HEALTH CARE

The Healthy Horse

Sign Normal

Temperature 99.5oF to 101.5oF

Heart rate 30-45 bpm

Respiratory rate 8-20 breaths per minute

Mucous membranes Pink

Capillary refill time 1-2 seconds

Signs of Disease

Temp. - PyrexiaAnorexiaDehydrationBehavior Change TearsDiarrhea, constipation

Signs of Disease

Floppy ears or lips, outstretched nose

Dry coatDelay in change of coatNasal dischargeCoughLamenessShaking or tremblingRolling or thrashing

EQUINE EMERGENCIES

• Acute Fever

• Lacerations

• Acute swelling of legs & body

• Founder

• Colic

• Acute Eye

G rasssickness

Im paction ofsm all

intestine

M em branesJaundiced

Im paction

M em branesN orm al

Tem perature N orm al

Spasm odiccolic

Indigestion

StandingIncreased

bow elsounds

G astricim paction

G astricindigestion

M em branesbluishcolor

Indigestion

Interm ittent painbecom es

continuous

D isplacem ent e.gtw isted bow el

Very acutepain

R aised Tem perature

Colic

COLICMOST COMMON SYMPTOMS

Lying down more than usual Getting up & lying down repeatedly Standing stretched out Standing frequently as if to urinate Turning the head towards the flank Repeatedly curling lip Pawing at ground Kicking at abdomen Rolling

COLIC PREVENTION

24-hr ACCESS TO WATER MULTIPLE MEALS REGULAR FEEDING

SCHEDULE ADAPT TO NEW DIETS, NEW

ROUTINES GOOD QUALITY ROUGHAGE

KEEP FEED, CHEMICALS

LOCKED UP EXERCISE PROGRAM

TPR What has his appetite been? Consistency & frequency of

defecation? Water intake normal? Gums normal color? Access to any unusual

feedstuffs? Change in management?

COLIC PREVENTION

CHECK HORSES AT NIGHT

CRIBBING STRAP TEETH CARE DO NOT LET HORSES

BOLT FEED WORMING PROGRAM DON’T WATER A HOT

HORSE

TETANUS(Lockjaw)

Disease AgentMajor Means

of Spread

Tetanus Bacteria

Clostridium tetani

Contaminated Wounds

TETANUS(Lock Jaw)

Muscle spasmsSound & tactile stimuliLockjawErect ears, flare nostrils SalivationSaw horse stanceSweat RecumbentDeath

EQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS(Sleeping Sickness)

Disease AgentMajor Means of

Spread

Eastern (EEE), Western (WEE)

Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE), Japanese B, St. Louis, West Nile (WNV),

Virus Biting Insects

EQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS(Sleeping Sickness)

SYMPTOMSPyrexiaAnorexiaAcute depressionDemented-behavior

changesSleeping postureCrash through stall

BlindnessCirclingPhotophobia

Influenza

Disease AgentMajor Means of

Spread

Influenza Virus Direct contact or contamination of utensils, water, etc. with infected secretion

INFLUENZASYMPTOMS

Sudden Cough up to 3 wks. Pyrexia Watery nasal discharge. Depressed Weakness, stiffness Anorexia

EQUINE VIRAL RHINOPHEUMONITIS

Disease AgentMajor Means of

Spread

Rhinopneumonitis abortion (EHV-1)virus

Virus direct contact or contamination of utensils, water, etc. with infected secretion

EHV-1 infection extend beyond the respiratory tract.

Rhinopneumonitis respiratory (EHV-4)virus

EHV-4 - replication restricted to URT mucosal epithelium and regional lymphoid tissue

EQUINE VIRAL RHINOPHEUMONITIS

EQUINE VIRAL RHINOPHEUMONITIS

Respiratory form (EHV-1 & 4)• Bilateral nasal discharge

• Pyrexia

• Swollen eyelids

• Dry Cough

• Anorexia

• Constipation or diarrhea

EQUINE VIRAL RHINOPHEUMONITIS

EHV-1 PREGNANT MARES

Asymptomatic Abortion 4-5 mo later Last trimester (7-11 mo)

FULL TERM FOALS General weakness Pneumonia Death

Neurological Incoordination Lower leg swelling Inability to pass urine or manure

Clinical Signs of West Nile Virus

• Ataxia or stumbling and incoordination

• Depression or apprehension

• Weakness of limbs, partial paralysis, or the inability to stand

• Muscle twitching • Death

STRANGLES(Distemper)

Disease AgentMajor Means of Spread

Strangles Bacteria

Streptococcus equi

direct contact or environmental contamination (individual horses can be carriers, maintaining the bacteria in the guttural pouches)

STRANGLES(Distemper)

SYMPTOMSSudden onset Fever 2-6 d after exposureSwelling & abscessAnorexic Nasal discharge

RABIES

Disease Agent

Major Means

of Spread

Rabies Virus bite from an infected animal

RABIES

SYMPTOMSDysfunction of nerves &

brainBehavior changesSalivate

Furious formDumb formParalytic form

POTOMAC HORSE FEVER

SymptomsAcute colitisDepressionDiarrhea –

perfuse, wateryLaminitis

Vaccinate

Disease AgentMajor Means of Spread

Potomac Horse Fever

Rickettsia unclear, but aquatic snails have been identified as an intermediary host

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)

Disease AgentMajor Means of Spread

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM)

ProtozoaSarcocystis

neurona

contamination of feed with opossum feces

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)

• Incubation period: 2 wks to 2 yrs

• CSF tap

EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA(Swamp Fever)

Disease Agent

Major Means

of Spread

Equine infectious anemia (EIA)

virus biting insects, contaminated needles

EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIASYMPTOMSAcute – Die within 3 wksChronic – Recurring

Intermittent fever Blood colored spots on

mucous membranes Depression Wt. loss Edema Anemia

Inapparent

Disease Prevention

• Vaccinate – TETANUS– Influenza– EEE, WEE– VEE?– EHV 1 & EHV 4– West Niles– Potomac Horse Fever?– Strangles?– EPM?

Disease Prevention

• Equine Infectious Anemia– Coggins Test

Some steps to reduce the risk of introducing infectious diseases:

• Limit people's access to brood mare and foaling barn(s).

• Separate breeding horses from others• Limit people's access to barns housing horses

returning from major shows or events • Have a separate area for horses that are

continually moving to and from the farm to shows, races and competitions.

Some steps to reduce the risk of introducing infectious diseases:

• Use new sterile needles and syringes for all medications.

• Use separate halters and lead shanks for each horse or, at least, limit their use to one group of horses.

• Keep horses coming to the farm for short periods of time separate from the resident horses

PARASITES

• Strongyles (bloodworms)• Ascarids (roundworms)• Bots• Pinworms• Strongyloides

(threadworms

Signs of Parasitism

• Dull, rough haircoat

• Lethargy

• Wt. Loss

• Coughing &/or nasal discharge

• Tail rubbing

• Colic

• Summer sores

ASCARIDS(Parascaris equorum)

ASCARID

• Small Intestine• Signs

– Respiratory problems

– Pot belly

PINWORM (Oxyuris equi)

Large intestineAdults: gut contentsLarvae: mucosa

•Hair loss on base of tail

LARGE STRONGYLE

• Adults: cecum & large colon– Suck blood

– Ulcers

• Larvae: abdominal tissues & organs– Severe tissue damage

LARGE STRONGYLE

SMALL STRONGYLE

• Large intestine – cecum & colon

• Irritate intestinal wall causing thickening & nodules

• Dark or black manure, soft feces with foul odor

BOTS(Gastrophilus intestinalis, G. nasalis, G. hemorrhoidalsis)

BOTS• Stomach, gums• Inflammation, perforation

of stomach wall, gum irritation

STOMACH WORM(Habronema muscae, H. microstoma,

Drashia megastoma)• Stomach, injured skin• Signs

– Gastritis

– Summer sores

• Damage– Tumors of wall

– Ulcers in skin

TAPEWORM(Anoplocephala magna)

•Small intestine, cecum

•Ulceration of ileocecal valve, intestine inflammation

THREADWORM(Strongyloides westeri)

• Small intestine• Mare’s milk

• Erosion of intestinal mucosa, inflammation of intestines

• Worms disappear by 6 months of age

MANAGEMENT FOR CONTROL OF INTERNAL PARASITES

• Proper manure disposal

• Pastures

• Feed

• Water

MANAGEMENT FOR CONTROL OF INTERNAL PARASITES

• Drug control

• Rotational Dewormers– Optimum – Every 6-8 wks– 4X/year – Strongyles,

ascarids, pinworms– 2X/year – Above + bots

• Daily wormer