Vaccines

West Nile Virus

Annual

Mosquito-bourne, causes inflammation of the brain.

Symptoms:
  • muscle trembling
  • skin-twitching
  • ataxia
  • sleepiness
  • facial paralysis

Rabies

Annual, and prior to breeding.

Transmitted through saliva (usually a bite), causes a highly fatal infection of the central nervous system.

Symptoms:
  • increased salivation
  • disorientation
  • excitability

Tetnus

Annual, but a booster should be given at the time of a penetration injury or prior to a surgery if it's been 6+ months since the vaccine was administered. 

Bacterial, not contagious but enters the body through an open or deep wound (such as a laceration or puncture). 

Symptoms:
  • muscle spasms
  • general stiffness
  • "saw-horse" stance
  • tail held out straight
  • protrusion of the third eyelid 

Also known as "lock jaw" because these toxin-releasing bacteria can cause the horse's jaw to contract and make it difficult for them to open their mouths. 

For more detailed information or how to vaccinate pregnant mares and foals... 

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Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis 

Annual

Mosquito-bourne, attacks nervous system.

Symptoms: 
  • high fever
  • extreme lethargy
  • loss of coordination
  • seizures
  • paralysis

Influenza

Every 3 months, if at a high risk of exposure

Common respiratory disease, very contagious. 

Symptoms:
  • nasal discharge
  • dry cough
  • fever
  • depression
  • loss of appetite

Some Common Horse Health Issues

Colic:

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"Colic" refers to abdominal pain, rather than a specific disease. That does not decrease its importance though, as colic is the primary cause of death in horses. It can vary from mild to life-threatening, depending on the cause. There are multiple different types of colic and understanding their differences is vital in diagnosis, treatment and future prevention.
  1. Spasmodic colic is the most common form and occurs as a result of muscles spasms in the horse's small intestine. This type of colic usually results from stress or sudden feed changes but can also be caused by exercising too soon after feeding, drinking a lot of water too soon after exercise, or even by excessive anxiety/excitability. 
  2. Tympanitic colic is caused by a build-up of gas, leading to over-destension of the stomach. This form of colic can occur if the horse gorges on feed (this is why it's important to store grain in a separate, closed off room), by eating un-soaked beat pulp (which then expands in the horse's stomach), or by the fermentation that occurs when a horse eats excessive apples or grass cuttings. Although it usually responds well to nasogastric tubing and medication, this type of colic can lead to a ruptured stomach if unattended to. The horse's large intestine is also prone to twisting with more severe gas colic, so it's important to seek prompt medical care. 
  3. Impaction colic refers to the intestines becoming blocked, generally by food or fecal matter. Impactions can be caused by simple dehydration or by the ingestion of things such as straw and sand. It can also indicate a Strongyle infestation. This form of colic also usually responds well to treatment, provided that it was detected early. 
  4. Obstruction colic includes displacements, strangulations, and torsions. Displacement is when part of the bowel moves to an abnormal section of the abdomen, while the other two types lead to a loss of blood supply to the gut. These are all more serious forms of colic, often requiring surgery. Early symptoms for obstructions are similar to those of other types of colic, therefore it is important to call you vet whenever you suspect your horse may be colicing. 

Symptoms:

  • Reluctance to eat or drink
  • Nosing or kicking at the abdomen
  • Standing stretched out (as if to urinate)
  • Pawing, groaning, rolling and/or sweating
  • Repeatedly laying down and getting back up


*If you suspect your horse is colicing, check for tightness in their hindquarters and/or heat in their feet, as both laminitis and azoturia can mimic colic symptoms. 

Treatment:

Most colic cases can be treated at your farm through medication and the use of a nasogastric tube to relive pressure and administer fluids, electrotypes or mineral oil. However, if an obstruction is present or an impaction does not respond to the above, your vet will likely request that the horse be trailered to the hospital for surgery. 

Prevention:

  • Always provide access to fresh water (warm in the winter and cool in the summer). 
  • Feed a balanced and consistent diet, introducing changes slowly.
  • Feeding small meals often is better than two concentrated ones. 
  • Establish a de-worming schedule or run regular fecal tests. 
  • Ensure horses are not confined to a stall on their off-days. 
  • Wait 1.5 hours after feeling before riding. 
  • Do not feed directly on sandy soils. 
  • Avoid bedding stalls with straw. 

What to do if you suspect Colic:

TIP:

If the vet advises hydrating your horse and you are having trouble getting them to drink, adding some apple juice or Gatorade powder to the water may help encourage them. 
  • Restrict your horse's access to feed and water 
  • Take your horse's vitals, as described on the First Aid page.
  • Look for feces in your horse's stall/pen (an absence or reduction could indicate a problem).
  • Call your vet, report the horse's symptoms as well as their vitals, and follow any instructions he/she gives (they may suggest you hydrate, medicate the horse or walk you through how to check their gut sounds). DO NOT wait to call. Consulting your vet over the phone is free and could help diagnose a more severe form of colic/save your horse's life. 
TIP:

Sand colic can be detected or ruled out by mixing some of your horse's manure and water in a bag. Then wait to see what, if anything, settles to the bottom. 


Parasites:

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There are nearly 150 different species of equine parasites. The duration of each parasite's life cycle varies greatly, from a few weeks to over a year. Most start off as an ingested egg (sometimes infected at the larval stage), which then hatched larvae, which mature into adults, which then lay more eggs. The majority of this life cycle is spent inside your horse's intestine and some parasites even migrate to blood vessels and organs, causing dangerous symptoms. 

Symptoms: 

  • Poor BCS, weight loss
  • Loss of appetite
  • Depression
  • Diarrhea
  • Dull coat
  • Anemia
  • Visible worms
  • Loss of performance
  • Fever

Treatment:

1. If you suspect your horse has worms, you can have your vet run a fecal test on them to count the number of eggs present. This will give you an indication of whether or not you need to treat/de-worm your horse. It is IMPORTANT TO TEST your horse first, because low percentage of parasites can actually be beneficial to keep your horse's immune system stimulated and a very high level may require special medication. In addition, a fecal test can tell you what type of parasites to target your treatment against. Furthermore, worming too often contributes to the ever-growing problem of drug-resistance and is also an environmental contaminant. 

2. If necessary, administer an anthelmintic at the appropriate dose for your horse's body weight. These drugs are usually administered as a paste but are also available in powder and pellet forms, which make de-worming a difficult horse easier. 

Prevention:

  • Feces removal: make sure paddocks or other turn-out areas are cleaned regularly.
  • Pasture rotation: allowing grass time to rest and recover will not only aid in the health of your pastures but will reduce the risk of horse's contracting parasites, which are usually found at the base of plants...
  • Interspecies grazing: can break the parasites life cycles because cattle and sheep are not affected by the same types of parasites as horses and any worms ingested will die in their systems. In addition, other species may graze the pasture more evenly (grazing patches that the picky horse avoids). 
  1. Strongyles (large and small redworms) are the most common equine intestinal parasite and a frequent cause of spasmodic colic. The worms can cause anemia while the hatched larvae often lead to intestinal inflammation, roughening of the arterial wall and clot formation. Large strongyles are most dangerous because they migrate outside of the intestine and into blood vessels and organs. 
  2. Roundworms are large, stiff, white worms which infect the small intestine and can damage both the liver and the lungs during migration. Horses develop immunity to this type of infestation at around the age of 2. 
  3. Tapeworms can be asymptomatic but also responsible for causing some surgical colics and are most prevalent in areas with acidic soil. Heavy infestations cause ulceration and blockages.
  4. Bots are bot fly larvae, laid on the horse's coat (often on their legs) and lick/ingested later. These larvae develop for 8-10 months over the winter and can cause hemorrhaging, ulceration and perforation of the horse's stomach. 


Heaves:

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Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO) is an equine respiratory condition similar to human asthma. It used to be called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, before being changed to RAO, but is now often referred to simply as "heaves". While some horses are predisposed genetically, most cases of heaves develop as a result to exposure to organic dust. Hay, bedding and feed can all contain irritating mold, bacteria and dirt particles. 
TIP:
Holding a rectal sleeve or plastic bag over your horse's nostrils for a short bit will cause them to take a deep breath once it's removed. This can induce a preexisting but intermittent cough and help detect wheezing or crackling (which indicate debris in the horse's airflow) when listening to the lungs. 

Symptoms:

  • Use of abdomen to assist exhalation     (may rock while breathing)
  • Coughing or wheezing
  • Milky nasal discharge
  • Flared nostrils
  • Weight loss
  • Anxiety

Treatment:

There is no cure for heaves but its symptoms can be treated with medication. Administration of corticosteroids (which reduce inflammation) and brocodilator drugs (to relieve respiratory distress) can help manage heaves in horses.  

* A "heave line" can form on the horse's abdomen due to hypertrophy of the oblige muscles and indicates a reoccurring problem over years. 

Prevention: 

  • Environment control (reduce exposure by keeping horses outdoors or ensuring the barn is well ventilated). 
  • Avoid round bales and soak hay flakes. Feeding cubed hay and Dengi instead can help reduce exposure to irriating dust particles. 
  • Consider using a less dusty bedding type.