Horse-health-problem risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
Bare pastures and potential hay shortages, coupled with winds blowing seeds from laden sycamore trees, have created the “perfect storm” to increase the risk of atypical myopathy in grazing horses in Britain, BEVA warns.
Confirmed diseases include equine influenza, equine herpesvirus, piroplasmosis, salmonellosis, rabies, and more.
Certain muscular disorders, such as HYPP and PSSM, are common in horses because breeders have selected for specific traits, including enhanced muscle mass and metabolism economy.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has confirmed a case of equine West Nile virus (WNV) in an unvaccinated horse in Yadkin County.
The affected horse from Bonnyville, Alberta, Canada, had potential exposure to EIA and, at the time of testing, was exhibiting clinical signs compatible with EIA infection
An unvaccinated 16-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse mare presented during the last week of September with a low-grade fever, ataxia, and posterior paresis; she has slowly improved since disease onset.
The unvaccinated 6-year-old Standardbred mare from Todd County presented on Sept. 26 with ataxia and hyperexcitability. Her condition worsened and she was euthanized on Sept. 29.
Researchers found that very ill horses with high glucose and insulin levels were more likely to survive, while those with high glucose but low insulin were more likely to die.
The Equine Disease Communication Center reports 152 confirmed cases of WNV thus far in 2018, most of which occurred in unvaccinated horses or those with unknown vaccination histories.
RESPE—the French epidemiological network for equine diseases—works main missions is to monitor equine diseases in France and throughout Europe and to alert the horse industry when a contagious equine disease outbreak is confirmed.
Fall is a great time of year to have your veterinarian perform a wellness check on your horse, including but not limited to a physical exam, an oral exam, vaccinations, and/or a lameness exam.
Researchers know that feeding horses ground endophyte-infected tall fescue results in palmar artery vasoconstriction, so scientists tested whether broodmares could experience decreased blood flow to the uterus, which could negatively impact their foals.
Two unvaccinated Quarter Horse mares from Polk County developed ataxia (incoordination) on Sept. 24. Both are being treated symptomatically.
The affected 3-year-old filly from Fayette County presented on Sept. 28 with acute progressive ataxia (incoordination). As of Oct. 2, the fill is reportedly much improved with a favorable prognosis.
Researchers had hypothesized that haylage would produce a lower insulin response than hay, as the sugar in haylage is partially fermented and could result in a less-pronounced insulin response.
The affected yearling Quarter Horse filly from Stephens County was not vaccinated against WNV.
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