The Montana Department of Livestock is reminding equid owners statewide to be on the lookout for West Nile virus (WNV) after numerous cases were confirmed in horses recently.

“We’ve had nine positive cases confirmed in the past five days, so the threat is definitely there,” said State Veterinarian Marty Zaluski, DVM.

Zaluski said equid owners should be familiar with clinical signs of the disease, which can be difficult to distinguish from other serious neurologic diseases like sleeping sickness and rabies. Some of those signs include:

• Loss of appetite and depression;
• Fever;
• Incoordination (ataxia) or weakness of the hind limbs;
• Muscle or muzzle twitching;
• Convulsions; and
• Inability to swallow.

“If you notice any of these, or other, unusual symptoms, contact your veterinarian,” Zaluski said. “There is no direct treatment for the virus, but with early detection and supportive veterinary care, some infected horses will recover