Equine Respiratory Disease Surveillance Program
We are participating in a study sponsored by Merck which will provide rapid diagnostic testing for the four major equine respiratory pathogens:
- EHV1 Equine Herpes Virus 1
- EHV4 Equine Herpes virus 4 (Rhino)
- EIV Equine Influenza virus
- Strangles Streptococcus equi and 2 minor pathogens Equine Rhinitis virus A and B.
Horses that will be selected and tested in this study are those symptomatic with a Fever of 101.5 or more and exhibiting one or more of the following signs: depression, nasal discharge, cough or acute onset of equine neurologic disease.
Dr Hayes will take a nasal swab and a blood sample then send it to the University of California vet school lab for PCR testing. This is offered by Merck at no cost to the horse owner.
The purpose of this study is:
A. To provide a valuable diagnostic tool to assist in obtaining an accurate and timely diagnosis during an acute respiratory disease outbreak. Our goal is to provide optimal treatment, quarantine, and vaccination strategies for the client’s horses.
B. To provide the horse industry with a better understanding of the prevalence and epidemiology of these respiratory pathogens.
C. To identify and monitor the current circulating strains of the major equine respiratory pathogens.
D. To evaluate the efficacy of current vaccination protocols.
Equine Respiratory disease
We have been seeing a lot of respiratory disease and Pneumonia because of the hot and cold weather. Signs of respiratory disease are fever, nasal discharge, cough, depression, lethargy or laying around. The horse may also exhibit a loss of appetite, swelling of the legs, and eye discharge. To diagnose we take the temperature, listen to the lungs with a stethoscope, and test the blood. Normal equine temperature is 99-100. Any digital thermometer will work to take the temperature rectally. If at 101.5 or more, the horse has a fever. Fever is a signal that the immune system has been activated. Most viruses and bacteria multiply at normal body temperature. The horse’s immune system increases its temperature to help slow the growth
If the White blood cell count (WBC) and the lymphocytes are decreased on the CBC test, the immune system is depressed due to a virus. Horses with a virus only are generally not treated with an antibiotic. We treat the fever using Banamine (Flunixin), Bute, or Dipyrone (Zimeta) often twice a day.
Fever usually increases in the afternoon. If the temperature is normal in the morning and then spikes in the pm, we give a dose of drug in the pm. If the temperature is 101 + in the morning, then we give a dose of drug in the am and pm.
If there is copious mucous on the nostrils, we add an antibiotic for the secondary bacterial infection that set in after the virus. If the WBC is elevated this indicates infection, usually pneumonia. We treat this with strong antibiotics.
The SAA is another blood test we use. It is very sensitive and detects infection before the WBC test, so we screen or monitor cases using this test.
With respiratory illnesses the horse’s fever usually lasts 3-5 days. The WBC returns to normal in another week, then the horse feels better and resumes a normal appetite. The cough often lasts two weeks. Recommended rest time is 2-3 weeks until all respiratory clinical signs are gone, like with covid.
Foaling Mares
It is time vaccinate pregnant mares that are due in the spring. Mares with caslicks (sutured vulva) must have them removed.
Worming The deworming protocol has changed. Instead of worming in January (30 days after the first hard freeze) it is now recommended to wait until April 15 to deworm your horses. This is because the parasites in the horse are dormant in the winter months and not easily killed by the drug. If we worm now all we are getting are bots. It is better to wait until April when larval worms have hatched and are active adult worms killed by wormer. The exception is mares that have foaled, which should be wormed during the first week after foaling.
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