VETERINARIAN
By Dr. Mary Beth Hamorski VMD
Mixed Animal Veterinarian/Co-Owner Califon Animal Hospital
Califon, New Jersey
The
Tis the Season
Part II
Dr. Hamorski and her horse John John
Tis the season of changing temperatures, body clipping, possibly traveling to warmer climates and that means the possibility of either respiratory issues or colic. Let's focus on respiratory issues in this article highlighting the more common culprits.
One common disease is influenza or the flu. Just like humans this virus spreads through aerosol transmission and can be spread great distances by coughing or sneezing. Clinical signs include fever, depression, lethargy, coughing and sneezing and nasal discharge, the same symptoms people get. Vaccines are available and provide good protection for your horse. Unlike people vaccine, the strains of flu are quite consistent so manufacturers do not change the strains regular. If you are going to travel with your horse or attend functions a vaccine is in order. Doing so 2-3 weeks ahead of time is recommended so a good titer can be achieved.
Herpes virus may also cause similar signs like flu. The herpes virus can cause abortion in pregnant mares, as well as neurologic disease. Strains 1 and 4 are in all the vaccines for providing immunity for respiratory infection. Pneumobort -K is the vaccine for pregnant mares. No vaccine prevents the neurologic form, but some clinicians feel the respiratory vaccine may help if contacted with the neurologic form.
respiratory vaccine may help if contacted with the neurologic form.
Strangles is caused by a bacterium known as Streptococcus Equi. This bacteria likes to settle in the lymph nodes and respiratory tract. High fever, thick yellow nasal discharge and swollen glands are common findings. Horses may appear as though they have the mumps. This organism can be shed onto water buckets, feed buckets and grooming tools requiring complete disinfection of all items with dilute bleach. Some horses may act as a reservoir for the organism which has been found to hide in the guttural pouches of some horses. Bio-security is very important. First of all, if your horse is sick STAY HOME!!!. It is not fair for your horse, as well as others to be on the move. Vaccines exist for strangles but this is one of the more controversial ones. One type is given intramuscularly but can have reactions at the injection site. The other is an intranasal, which most horses do not like the applicator tube being shoved up a nostril. An off label use is administering the intranasal on the mucus membranes inside the mouth. Once a horse receives the vaccine, further administration can in some cases, lead to an auto-immune disorder
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