WEST NILE
West Nile is back! Dr. Hayes treated two cases of West Nile in October. The horses, from Leonard and Commerce TX, had not been vaccinated for several years. We recommend you vaccinate your horse with 7way or Core if it has not been vaccinated this year. There is no vaccine for humans. Be sure to protect yourself with outdoor sprays.
TRANSMISSION
West Nile is an encephalitis virus in birds and is carried by migrating birds heading south for the winter. Mosquitos transmit the virus after biting an infected bird, becoming infected, then biting the horse or human. The virus cannot be transmitted from horse to horse. Both horses and people are dead end hosts, meaning they cannot transmit the virus.
SIGNS
Twitching of the face or muzzle is the classic sign of West Nile. Horses may also exhibit fever, weakness or wobbling in the hind end, loss of appetite and a reluctance to move. In severe cases the horse may have seizures, paralysis, and be down and unable to get up.
DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis is by clinical signs or laboratory blood tests.
TREATMENT
Because the West Nile virus causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord anti-inflammatory drugs are given. These are Bute, Cortisone and DMSO. If West Nile is detected early, treatment is generally successful. Some horses unfortunately will not fully recover after a West Nile infection. Long term weakness in the hind end or paralysis can occur with a bad outcome.
PREVENTION
Protect your horse by vaccinating it annually. Spray the horse daily with insect repellants. Practice mosquito control by eliminating standing water and changing the water in the trough every few days. Protect yourself by using Deep Woods Off, wearing long sleeves and jeans, and avoiding mosquito areas after dark.
TIME FOR FALL FECALS
Due to the increased parasite resistance to dewormers, it is recommended in the Fall to test for worms before worming. Collect a manure sample in a zip lock bag for the fecal test. We run them at the clinic for $20.00. Samples can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks and still be good for the fecal test. If the result is negative or just has a few eggs on the slide, you do not need to worm the horse.
BOTS
The yellow specks you see on the inside of your horse’s legs and body are bot eggs. The bot fly (looks like a bee/drives your horse nuts) buzzes around the horse to deposits eggs, where they hatch and are ingested by the horse. To prevent Bot infestation, scrape the eggs off the horse’s hair with a Bot knife, dull pocket knife or lava grill cleaning rock. The flies are hard to kill because they don’t land. A direct hit with your hand or fly spray then stomping it is adult bot control. The first killing frost will kill all the adult Bot flies. We do not worm for the bots that are in the stomach until next Spring, around April 15.
NOVEMBER TEETH SPECIAL
We are having a $165.00 TEETH SPECIAL during the month of November. This price for a routine float (including sedation and Bute) is at least a $30.00 savings! The special will be offered all month in clinic, Monday thru Friday, by appointment only.
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
We will be closed Thursday November 27 and Friday November 28th in observation of the Thanksgiving holiday. Our Saturday clinic on November 29th will be open 8 am to 12pm. Dr Hayes will be on emergency call throughout the holiday schedule.
CRASTRATION SIGNS: Nov. 1, Nov. 24-29
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