Title: Recognizing and Managing Common Health Problems of Horses
1Recognizing and Managing Common Health Problems
of Horses
- F.C. Faries, Jr., DVM, MS
- Texas AgriLife Extension Service
- Texas AM System
- College Station, Texas
2Cutaneous (Skin) Problems
- Rain Gall
- Fungus (Dermatophilus)
- Summer Itch
- Face-neck allergy
- Gnats (Culicoides, Simulium)
- Skin Worms (Onchocerca)
- Mane-tail allergy
- Gnats (Culicoides)
3- Summer Sores
- Stomach worms (Habronema)
- Skin wounds
- Mucous membranes
- Proud Flesh
- Wounds (irritation)
4Rain Gall, Dew Poisoning (Cutaneous
Dermatophilosis, Streptotrichosis)
- Agent fungus (Dermatophilus)
- Actinomycete
- Transmission mechanical
- Vector stablefly
- Vehicles instruments
5- Season April October (Summer)
- (rain, hot, high humidity, sweat, dew)
- Effects Serum Dermatitis
- Inflammation crusts (paint brushes)
- Lower legs, thighs, croup, poll
- (areas sweat, areas wet fly bite)
- Recovery suppression November March (Winter)
- (activates annually)
6- Diagnosis paint brush lesions
- Culture
- Management
- Dry conditions
- Bathe (remove lesions)
- Drying solution
7Summer Itch (Gnat Allergy)
- Agent gnats (Culicoides, Simulium) (Eggs,
larvae, pupae water, mud, decayed vegetation) - Season April October (Summer)
8- Effects allergic dermatitis
- Hair loss
- Inflammation papules, vesicles, pustules,
scabs - Pruritus self trauma
- Face, neck, chest, armpits, ventral midline,
flanks
9- Ears
- Mane, tail
- Reaction to saliva (Hypersensitive Horses)
- Recovery November March (Winter)
- (recurs annually)
- Diagnosis
- Skin biopsy
10- Management
- Reduce gnat exposure
- Stall Daylight to 10am
- 4pm to dark
- Fans, smoke, screens
- Skin oil prevents biting, promotes healing
- (petroleum jelly, glycerin)
- Insecticides, repellents
11Summer Itch (Cutaneous Onchocercosis)
- Agent Onchocerca microfilariae
- (Adults ligamentous tissues withers, legs,
spleens nonpathogenic) - Vector common gnat (Culicoides)
- Season April October (Summer)
12- Effects allergic dermatitis
- Hair loss
- Inflammation papules, vesicles, pustules, scabs
- Pruritus self trauma
- Bilateral symmetrical face, neck, chest,
armpits, ventral midline, flanks - Reaction to dead microfilariae in only
hypersensitive horses (universal infections)
13- Recovery November March (Winter)
- (Recurs annually)
- Diagnosis
- Skin biopsy
- Management
- Reduce gnat exposure
14Summer Sores (Cutaneous Habronemiasis)
- Agent stomach worm larvae (Draschia, Habronema)
- Adults stomach
- Vector common housefly, stablefly
- (Eggs, larvae, pupae manure, stall bedding, hay
waste, decayed vegetation) - Season April October (Summer)
15- Effects granulomatous lesions
- Skin wounds
- Wet tender irritated skin
- Conjunctiva, prepuce, penis, vagina
- Proud flesh hypergranulation of tissue
- Aberrant larvae irritates tissue
- Worsens
- rubbing (pruritus)
- irritation (flies, gnats, grass, tail)
16- Recovery noncomplete healing in winter,
reinfection in summer - Diagnosis
- Biopsy
- Management
- Control flies
17Digestive Problems
- Foot founder (Bahia grass)
- Colic (cold front)
- Tying-up (oats feed)
- Chronic diarrhea (low roughage)
- Foal diarrhea (Strongyloides)
18- Stumpsucker (boredom) (low roughage)
- Cribber (boredom) (low roughage)
- Bark chewing (hypervitaminosis)
- Ankle swelling (sodium imbalance)
19Infectious Disease Problems
- Sleeping sickness Encephalomyelitis
- EIA Equine Infectious Anemia
- Rhinopneumonitis
- Influenza
- Lockjaw Tetanus
20- Strangles (Streptococcus)
- Salmonellosis (Salmonella)
- PHF Potomac Horse Fever (Ehrlichia)
- EPM Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis
21West Nile Encephalitis
- In U. S.
- A reportable disease
- Viral Bird Disease gt100 Species
- Blue jays, crows, hawks
- Encephalitis death
22- Transmissions
- Virus in bird blood
- Mosquito (gt75 species) bite bird
- Virus in 1 mosquito salivary glands 10 to 14
days later - Mosquito bite bird - virus in blood (carrier)
- Mosquito bite mammal virus not in blood (dead
end) - 1 horses and people encephalitis (death or
recovery) - 30 encephalitis horses death (2 wks to 6 mos)
- 6 encephalitis people death
23- Incubation Period
- 3 to15 Days
24Horse WNE Rabies Symptoms
- Virus in brain
- Stumbling, staggering wobbling
- Leg weakness falling
- Difficult rising dog sitting
- Muscle twitching
25- Horse WNE Diagnosis
- Blood, postmortem brain
26- Horse WNE Vaccination
- Innovator WNE killed vaccine (Ft Dodge)
- Recombitex WNE recombinant vaccine (Merial)
27Attack Mosquito Breeding Sites Standing,
Stagnant Water
- Attack mosquito breeding sites
- Standing, stagnant water
- Eliminate junk (cans, jars, buckets, tubs, pots,
tires) - Treat troughs, bird baths, low areas (Bt Mosquito
Dunks)
28Swamp Fever (Equine Infectious Anemia) (EIA)
- Agent virus (Lentivirus)
- Transmission mechanical
- Vector horsefly, deerfly
- Vehicles needles, instruments
- Season
- Peracute, acute summer
- Chronic year around
- Inapparent year around
29- Effects anemia
- Peracute, acute death
- Chronic emaciation
- Inapparent possible fever attacks
- Recovery
- Lifetime infections (chronic, inapparent)
- Diagnosis
- AGID (Coggins), CELISA serology
- Management
- Reportable to TAHC
- Disposal or quarantine
30Hereditary Problems
- HYPP
- Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis
- (Gene Defect)
31Horse Health Management Practices
- Shelter Management
- Adequate housing
- Open sheds
- Stalls (12 x 12)
- Proper ventilation
- Protect against heat and cold
- Adequate exercise
32- Environmental Management
- Prevent overcrowdedness
- Maintain cleanliness
- Maintain dryness
- Utilize composts
- Stall bedding disposal
- Manure disposal
- Hay waste disposal
33- Reduce dust
- Proper ventilation
- Protect against heat and cold
34- Nutritional Management
- Adequate forages
- Grass and/or hay
- Required supplements
- Concentrates (grains)
- Protein supplements
35- Free choice salt
- Clean water
- Proper hay/grain storage
- Dry and rodent free
36- Insect Management (horseflies, deerflies,
stableflies, houseflies, mosquitos, gnats) - Utilize composts
- Stall bedding disposal
- Manure disposal
- Hay waste disposal
37- Proper drainage
- Maintain dryness
- Routine insecticide applications
- Premise chemicals (sprays, baits)
- Animal chemicals (sprays, dusts, repellents)
38- Worm Management (strongyles, roundworms,
pinworms) - Prevent overcrowdedness
- Maintain cleanliness
- Utilize composts
- Stall bedding disposal
- Manure disposal
39- Maintain dryness
- Proper drainage
- Separate age groups
- Routine deworming (1 to 12 times per year or
continuous)
40- Infectious Disease Management
- Avoid exposures
- Isolate sick
- Diagnose and treat
- Diagnose and dispose
- Quarantine exposed (2 to 8 wks.)
- Adjacent premise buffer zone
- Separate needles for injections
- Disinfect instruments (tattoo, bits, floats,
twitch) - Insect management
- Rodent management
- Separate feed-water utensils in travel
41- Separate age groups
- Provide immunizations
- WNV (1 to 2 times per yr.)
- VEWT (1 time per yr.)
- Flu (1 to 6 times per yr.)
- Rhino respiratory/live (1 to 6 times per yr.)
- Rhino abortion/killed (5, 7, 9 mo. pregnancy)
- Strangles high risk (1 time per yr.)
42- Care for new entry
- Prior to entry (3 to 6 wks.)
- Pre-purchase exam
- Tests (EIA)
- Immunizations
- Deworm
- After entry (immediately)
- Post-purchase exam
- Tests (EIA)
- Isolate (2 wk. minimum)
43- Annual physical examinations
- Tests (EIA) (1 to 4 times per yr.)
- Dental care (1 to 2 times per yr.)
- Foot care (1 to 6 times per yr.)
- Integrated management practices
- Shelter
- Environmental
- Nutritional
- Insect
- Worm
- Infectious disease
-
44- Identify sources
- Horses
- Other animals
- Environment
- Vehicles
- Vectors
45Normal Vital Signs
- Respiratory Rate 8 24
- Heart Rate 36 48
- RRHR Ratio 14 12
- Hydration 1
- Capillary Refill 1
- Mucous Membrane Color Pink
- Sweating None Slight
- Strength Strong
- Temperature 99 100
46Stress Vital Signs
- Respiratory Rate gt40
- Heart Rate gt72
- RRHR Ratio 11 21
- Hydration gt3
- Capillary Refill gt3
- Mucous Membrane Color Pale-Blue
- Sweating Excess
- Strength Weak
- Temperature gt105