Keeping horses Keeping horses healthy at shows and healthy at shows and

eventseventsCathy Lombardi, DVMCathy Lombardi, DVM

The Oaks Equine and Farm ServicesThe Oaks Equine and Farm Services

Smithfield, VASmithfield, VA

VaccinesVaccines Coggins testingCoggins testing Setting up a first aid kitSetting up a first aid kit Safety at shows, trail rides and other Safety at shows, trail rides and other

eventsevents QuestionsQuestions

Core VaccinesCore Vaccines

Vaccines that all horses should receive Vaccines that all horses should receive whether or not they leave your propertywhether or not they leave your property

Diseases that are usually very serious or Diseases that are usually very serious or even fataleven fatal

Horse contracts disease from mosquitoes Horse contracts disease from mosquitoes (EEE,WEE,WNV), wildlife (rabies) or (EEE,WEE,WNV), wildlife (rabies) or environment (tetanus)environment (tetanus)

Viral encephalitisViral encephalitis

Caused by Eastern Equine Encephalitis Caused by Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEE), Western Equine Encephalitis virus (EEE), Western Equine Encephalitis virus (WEE) or West Nile Virus (WNV)virus (WEE) or West Nile Virus (WNV)

EEE is the most serious and most horses EEE is the most serious and most horses that contract EEE die or are euthanizedthat contract EEE die or are euthanized

EEE is VERY COMMON in unvaccinated EEE is VERY COMMON in unvaccinated horses in this areahorses in this area

EEE, WEE and WNV all have similar signsEEE, WEE and WNV all have similar signs

Signs of EEESigns of EEE

FeverFever Severe depression (“sleeping sickness”)Severe depression (“sleeping sickness”) Ataxia (drunk, uncoordinated, fall down)Ataxia (drunk, uncoordinated, fall down) SeizureSeizure BlindBlind 95% fatality rate! 95% fatality rate! ALL HORSES MUST BE VACCINATED ALL HORSES MUST BE VACCINATED

EVERY 6 MONTHS FOR EEE!EVERY 6 MONTHS FOR EEE!

WEEWEE

Signs are identical to EEE, but chance of Signs are identical to EEE, but chance of survival is higher (20-50% die)survival is higher (20-50% die)

ALL HORSES IN THIS AREA SHOULD ALL HORSES IN THIS AREA SHOULD BE VACCINATED EVERY 6 MONTHSBE VACCINATED EVERY 6 MONTHS

West Nile VirusWest Nile Virus

First seen in the US in horses in 1999First seen in the US in horses in 1999 Fever, ataxia, circling, depressionFever, ataxia, circling, depression Muscle twitching in muzzle, neck and chest are Muscle twitching in muzzle, neck and chest are

commoncommon 30% horses with WNV die30% horses with WNV die Treatment is supportive care (fluids, anti-Treatment is supportive care (fluids, anti-

inflammatories) and can be costly ($1500 and inflammatories) and can be costly ($1500 and up)up)

ALL HORSES SHOULD BE VACCINATED ALL HORSES SHOULD BE VACCINATED EVERY 6 MONTHSEVERY 6 MONTHS

RabiesRabies

Contracted from wildlife biting horseContracted from wildlife biting horse Rare that bite wound is seenRare that bite wound is seen Uncommon disease, but because of public Uncommon disease, but because of public

health concern important to vaccinatehealth concern important to vaccinate Usually takes the “dumb” form Usually takes the “dumb” form ALL HORSES SHOULD BE VACCINATED ALL HORSES SHOULD BE VACCINATED

ONCE A YEAR FOR RABIESONCE A YEAR FOR RABIES

TetanusTetanus

Caused by a bacteria in the environment C. Caused by a bacteria in the environment C. tetani tetani

Sawhorse stance, lock jawSawhorse stance, lock jaw Wounds, surgical sites (castrations), stepping Wounds, surgical sites (castrations), stepping

on nailson nails ALL HORSES MUST BE VACCINATED AT ALL HORSES MUST BE VACCINATED AT

LEAST ONCE A YEAR AND BOOSTERED AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR AND BOOSTERED AT TIME OF INJURY OR SURGERYTIME OF INJURY OR SURGERY

What if my horses leave the What if my horses leave the property?property?

Concerned about disease that they can Concerned about disease that they can catch from other horsescatch from other horses

Influenza (Flu)Influenza (Flu) Rhinopneumonitis (Rhino)Rhinopneumonitis (Rhino) Strangles (Strep equi)Strangles (Strep equi) All respiratory diseases spread by direct All respiratory diseases spread by direct

contact or aerosol from horse coughing or contact or aerosol from horse coughing or sneezing sneezing

Flu and RhinoFlu and Rhino

Viral respiratory diseasesViral respiratory diseases Runny nose, cough, fever, lethargic, off Runny nose, cough, fever, lethargic, off

feedfeed Spread by aerosolSpread by aerosol VACCINES FOR FLU/RHINO SHOULD VACCINES FOR FLU/RHINO SHOULD

BE GIVEN EVERY 4-6 MONTHSBE GIVEN EVERY 4-6 MONTHS

StranglesStrangles

Highly contageous bacterial infection of Highly contageous bacterial infection of upper respiratory tractupper respiratory tract

Nasal discharge, fever, off feed, lethargy, Nasal discharge, fever, off feed, lethargy, enlarged abscessed lymph nodesenlarged abscessed lymph nodes

Can survive on wood for 7-9 weeks, Can survive on wood for 7-9 weeks, water for 6 weeks (DON’T USE water for 6 weeks (DON’T USE COMMUNAL WATER TANKS)COMMUNAL WATER TANKS)

Intra-nasal vaccine given annually may Intra-nasal vaccine given annually may prevent or lessen signsprevent or lessen signs

StranglesStrangles

Other vaccinesOther vaccines BotulismBotulism

Found in soil, roundbales, rotting vegetationFound in soil, roundbales, rotting vegetation Shaker foal syndromeShaker foal syndrome Vaccine only protects against 1 type “B” (3 shots Vaccine only protects against 1 type “B” (3 shots

initially then once a year)initially then once a year) Potomac Horse FeverPotomac Horse Fever

Diarrhea, laminitisDiarrhea, laminitis Vaccine lessens signs, may not preventVaccine lessens signs, may not prevent Every 6 monthsEvery 6 months

PneumabortPneumabort Herpes virus – abortions in mares, 5, 7 and 9 Herpes virus – abortions in mares, 5, 7 and 9

months of gestationmonths of gestation

Should I do my own Should I do my own vaccines?vaccines?

Anyone can learn to give a shot, the concern is Anyone can learn to give a shot, the concern is how the vaccine has been handled and stored how the vaccine has been handled and stored prior to giving itprior to giving it

We have seen vaccine failures in owner We have seen vaccine failures in owner administered vaccines that were purchased administered vaccines that were purchased from on-line storesfrom on-line stores

Seen outdated vaccine sold at tack storesSeen outdated vaccine sold at tack stores Annual visit allows us to examine the horse, Annual visit allows us to examine the horse,

give advice on feeding and husbandrygive advice on feeding and husbandry

Coggins TestCoggins Test

For Equine Infectious AnemiaFor Equine Infectious Anemia Fatal disease that has no treatmentFatal disease that has no treatment Horses may have no symptoms but can Horses may have no symptoms but can

spread it to other horses through biting spread it to other horses through biting insects, reused needlesinsects, reused needles

If positive horse is found, euthanasia or If positive horse is found, euthanasia or lifetime quarantine from other horses is lifetime quarantine from other horses is requiredrequired

b) No equine more than b) No equine more than six months of age shall six months of age shall be sold, offered for sale, traded, given away, be sold, offered for sale, traded, given away, or moved for the purpose of change of or moved for the purpose of change of ownership unless accompanied by the ownership unless accompanied by the original official negative test for EIA original official negative test for EIA administered within 12 months prior to sale or administered within 12 months prior to sale or movement,movement, except that equine which are offered except that equine which are offered for sale at auction markets or sales may have a for sale at auction markets or sales may have a blood sample drawn at the market by the blood sample drawn at the market by the market's veterinarian at the seller's expense. In market's veterinarian at the seller's expense. In such cases, the equine may be sold and such cases, the equine may be sold and transferred contingent upon receipt of an official transferred contingent upon receipt of an official negative EIA test. Until receipt of an official negative EIA test. Until receipt of an official negative EIA test, the equine must be isolated in negative EIA test, the equine must be isolated in accordance with standards for isolation of accordance with standards for isolation of positive reactors, pursuant to 2 NCAC positive reactors, pursuant to 2 NCAC 52B .0408(c)(2).52B .0408(c)(2).

(c) All equine brought to or kept at any (c) All equine brought to or kept at any public stables or other public place for public stables or other public place for exhibition, recreation or assembly shall exhibition, recreation or assembly shall be accompanied by either the original or be accompanied by either the original or a copy of an official negative test for EIA a copy of an official negative test for EIA administered within the previous 12 administered within the previous 12 months. The owner, operator or person months. The owner, operator or person in charge of any public stables or other in charge of any public stables or other public place where equine are brought public place where equine are brought or kept for exhibition, recreation or or kept for exhibition, recreation or assembly shall not permit an equine to assembly shall not permit an equine to remain on the premises without the test remain on the premises without the test required by this Rule.required by this Rule.

FIRST AID KIT - BasicFIRST AID KIT - Basic

Thermometer (+/- stethoscope)Thermometer (+/- stethoscope) Wound Care (roll gauze, vet wrap, clean Wound Care (roll gauze, vet wrap, clean

towels, non stick pads, exam gloves)towels, non stick pads, exam gloves) Sharp knifeSharp knife Rasp and pliers to pull shoeRasp and pliers to pull shoe Duct tape and elastikon Duct tape and elastikon OTC meds (triple antibiotic ointment, OTC meds (triple antibiotic ointment,

benadryl)benadryl)

Safety on the roadSafety on the road

Make sure trailers are well maintainedMake sure trailers are well maintained Tires (wear and pressure)Tires (wear and pressure) Floorboards (rotting)Floorboards (rotting) Lights work (add reflective markers)Lights work (add reflective markers) Breaks, Safety chains, etcBreaks, Safety chains, etc

Hauling horses safelyHauling horses safely

Leather or break-away haltersLeather or break-away halters Tie at appropriate lengthTie at appropriate length If hauling 1 horse, put in left sideIf hauling 1 horse, put in left side Do up butt bar before tieing horseDo up butt bar before tieing horse Never load or tie horse to unhitched trailerNever load or tie horse to unhitched trailer Supervise horses when tied to outside of trailer Supervise horses when tied to outside of trailer

– make sure ramp is up– make sure ramp is up Have knife handy in case of accidentHave knife handy in case of accident

What to keep with youWhat to keep with you

Copy of coggins testCopy of coggins test Health Certificate if traveling out of stateHealth Certificate if traveling out of state First Aid kitFirst Aid kit Water from home if horse is pickyWater from home if horse is picky Hammer if stalling overnight to pound in Hammer if stalling overnight to pound in

protruding nails, etc.protruding nails, etc.

Safety at eventsSafety at events

Pay attention to horses around you!Pay attention to horses around you! If your horse tends to kick out at other horses If your horse tends to kick out at other horses

use a red ribbon in tail to alert othersuse a red ribbon in tail to alert others Avoid common water troughsAvoid common water troughs Avoid overheating by finding shade, offering Avoid overheating by finding shade, offering

water frequentlywater frequently Try to get vaccines about 3 weeks prior to your Try to get vaccines about 3 weeks prior to your

“season” starting“season” starting

Questions?Questions?