Equine DiseasesEquine Diseases

Stephen R. Schafer, EdD 2006 University of

Wyoming

D. Karen Hansen, PhD 2001 University of Wyoming

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Disease ManagementDisease Management

► Prevention is the singularly most important Prevention is the singularly most important aspectaspect Vaccinate regularly with your veterinarian’s adviceVaccinate regularly with your veterinarian’s advice Keep horse areas cleaned up and sanitizedKeep horse areas cleaned up and sanitized Proper feeds and feeding managementProper feeds and feeding management

► Control is invaluable once a disease is diagnosedControl is invaluable once a disease is diagnosed Separate ill horses (have an isolation area)Separate ill horses (have an isolation area) Disinfecting is a cornerstone of many control measuresDisinfecting is a cornerstone of many control measures

► Cure is the goal once a disease is diagnosedCure is the goal once a disease is diagnosed Get treatment early to avoid additional complicationsGet treatment early to avoid additional complications Rigorously follow the prescribed treatment guidelinesRigorously follow the prescribed treatment guidelines

RabiesRabies

►Common in some areas, not in othersCommon in some areas, not in others

►Viral Disease/InfectionViral Disease/Infection

►Animal to animal transmission by a Animal to animal transmission by a bitebite

►VaccinateVaccinate

EncephalomyelitisEncephalomyelitis

► Equine EncephalomyelitisEquine Encephalomyelitis Encephalitis = inflammation of the brainEncephalitis = inflammation of the brain Commonly known as “sleeping sickness”Commonly known as “sleeping sickness”

► Viral Disease/InfectionViral Disease/Infection (three types or (three types or stains):stains): EasternEastern WesternWestern VenezuelanVenezuelan

► Transmitted by mosquitoesTransmitted by mosquitoes

► VaccinateVaccinate

TetanusTetanus

► Also known as “lockjaw”Also known as “lockjaw” Causes muscle stiffnessCauses muscle stiffness Muscle/body rigidityMuscle/body rigidity Mostly fatalMostly fatal

► Caused by the bacterium Caused by the bacterium Clostridium Clostridium tetanitetani Spores can live anywhereSpores can live anywhere Enter body through woundsEnter body through wounds

► VaccinateVaccinate

Exertional RhabdomyolysisExertional Rhabdomyolysis

► Also known as “azoturia” and “tying up”Also known as “azoturia” and “tying up” Metabolic disorders involving musclesMetabolic disorders involving muscles Soreness and stiffness of muscle usually upon Soreness and stiffness of muscle usually upon

exerciseexercise

► Cause is abnormal carbohydrate metabolismCause is abnormal carbohydrate metabolism

► Control measures/recommendations includeControl measures/recommendations include Lower soluble carbohydrates in diet is usually helpfulLower soluble carbohydrates in diet is usually helpful More vigorous monitoring of feeding practicesMore vigorous monitoring of feeding practices Proper conditioning of horse is essentialProper conditioning of horse is essential

InfluenzaInfluenza

► Commonly, it is simply known as the “flu”Commonly, it is simply known as the “flu” Very common respiratory diseaseVery common respiratory disease Causes dry cough, clear nasal discharge feverCauses dry cough, clear nasal discharge fever Very debilitating; esp. if put back to work too soonVery debilitating; esp. if put back to work too soon Highly contagiousHighly contagious

► Viral Disease/InfectionViral Disease/Infection

► Vaccinate, frequentlyVaccinate, frequently New strains evolve and developNew strains evolve and develop Traveling, different areas may have a different Traveling, different areas may have a different

strainstrain

RhinopnemonitisRhinopnemonitis

► Known as “rhino” (in many areas of US)Known as “rhino” (in many areas of US)

► Rhinopnemonitis = EHV - 1 and EHV-4Rhinopnemonitis = EHV - 1 and EHV-4 Both cause respiratory problems; dry cough, Both cause respiratory problems; dry cough,

clear nasal dischargeclear nasal discharge EHV-1 can also cause abortion in pregnant maresEHV-1 can also cause abortion in pregnant mares Highly contagiousHighly contagious

► Vaccinate, frequentlyVaccinate, frequently Especially pregnant mares, due to abortion factorEspecially pregnant mares, due to abortion factor Because it is highly contagious Because it is highly contagious

StranglesStrangles

► Known as “strep throat” of horsesKnown as “strep throat” of horses Symptoms are: sore throat, abcesses of lymph Symptoms are: sore throat, abcesses of lymph

nodes, off feed, and fever nodes, off feed, and fever Usually affects young horsesUsually affects young horses Highly contagiousHighly contagious Mortality is usually low Mortality is usually low

► Bacterial disease, caused by Bacterial disease, caused by Streptococcus equiStreptococcus equi

►Daily monitoring of horse is key for early Daily monitoring of horse is key for early detectiondetection

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseDisease

►Commonly known as “heaves”Commonly known as “heaves”

►Allergic reaction by bronchioles; similar to Allergic reaction by bronchioles; similar to asthma/asthmatic reactions in humansasthma/asthmatic reactions in humans

►Control measures/recommendations Control measures/recommendations includeinclude Do not feed dusty or moldy hayDo not feed dusty or moldy hay Do not feed dusty or moldy other feedstuffsDo not feed dusty or moldy other feedstuffs More vigorous monitoring of feeding practicesMore vigorous monitoring of feeding practices

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Disease (Heaves)(Heaves)

Drawing: Equus

Flu, Rhino, Strangles, & Heaves:Flu, Rhino, Strangles, & Heaves:All Respiratory Problems Of Some All Respiratory Problems Of Some

SortSort

Drawing: Equus

Other DiseasesOther Diseases►Other diseases may be a problemOther diseases may be a problem

►Can/will vary from location to locationCan/will vary from location to location

►Others diseases that may be Others diseases that may be encounteredencountered Equine Viral ArteritisEquine Viral Arteritis Potomac Horse Fever (transmitted by ticks)Potomac Horse Fever (transmitted by ticks) Equine Infectious Anemia (swamp fever)Equine Infectious Anemia (swamp fever)

►Transmitted by mosquitoesTransmitted by mosquitoes►More common in warmer/humid climatesMore common in warmer/humid climates►Coggins Test or Elisa test for antibodies, required Coggins Test or Elisa test for antibodies, required

for all horses traveling out of statefor all horses traveling out of state

ColicColic

What Is Colic?What Is Colic?

►A syndrome (not an actual disease)A syndrome (not an actual disease)

► It is caused by digestive tract It is caused by digestive tract problemsproblems

►Located in the abdominal cavityLocated in the abdominal cavity

►Colic = much pain for the horseColic = much pain for the horse

Colic Is Digestive ProblemsColic Is Digestive Problems

Drawing: Unknown Source

Signs Of ColicSigns Of Colic

►Off feedOff feed

►Uneasiness and rollingUneasiness and rolling

►Looking at abdomenLooking at abdomen

►Kicking at abdomenKicking at abdomen

►SweatingSweating

► Increased heart rate (> 60 Increased heart rate (> 60 bpm)bpm)

► Increased respiration rateIncreased respiration rate

Types Of ColicTypes Of Colic

►Gaseous: Gaseous: gas formation in the digestive tractgas formation in the digestive tract

► Impaction: Impaction: blockage of the intestineblockage of the intestine

► Spasmodic: Spasmodic: severe contraction of intestinesevere contraction of intestine

► Intestinal Accidents: Intestinal Accidents: twists, hernia, etc.twists, hernia, etc.

Causes Of Gaseous ColicCauses Of Gaseous Colic

►Over Ingestion of FeedOver Ingestion of Feed Too much grainToo much grain Too much lush green grassToo much lush green grass

►Greedy Eating Greedy Eating (gaseous or (gaseous or impaction)impaction)

►Moldy or Spoiled HayMoldy or Spoiled Hay

►Moldy or Spoiled FeedMoldy or Spoiled Feed

Causes Of Impaction ColicCauses Of Impaction Colic

► Low Quality Indigestible RoughageLow Quality Indigestible Roughage

► Sand and/or Other Foreign ObjectsSand and/or Other Foreign Objects

►Mineral ImbalanceMineral Imbalance

► Improper Chewing Improper Chewing (due to lack of tooth (due to lack of tooth care)care)

►Greedy Eating Greedy Eating (can be impaction or (can be impaction or gaseous)gaseous)

► Lack of WaterLack of Water

► Lack of effective regular dewormingLack of effective regular deworming

Causes Of Spasmodic ColicCauses Of Spasmodic Colic

►Feeding large amounts Feeding large amounts infrequentlyinfrequently

►Too much water given to hot horse Too much water given to hot horse

►Irregular exerciseIrregular exercise

►StressStress

Treatment Of ColicTreatment Of Colic

►Usually considered a veterinary Usually considered a veterinary emergencyemergency

► Treatment is dependent on type of colicTreatment is dependent on type of colic

► Pain killers Pain killers (provide comfort)(provide comfort)

►Mineral oil Mineral oil (ease of movement, relieve pressure)(ease of movement, relieve pressure)

►RehydrationRehydration

► SurgerySurgery

Colic: Preventative Colic: Preventative MeasuresMeasures

► Free Choice High Quality Free Choice High Quality WaterWater High-quality = cool, clear, and cleanHigh-quality = cool, clear, and clean Except immediately after workExcept immediately after work

►Adequate Regular ExerciseAdequate Regular Exercise Daily exercise, if confinedDaily exercise, if confined

► Proper Health CareProper Health Care Keep all vaccinations currentKeep all vaccinations current Regular dental examinationsRegular dental examinations Follow deworming guidelinesFollow deworming guidelines

Colic: Preventative Colic: Preventative MeasuresMeasures

► High Quality FeedstuffsHigh Quality Feedstuffs No mold or dustNo mold or dust No fines or finely ground feedsNo fines or finely ground feeds

► Adequate ForageAdequate Forage No mold or dustNo mold or dust High-quality & digestible forage/hay = fewer stems, more High-quality & digestible forage/hay = fewer stems, more

leavesleaves Daily, a Daily, a minimumminimum of 1% of horse’s body weight in forage or of 1% of horse’s body weight in forage or

hayhay

► Sound Feeding ManagementSound Feeding Management Feed horses individuallyFeed horses individually Feed horses at regular intervalsFeed horses at regular intervals Feed up off the ground in feedersFeed up off the ground in feeders Spread grain out in a shallow feederSpread grain out in a shallow feeder Split into 2 or more feedings if grain exceeds .5% of body Split into 2 or more feedings if grain exceeds .5% of body

weightweight

Related/Similar DiseasesRelated/Similar Diseases

►Laminitis (Founder)Laminitis (Founder):: can be caused can be caused by over ingestion of soluble by over ingestion of soluble carbohydratescarbohydrates

►Tying Up; AzoturiaTying Up; Azoturia:: can be caused can be caused by over ingestion of soluble by over ingestion of soluble carbohydrates when workload is reducedcarbohydrates when workload is reduced

Reducing Colic: Why?Reducing Colic: Why?

► ““The right thing to do”The right thing to do”

► Performance enhancementPerformance enhancement

► To reduce the chance of large To reduce the chance of large and preventable veterinary billsand preventable veterinary bills

► Possible loss of the horse ($)Possible loss of the horse ($)

Colic: In ReviewColic: In Review

► Pain in the abdomenPain in the abdomen

► Colic can be mild or life-threateningColic can be mild or life-threatening

► Can be caused by lack of parasite control, Can be caused by lack of parasite control, poor feeding management, lack of proper poor feeding management, lack of proper health carehealth care

►Management causes are largely Management causes are largely preventablepreventable

Equine Diseases: Equine Diseases: SummarySummary

► PreventionPrevention

► ControlControl

► CureCure