vaccination procedures in an attempt to reduce the incidence of the respiratory form of EHV-1 infection, which may help prevent the neurologic form. It is recommended that horses be vaccinated every 90 days, especially those who come in contact with horses from other properties ( i.e. Boarding Facilities, Show Circuts, Race Tracks etc.). Transmission of the virus can occur via coughing or sneezing over a distance of up to 35 feet as well as by direct contact with infected horses, feed and equipment.
For more information on EHV-1 in our area, including Outbreaks and Quarentines, visit the following links below.
Maryland Department of Agriculture
Deleware Department of Agriculture
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Virginia Department of Agriculture
Dog Flu Facts
-The H3N8 influenza virus has jumped from horses to dogs
-This H3N8 virus causes "dog flu"
-Initial findings of H3N8 infected dogs were at a Florida greyhound racing track
-the H3N8 virus causes symptoms that mimic traditional "kennel cough"
-"Kennel cough" is typically caused by bordetella bronchispetica bacterium
-Other symptoms of H3N8 infection nasal discharge and fever
-Both H3N8 and bordella are contagious between dogs
-Dogs diagnosed with H3N8 infection should be isolated
-Approximately 80% of H3N8 infections will be mild
-A small minority of infected dogs may experience complications such as pneumonia
-A small minority of infected dogs will also be asymptomatic and will
not show any signs of the infection. Howerver, it is believed
that asymptomatic dogs are infectious
-The H3N8 virus has never infected humans
H3N8 causes a mortality rate of 5 to 8% in infected dogs
-There have been verified occurences of H3N8 in dogs in South Florida shelters boarding facilities and veterinary clinics
-H3N8 has also been verified in New York and Massachusetts
-If a pet dogs exhibits coughing, nasal discharge or fever, the dog should be treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible
-Dog owners that have a dog that recently had a respiratory infection
should keep their dogs home for a couple of weeks after the illness as
to not infect other dogs
Slobbers
Cause: Ingesting legume forages paralized by the fungus Rhizoctonia leguminicola, which produces an alkaliod slaframine. The fungus, sometimes called "black-patch," thrives in humid conditions.
Symptoms: Excessive production of saliva, leading to drooling and foaming at the mouth. Horses may also have watery eyes, frequent urination and loss of appetite.
Complications if untreated: Diarrhea and labored breathing.
Treatment: Remove horses from pasture and/or hay containing legumes (especially red clover). Most cases resolve within a day or two.
Summer Seasonal Recurrent Dematitis
Cause: Seasonal allergy to the saliva of Culicoides flies (midges or "no-see-ums"). Particularly common in Icelandic horses foaled in Iceland or Europe, but may affect any breed.
Symptoms: Weeping or crusty blisters, scabs and scaly skin, usually near the mane and tail and ventral area.
Complications if untreated: Intense itchiness causes the horse to rub on any available object, leading to hair loss and bleeding open sores.
Treatment: Reduce exposure to Culicoides by keeping horses indoors in summer, using fly sprays, or employing summer fly sheets. One study suggested feeding ground flaxseed (a source of omega-3 fatty acids) helps reduce symptoms.
Dehydration
Causes: Inadequate water intake and profuse sweating, especially during exercise under hot and humid conditions.
Symptoms: Loss of skin elasticity, weak pulse, poor jugular vein distension, elevated heart rate. If severe, horses will be shocky, colicky, and disoriented, with cold extremities.
Complications if untreated: Impaired renal and gastrointestinal function, loss of focus and judgement, electrolyte imbalance (affecting fluid exchange in and out of cells, acid/base equilibrium in tissues, and nerve and muscle firing).
Treatment: Encourage horse to drink clean, lukewarm water. Offer electrolytes in solution or administer by oral syringe, mixed with applesauce for palatability. Emergency rehydration with IV fluids if necessary. Ensure horse has access to loose or block salt.
Photosensitization
Cause: Exposure to Alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum) in pasture or hay, combined with exposure to strong sunlight. (Other plants such as St. Johns Wort and wild buckwheat, and certain mycotoxins may also produce similar symptoms.) High moisture content in plants in early summer may exacerbate symptoms.
Symptoms: Severe sunburn, peeling skin, swelling, weeping sores on muzzle and pasterns, especially if horse has white markings. Mouth ulcers and pinpoint hemorrages of the tongue and gums also possible.
Complications if untreated: Toxins in Alsike clover can lead to serious liver disease.
Treatment: Remove horse from pasture (or stop feeding hay containing alsike) and reduce exposure to sunlight until symptoms subside.
Summer Pasture-Associated Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Cause: Seasonal allergies to pollens on or near pastureland.
Symptoms: Labored breathing, resembling "heaves." Wheezing, abdominal expiration line, reduced exercise tolerance, nasal and/or eye discharge.
Complications if untreated: Cumulative respiratory damage, loss of use.
Treatment: Remove horse from pasture until symptoms subside. House in a stall and limit exposure to grasses, dusts and molds. Offer pelleted feeds and beet pulp rather than hay, and avoid bedding on straw which can have a high dust/mold content. Administer chodilators as necessary. Inhalation therapy can be particularly helpful to some horses.
Anhydrosis
Cause: Unknown. Commonly seen in hot, humid climates-southern U.S., Caribbean, South America, Africa and Australia.
Symptoms: Horse is unable to sweat, or may only sweat in limited patches such as under the mane. He will pant vigorously when overheated, and his internal temperature may quickly rise to dangerous levels.
Complications if untreated: Heat stress/stroke
Treatment: The only sure-fire cure is to ship the horse to a more northern climate. If that's not possible, cool the horse frequently via cold hosing and misting fans. Avoid exercising the horse except in cool conditions. Thyroid hormone supplementation may stimulate sweating in some horses.
Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter, aka Thumps
Cause: A byproduct of intense exercise and dehydration/electrolyte imbalance, usually in hot and humid conditions. Elevated blood pH and/or low levels of blood calcium may also be factors. These conditions increase irritability of the phrenic nerve, which controls the contraction of the diaphragm. The phrenic nerve may then become sensitized and stimulated by the electrical activity of the heart, which in turn triggers repeated contraction of the diaphragm. Horses on diuretics may be at increased risk.
Symptoms: Diaphragm or flank muscles jerk spasmatically (sometime in rythm with heartbeat), usually after exercise. There is an audible hiccuping or thumping sound contraction. Most often seen in racehorses and long-distance endurance horses.
Complications if untreated: Dehydration/ heat stress due to electrolyte imbalance. Horses with thumps are usually eliminated in endurance competitions.
Treatment: Hydrate horse and administer electrolytes. Give IV calcium if symptoms don't subside. Improve Ca levels in diet, feeding alfalfa hay or soaked beet pulp, to help prevent future episodes.
Heat Exhaustion/Stroke
Cause: Inadequate cooling of tissues when heat and humidity levels are high. Horses are at risk whenever the heat index is 150* or higher. Unfit and overweight horses are more at risk than lean, fit ones.
Symptoms: Depression, weakness, loss of appetite, stumbling or staggering, rapid respiration and pulse, increased capillary refill time, disorientation. Horse may appear to be "tying up." Elevated heart rate and respiration. Elevated rectal temperature, sometimes as high as 41*C. Horse may sweat profusely or may have hot, dry skin.
Complications if untreated: Collapse, convulsions and death.
Treatment: Get Horse out of the heat and into a well-ventilated area. Cold hose body, scraping off water and repeatedly re-applying cool water. Apply ice packs to head and neck. Use shade and misting fans if available. Offer lukewarm water. Administer IV fluids if horse refuses to drink. Continue cooling till rectal temperature falls below 39.5*C.
Sunburn
Cause: Overexposure to ultraviolet light. Usually only seen on unpigmented areas in horses-white facial and leg markings (especially muzzles), or on torso on pink skinned pintos, Paints, Appaloosas, and cremellos.
Symptoms: Localized red, irritated, peeling, or even blistered skin, hair loss.
Complications if untreated: May lead to squamous cell carcinoma in some light-skinned horses.
Treatment: Apply sunblock to affected or vunerable areas. Limit exposure to strong sunlight. Turn horse out at night and keep inside during the day.
Summer Sores aka Habronemiasis
Cause: Larval Habronema and/or Draschia megastoma infection, spread through mouth parts of flies which cluster around equine mucous membranes. Larvae may also invade the conjunctiva of the eye or open wound. Usually seen in southern United States only.
Symptoms: Ulceration of moist areas of horse's skin-around the eyes, mouth, and sheath in males. Intense itchiness, which causes horses to chew and bite at the areas, further retarding the healing process. Sores may appear to almost resolve and then recur.
Complications if untreated: Conjunctivitis, slow-to-heal sores with pus and proliferative scar tissue. Open sores are prone to infection. Habronema that complete their life cycle in the equine stomache may also cause ulceration.
Treatment: Ivermection or moxidectin will effectively treat the larvae as well as the adult stomache worms. Large masses of infected tissue may require surgical excision. Topical salves and antibiotics are rarely effective.