Recognizing and Managing Common Health Problems of Horses

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Recognizing and Managing Common Health Problems
of Horses

• F.C. Faries, Jr., DVM, MS
• Texas AgriLife Extension Service
• Texas AM System
• College Station, Texas

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Cutaneous (Skin) Problems

• Rain Gall
• Fungus (Dermatophilus)
• Summer Itch
• Face-neck allergy
• Gnats (Culicoides, Simulium)
• Skin Worms (Onchocerca)
• Mane-tail allergy
• Gnats (Culicoides)

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• Summer Sores
• Stomach worms (Habronema)
• Skin wounds
• Mucous membranes
• Proud Flesh
• Wounds (irritation)

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Rain Gall, Dew Poisoning (Cutaneous
Dermatophilosis, Streptotrichosis)

• Agent fungus (Dermatophilus)
• Actinomycete
• Transmission mechanical
• Vector stablefly
• Vehicles instruments

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• 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)

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• Diagnosis paint brush lesions
• Culture
• Management
• Dry conditions
• Bathe (remove lesions)
• Drying solution

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Summer Itch (Gnat Allergy)

• Agent gnats (Culicoides, Simulium) (Eggs,
  larvae, pupae water, mud, decayed vegetation)
• Season April October (Summer)

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• Effects allergic dermatitis
• Hair loss
• Inflammation papules, vesicles, pustules,
  scabs
• Pruritus self trauma
• Face, neck, chest, armpits, ventral midline,
  flanks

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• Ears
• Mane, tail
• Reaction to saliva (hypersensitive horses)
• Recovery November March (Winter)
• (recurs annually)
• Diagnosis
• Skin biopsy

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• 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

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Summer Itch (Cutaneous Onchocercosis)

• Agent Onchocerca microfilariae
• (Adults ligamentous tissues withers, legs,
  spleens nonpathogenic)
• Vector common gnat (Culicoides)
• Season April October (Summer)

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• 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)

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• Recovery November March (Winter)
• (recurs annually)
• Diagnosis
• Skin biopsy
• Management
• Reduce gnat exposure

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Summer 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)

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• 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)

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• Recovery noncomplete healing in winter,
  reinfection in summer
• Diagnosis
• Biopsy
• Management
• Control flies

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Digestive Problems

• Foot founder (Bahia grass)
• Colic (cold front)
• Tying-up (oats feed)
• Chronic diarrhea (low roughage)
• Foal diarrhea (Strongyloides)

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• Stumpsucker (boredom) (low roughage)
• Cribber (boredom) (low roughage)
• Bark chewing (hypervitaminosis)
• Ankle swelling (sodium imbalance)

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Infectious Disease Problems

• Sleeping sickness Encephalomyelitis
• EIA Equine Infectious Anemia
• Rhinopneumonitis
• Influenza
• Lockjaw Tetanus

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• Strangles (Streptococcus)
• Salmonellosis (Salmonella)
• PHF Potomac Horse Fever (Ehrlichia)
• EPM Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis

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West Nile Encephalitis

• In U. S.
• A reportable disease
• Viral Bird Disease gt100 Species
• Blue jays, crows, hawks
• Encephalitis death

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• 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

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• Incubation Period
• 3 to15 Days

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Horse WNE Rabies Symptoms

• Virus in brain
• Stumbling, staggering wobbling
• Leg weakness falling
• Difficult rising dog sitting
• Muscle twitching

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• Horse WNE Diagnosis
• Blood, postmortem brain

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• Horse WNE Vaccination
• Innovator WNE killed vaccine (Ft Dodge)
• Recombitex WNE recombinant vaccine (Merial)

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Attack 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)

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Swamp 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

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• 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

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Hereditary Problems

• HYPP
• Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis
• (Gene Defect)

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Horse Health Management Practices

• Shelter Management
• Adequate housing
• Open sheds
• Stalls (12 x 12)
• Proper ventilation
• Protect against heat and cold
• Adequate exercise

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• Environmental Management
• Prevent overcrowdedness
• Maintain cleanliness
• Maintain dryness
• Utilize composts
• Stall bedding disposal
• Manure disposal
• Hay waste disposal

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• Reduce dust
• Proper ventilation
• Protect against heat and cold

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• Nutritional Management
• Adequate forages
• Grass and/or hay
• Required supplements
• Concentrates (grains)
• Protein supplements

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• Free choice salt
• Clean water
• Proper hay/grain storage
• Dry and rodent free

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• Insect Management (horseflies, deerflies,
  stableflies, houseflies, mosquitos, gnats)
• Utilize composts
• Stall bedding disposal
• Manure disposal
• Hay waste disposal

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• Proper drainage
• Maintain dryness
• Routine insecticide applications
• Premise chemicals (sprays, baits)
• Animal chemicals (sprays, dusts, repellents)

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• Worm Management (strongyles, roundworms,
  pinworms)
• Prevent overcrowdedness
• Maintain cleanliness
• Utilize composts
• Stall bedding disposal
• Manure disposal

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• Maintain dryness
• Proper drainage
• Separate age groups
• Routine deworming (1 to 12 times per year or
  continuous)

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• 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

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• 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.)

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• 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)

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• 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

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• Identify sources
• Horses
• Other animals
• Environment
• Vehicles
• Vectors

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Normal 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

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Stress 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