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