Vaccinations and Your Horse. Part 2

Now onto more risk-based vaccines your horse may need-

Potomac Horse Fever, Strangles, Pneumabort or Prodigy, and Rotavirus.  Your veterinarian is the best resource to help you decide if your horse is at risk for contracting the diseases covered by these vaccines, whether based on their environment, geographical location, exposure to other horses, or due to pregnancy.

Potomac Horse Fever

Potomac Horse Fever is caused by a bacteria called Neorickettsia risticii.  The disease is more prevalent in areas bordering the Potomac River, although it is often diagnosed in other states.  Horses that live near water, especially ponds and streams, are at more risk of contracting it, since it is spread by ingestion of aquatic insects, such as caddis flies, or snails, which have acquired the bacteria.  It is most commonly seen in horses in the summertime.  Signs of PHF include fever and diarrhea, although not all cases will show both.  There is a blood test for PHF, although many veterinarians will begin treatment while waiting for test results as tests may take several days to be completed.  Treatment includes intravenous doses of the antibiotic oxytetracycline, along with supportive care such as IV fluids and anti-inflammatory medications like Banamine for reducing fever.  Those cases with severe diarrhea may benefit from probiotics and anti-diarrhea medications such as Biosponge. One major complication possible with PHF, as with all fever and diarrhea-causing diseases, is laminitis, so supportive care also involves taking care of the feet.  The vaccine is usually given once a year after two initial doses given one month apart.

Strangles (Strep. equi)

Strangles is a mainly respiratory disease caused by exposure to nasal secretions or infective pus containing the bacterium Streptococcus equi. The disease commonly leads to fever and nasal discharge, as well as abscessation of lymph nodes. More rarely it can spread internally, causing what is known as bastard strangles. Samples of nasal secretions and pus can show evidence of the disease via a few different tests, although treatment with antibiotics is usually started prior to a definitive diagnosis.  Horses that reside on a farm that has had the disease in its herd, as well as horses frequently travelling or coming in contact with new horses should be vaccinated.  The most commonly used vaccine is a modified-live intranasal one, although a less effective killed intramuscular vaccine does exist.  After the initial course of two doses approximately three weeks apart, most horses are dosed once a year.

Pneumbort/Prodigy
(abortive form of rhinopneumonitis)

Pregnant mares are at risk of abortion due to a particular form of rhinopneumonitis, and should be vaccinated against it at five, seven and nine months of gestation, in addition to their regular rhino/flu vaccination, which should be given prefoaling, at 10 months of gestation.

Rotavirus

Rotavirus is most commonly seen in very young foals, and most prominently causes diarrhea that can be fatal if left untreated.  Farms may have "storms" of several foals in a foaling season that are affected, so this vaccination is used often in large foaling operations.  Annual vaccination of pregnant mares at 8, 9, and 10 months of pregnancy will help to protect the foal once it is born.

Vaccinations and Your Horse---Part 1

What you need to know to protect your equine companions

Spring is coming, and along with the excitement of shedding horses (finally!) it is time to start thinking about vaccinations for our equine friends. There are many different vaccines available for several diseases, and this can be confusing to horse owners. When considering what vaccines to administer, we need to evaluate each horse as an individual, as their requirements will differ depending on their age, geographical location and potential exposure to diseases. The best person to assist in this decision making process is your veterinarian, as he or she can formulate a plan based on your horse’s personal needs.


In this area (Mid-Atlantic), I prefer to administer yearly vaccinations in two “bunches”, one in the spring and one in the fall. In this way, we can provide optimum protection as close to the possible threat of disease as possible, and keep the immune system on its toes without over- stimulating it. Any vaccinations for mosquito or other insect-borne diseases (West Nile Virus, Potomac Horse Fever, Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis) should be given in the spring. Vaccination for botulism is best done in the fall, as the disease is more common in the wet months of the year. Rabies vaccination can be done any time of year, as can strangles and rhino/flu. There are no established protective titer ranges for horse diseases at this time, so although we are able to draw blood and provide a number, we are unable to determine exactly what that means for protection of the horse’s health.

If you are planning to begin administering a vaccine for a disease you have not previously vaccinated for, either in a mature horse or a foal, the horse will need to complete what is called a “primary course” of vaccination, in order to get the immune system primed to recognize the diseases as they are presented to the body. This course is generally two administrations, usually a month apart. The exceptions are botulism, which requires a course of three shots to be protective, and rabies, which we usually booster a year after the initial dose. Some West Nile Virus vaccines are also a one-dose primary course, but this varies by the drug company and product. Vaccines for diseases in pregnant mares such as rotavirus and the abortion-causing strain of EHV require 3 shots a month apart at a specific time during gestation. Pregnant mares also require their routine vaccines to be boostered one month prior to foaling to ensure the foal receives adequate antibodies in the colostrum (first milk). You should consult with your veterinarian regarding the proper timing of vaccination in pregnant mares and foals on an individual basis.

So what diseases should we be concerned about? Many clients are surprised to learn that their unvaccinated horse is at risk for many preventable diseases even though it may never leave the farm. Although vaccines are not fool-proof for preventing diseases, they definitely reduce the chance of contracting diseases and lessen the symptoms in affected individuals. Let’s go through the most common equine diseases covered by vaccines one at a time:

Rabies

Rabies is a viral disease spread by the body fluids of an infected individual either into mucous membranes such as in the eyes or mouth, or through open wounds or bites. It is obviously also a zoonotic disease, meaning that it can be transmitted to humans by other animals. While there is no legal requirement for rabies vaccination in horses since they are not considered “pets”, and it is not especially common in horses, it is not a vaccine I would skip, as it is fatal. Any horse that lives outside is at risk of contracting rabies, even if stall-bound. The most common vectors of rabies to horses are skunks, raccoons, foxes and bats. The disease causes varying degrees of neurologic signs including inappetance, erratic behavior, drooling, and depression. Exposed animals are subject to quarantine, more so if unvaccinated. Not all exposed animals will die, but non-vaccinated symptomatic animals should be euthanized to reduce exposure to other animals and humans. The only definitive diagnostic test is one that requires euthanizing the horse and submitting the brain for evaluation. Rabies vaccine should be administered yearly and is a core vaccine recommended in all horses by the AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners).

Tetanus

Horses are exquisitely sensitive to infection with tetanus, which is caused by a clostridial bacteria found in soil and manure. Tetanus is another core vaccine recommended by the AAEP for all horses. Horses are usually infected with tetanus via a wound such as a laceration or a foot abscess, or also via the umbilicus of new foals. The disease is not contagious between individuals. Tetanus causes neurologic signs including alterations to the facial nerves that result in difficulty chewing or opening the mouth, improper function of the eyes, excessive reactivity to light or sound and a stilted gait. Tetanus is fatal in most horses although early cases may be treatable with tetanus antitoxin administration. Most horses should be vaccinated for tetanus once a year, and the vaccine is usually combined with other disease vaccines such as eastern and western encephalomyelitis. Horses with acute wounds should have a tetanus booster if they have not had one in the last six months.

Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis

These viral diseases are spread by bites from infected mosquitoes, with wild birds and rodents acting as natural reservoirs for the disease. Therefore, any horse with access to the outdoors should be vaccinated against them. They are also zoonotic diseases, being spread to humans via infected mosquito bites, although horse to horse and horse to human transmission via mosquito bite is rare. These diseases cause neurologic signs such as difficulty swallowing, behavioral changes, impaired vision, seizures, circling and recumbency. EEE and WEE have the potential to be lethal, although many cases are able to recover with supportive care. The vaccine for EEE and WEE is usually combined with a tetanus vaccine. In this area, most horses are vaccinated once a year, although horses living in or travelling to warmer areas such as Florida should be boostered appropriate to their situation. The AAEP recognizes both EEE and WEE as core vaccines for every horse.

West Nile Virus

Another AAEP core vaccine, West Nile is a virus spread by infected mosquitoes via birds and is another potentially zoonotic disease. Again, any horses with outdoor access should be vaccinated. The virus cannot be spread directly from horse to horse or horse to human. Indirect transmission between horses and humans via mosquitoes is unlikely as horses do not retain a large amount of virus in their bloodstream after infection. This virus causes similar neurologic signs to EEE and WEE as it leads to encephalomyelitis. Although horses usually recover (although many have lasting deficits) with supportive treatment, approximately 33% of infected horses succumb to the disease. The booster recommendations for WNV are similar to those for EEE/WEE as far as mosquito-prone areas are concerned.

Rhinopneumonitis (Rhino/EHV) and Influenza (Flu)

Although not a core vaccine, rhino/flu (usually combined into one vaccine) virus coverage is important for horses that come in contact with other horses directly, or indirectly by sharing stalls, water buckets, etc. as these diseases are spread by contact with infective nasal secretions. Horses that live isolated from other horses (aerosolized particles from a cough can travel over 30 feet!) with caretakers that do not contact other horses off the farm are at low risk of contracting these viruses and therefore may not require the vaccination. This vaccine can be given either once a year or twice a year depending on exposure. These two viruses cause respiratory disease in most cases, but variants of EHV can cause neurologic disease or abortion in pregnant mares (Pneumabort is one vaccine used to protect from abortive EHV). Young horses are more susceptible to both viruses. Currently available EHV vaccines have a very low efficacy against the neurologic form of EHV, unfortunately.

Botulism

Botulism is a bacterial disease caused by ingestion of, or wound contamination by, infective spores of a clostridial bacteria found normally in soil. Check out my earlier post on botulism for more detailed info on the disease. Botulism vaccine is not given in all parts of the country, but it is especially important in this area and other places where wet weather and mud are commonplace. It is not considered a core vaccine by AAEP, but having seen several cases in this area, it is one vaccine I would not skip. This vaccine is usually administered once a year and I prefer to give it in the fall since there are more botulism cases during muddy weather.

Stay tuned for part two, where I will continue discussing more risk-based equine vaccinations, including Potomac Horse Fever, Strangles, Rotavirus, and Pneumabort. Enjoy this beautiful weather in the meantime!

Tis the Season...for Equine Botulism

For most people, autumn is the time for falling leaves and unpacking warm clothes.

Unfortunately for horse vets it is also time to start keeping an eye out for botulism cases. Botulism is a very serious and potentially deadly disease that all horse owners should be aware of and vaccinate against. Please read this blog post carefully and share with your horsey friends, even if you have never come across a horse suffering from botulism. I am always very sad when I am faced with a horse that is dying from a case of this disease, and the most common thing I hear from owners is that no one ever told them about botulism, so they had no idea it could be so lethal. By sharing a little bit of knowledge on the disease, hopefully more people can be made aware and save more equine lives.

These Are a Few of My Favorite (Horse) Things!

A Short List of Equine-Related Items that I Couldn’t Do Without

I will start by saying that I don’t have a professional relationship with any of the companies listed, aside from being an “affiliate” with Fly Predators (although I would be quite open to discussing sponsorship or advertising if anyone were interested!).

Tips and Tricks from an Equine Veterinarian:

A Few Things to Make Horse-keeping Easier

First of all, I am sorry to have missed a few weeks of blogging; I have been very busy at work! I will try to stick to a schedule from now on. I thought I would write a more casual blog today, just to share some of the things I have learned over the years that have helped me in my work with horses. There are some tips and also some information that is useful to know when being around horses. Most of these things come up almost weekly in discussions with my clients, so hopefully you will find them helpful. Here goes!

Gastric Ulceration in Horses---The Root of All Equine Evil?

Stomach (gastric) ulcers in horses has been a hot topic for the last few years, and for good reason. Recent research has indicated that many more horses are suffering from this condition than previously thought. Also, the finding that even backyard, non-performance horses have ulcers is surprising to most people, since the misconception in the past was that only high-stress horses such as racehorses and those showing often had problems with gastric ulcers. It is estimated that between 50 and 90% of horses have ulcers, depending on the class of horse, and even foals can suffer from them.

Anterior Enteritis---"But I've Never Heard of That Kind of Colic!"

Anterior enteritis (AE), also known as gastroduodenojejunitis or proximal duodenitis-jejunitis, is a confusing diagnosis for horse owners to understand. It is also difficult for veterinarians to explain, because we don't have all the answers as to why this condition occurs! Anterior enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine

Colic in Horses: What Does it Actually Mean?

Healing a Horse Suffering from Colic with Old Wine and Olive Oil (1271 C.E.)

The word “colic” is one that strikes fear in the minds of many horsepeople. Most owners will have dealt with it at some point, either with their own horse or with that of an acquaintance at the barn, but their experiences will vary depending on the exact diagnosis. What does “colic” actually mean, though? It probably means different things in the minds of different people.

Transporting Your Horse By The Rules

What requirements have to be met and what documentation do you need to move your horse this year?

Equine Fact or Fiction?

Things You Never Knew and Things You Thought You Knew!

I thought this week I would blog about some common misconceptions and interesting facts about veterinary care of horses and horse-keeping in general. There is a lot of information available on the internet and from other horse-people, but not all of it is true. It never hurts to ask your veterinarian if you are not sure about a topic; no question is too silly to ask us!

A Typical Day in the Life

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of a vet’s life? Maybe this blog entry will shed some light on the ultra-glamorous goings-on of a horse veterinarian!

A Few Common Equine Eye Conditions

Injuries to the eye are one of the most common things we treat as equine veterinarians. I always tell clients to treat eye conditions as emergencies and have them examined as soon as possible, because although eyes having amazing healing ability, they can also be permanently damaged in a very short period of time. Living outdoors, horses are exposed to all sorts of foreign bodies that can damage the eyes. Something as small as dust or sleet can cause irritation, as can pieces of hay, horses rubbing their faces on their legs, and sneaky things like the upturned edges of the handles on a water bucket. Other eye conditions can be brought on by viral or bacterial infections, auto-immune disorders, or for no obvious reason at all (we call this "iatrogenic"). In the absence of a veterinary exam, it is best to apply no medication to the eye, unless your veterinarian advises otherwise. Using the wrong medication (for example steroid ointment on an eye with a corneal ulcer) can lead to severe consequences such as permanent blindness.

New Year, New USEF Drugs and Medications Rules

A Review of the USEF Testing Program and Changes for 2014

Planning on competing your horse in a USEF show this year? It is important for both competitors and trainers to understand the rules regulating the use of medications under the USEF. These rules can change yearly and the USEF expects everyone involved in their competitions to be familiar with the regulations. Entering a USEF show signifies that you agree to abide by the rules in order to provide a level playing field for all competitors and maintain the safety of both the horses and humans involved. The official 2014 USEF Drugs and Medications Program rules can be found here. I want to touch on the most important changes to the rules and the most commonly questioned parts of the existing rules in this blog entry. The guidelines can sometimes be confusing or overwhelming. If you have any questions, the staff at the USEF office is happy to help over the phone, or you can ask any of the testing veterinarians at shows. I work as both a USEF testing veterinarian and FEI treating veterinarian in my spare time and am always glad to share information related to treating and testing by the rules.

Anaplasmosis: A Tick-Borne Disease on the Rise in Horses

Anaplasmosis, also known as equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis, is a bacterial infection that is spread by deer ticks, the same tick that can spread Lyme’s disease. Infected ticks can harbor either one or both organisms at the same time and infect a horse with Lyme’s and anaplasmosis with one bite. Infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum targets a certain type of white blood cells, and signs can be seen up to 3 weeks post-inoculation. I usually see more cases of anaplasmosis starting in the late fall after tick season, and continuing into the spring.

Some Simple Things to Consider During Winter for Better Horse Health.

Winter is finally upon us and with it comes a whole new set of challenges for keeping our horses healthy and happy. I just wanted to touch on a few points that come to mind when dealing with cold weather.