long distance competition travel and show ground health techniques, dr. sarah jane owens, dvm, mrcvs

7/30/2019 Long Distance Competition Travel and Show Ground Health Techniques, Dr. Sarah Jane Owens, DVM, MRCVS

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Dr. Sarah Jane Owens, DVMMRCVS


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Preparation Assessing destination risks & biosecurity

requirements Vaccinations & Immunizations

Knowing your horses resting/normal vital stats Ulcer & dehydration prevention Transport options (hired or own)

Transport best practices (health risks &mitigations)

Health care at the show References & contact information


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HITS/Thermal required bio-security measures for all horses:

http://www.hitsshows.com/pdf/ca_equinehealth_13.pdf

Check out the disease conditions for the area you are travelling to: Discuss your particular risks with your vet based on your destination,

http://www.outbreak-alert.com = good source for recent horse related disease outbreaks

CA and West Coast: Increase in atypical Corynebacterium Pseudotubercolosis (Pigeon Fever) in California,

manifesting as leg, shoulder, or chest abscesses. Neurological Herpes Virus (CA dept of Agriculture:

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/equine_herpes_virus.html ) West Nile Virus (record high 2012 (70% of the cases occurred in only 5 states)

East Coast & Mid West: Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis has been a big problem back East and in parts of the

Midwest in the last couple years.

Potomac Horse fever has endemic areas near the Potomac River Valley, but is extremelyrare. Lymes disease is RAMPANT in parts of the East and Midwest, so use lots of tick prevention! Florida and the more humid southern states harbor fungal skin diseases
http://www.hitsshows.com/pdf/ca_equinehealth_13.pdfhttp://www.hitsshows.com/pdf/ca_equinehealth_13.pdfhttp://www.outbreak-alert.com/http://www.outbreak-alert.com/http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/equine_herpes_virus.htmlhttp://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/equine_herpes_virus.htmlhttp://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/equine_herpes_virus.htmlhttp://www.outbreak-alert.com/http://www.outbreak-alert.com/http://www.outbreak-alert.com/http://www.hitsshows.com/pdf/ca_equinehealth_13.pdf


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Double check with your vet you are up to date on allvaccinations: Horses travelling are exposed to lots of other horses, recommend

a high quality flu and rhino vaccine with up to date strains every4-6 months

High risk horses might also consider six monthly intranasalstrangles vaccines

Be vigilant about pre-travel & competition nutrition & care Consistent fresh quality hays, feeds, and supplements Clean fresh water Minimize stabling and training stress

Resist sudden escalation or change in training or turning out with a newbuddy before shipping)!

Avoid pre-travel exposure to new horses Discuss with your vet immune stimulant products available

which help prevent infection: EqStim and/or Zylexis for example


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Be familiar with your horses resting heart rateand temperature, so you know if there areany variations.

These are the most important vital signs to monitorfor increased stress, overheating, and infectiousdisease

Temperature can vary by several degreesthroughout the day, so take it several times ondifferent days for an average


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Consider protecting against stomach ulcers (forshipping and competing): 1 mg/kg (Omeprazole, (e.g. Ulcergard dose)

= preventative dose 4mg/kg (e.g. Gastrogard) = curative dose

Train your horse to drink water with a particulartaste at home add a nice flavor like Kool-aid,Gatorade, a handful of grain in the bottom, orHorsequencher (a grain based waterflavorant). When you add the same product to

water at the show it will taste more familiar Pre-shipping hydration: Nasogastric tubing of

water and electrolytes right before leaving =more effective than IV fluids at preventingimpactions and colic


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Large air-ride van = The Cadillac of horsetransport Ideal for long hauls Causes the least physiological stress

Reality = large vans, standing tie stalls orprivate trailer = certainly adequate Cleaning Protocol (down & back)

If you are hiring a transporter, be sure to checktheir procedure re: cleaning and disinfecting: Clean surfaces of trailer and use broad spectrum

detergent that works in organic material CA Dept of Agriculture Biosecurity toolkit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_he

alth/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdf
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdfhttp://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdfhttp://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdfhttp://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdfhttp://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdfhttp://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdf


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Health challenges inherent in shipping:

Horses lungs are under assault from airborne particulate matterfrom highway, transport & hay Natural airway clearing hampered by horses inability to lower their

heads when secured

Mitigations to shipping health challenges: Vents and windows open but use screens to help lessen wind and

dust irritation including conjunctivitis Tie horse so they can lower head below chest level, but not turn

around Soak hay (ideally at least 2 hours) & feed at height where they can

take their nose out of it to breathe fresh air Increase hydration by wetting grain or pellet meals into mash

consistency

Consider Purina Hydration Hay Bricks which absorb and hold a lot ofwater!

Add electrolytes to encourage drinking Consider Purina encapsulated electrolytes (encapsulated = bypass

stomach for ulcer-prone horses but properly absorbed in smallintestine)


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Resting: Trailer trips over 12 hours are stressful forthe horse and health problems more likely than aftertrips of 8 hours or less.

If possible, rest every four hours for 20 mins withhome water offered

Even without unloading, allow horses to: Unlock their legs Stretch and urinate Relax and stop having to shift and balance due to vibration and

movement of vehicle

Consider checking out:

http://www.overnightstabling.com for horse hoteloptions to break up your trip But consider risk of exposure to unknown horses & people Unknown disinfection practices
http://www.overnightstabling.com/http://www.overnightstabling.com/http://www.overnightstabling.com/


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Discuss with your trainer/vet stress reductionproducts (herbal relaxants or pheromones) forpoor shippers (which wont test positive at show)

Bandages discuss with your trainer best optionfor your horse to prevent scramble injuries or

edema for standing for long periods Thick standing wraps Shipping boots Splint boots, bell boots, other

Bedding If used in transport, dampen to reduce

dust Urine/feces should be removed at rest breaks

Key for air quality to avoid ammonia inhalation


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Apply best bio-security practices & extra vigilance to

avoid nose to nose contact with unknown horses &unnecessary contact with human strangers Try not to let strangers feed treats, or touch your horse Use only yours or your barns grooming, tack-cleaning,

feeding, watering and stable equipment dont lendequipment

Take the Chill approach try to keep your horse

well rested and avoid unnecessary stress wherepossible Try to offer home hay and feeds but when not feasible,

bring enough from home to transition to local as graduallyas possible

Help your horse find a rhythm: Schedule - try to find, & stick to, as predictable a schedule as

possible with braiders, barn help, feeding, lunging, schooling

& competitor section time-blocks Be mindful and diligent about keeping things mellow during

horses feeding & rest times Let your horse rest! Turn off the lights and leave them alone

after 8 pm.


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Beware of communal water sources! Dont let the end of a hose touch your water or bucket Never dip your bucket in a water trough Dont use anyone else's tack cleaning buckets or sponges

If a horse stabled near yours appears sick, has nasaldischarge, or is coughing frequently, dont hesitate to ask

your trainer to advise show officials of a concern Bio-security is of utmost importance to the success of shows, and

an outbreak of disease can be devastating to these andsubsequent shows

If your trainer is not available: Dont discuss concerns to other competitors or confront the owner Discreetly approach show management and voice your concern

The official show veterinarian should be able to check on thesituation and make sure all is in order, or if not, quarantine thequestionable horse


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After the fun and successful competition Your horse has been exposed to a lot and is tired

Shipping home adds to the fatigue Clean, disinfected rigs with good airflow = very

important

Extra TLC and rest helps your horse regain strength &energy Be generous with bedding, turn-out, quality feeds and rest

time Be vigilant on checking your horses health and stats

once home

If your horse appears sick nasal discharge, temp, cough alert your trainer, call your vet Early Identification of a problem is the best defense for the

best possible outcome and to avoid spreading anythinginfectious


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Contact:Dr. Sarah Jane Owens DVM MRCVSOwens Equine9506 240th Ave SEIssaquah WA [email protected]

www.OwensEquine.com

Additional resources:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdf

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/Horses_Equine_Health.html
mailto:[email protected]://www.owensequine.com/http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdfhttp://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdfhttp://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/Horses_Equine_Health.htmlhttp://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/Horses_Equine_Health.htmlhttp://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdfhttp://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdfhttp://www.owensequine.com/mailto:[email protected]

long distance competition travel and show ground health techniques, dr. sarah jane owens, dvm, mrcvs

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