Health Management Greene 2024 PDF

HEALTH MANAGEMENT GOOD HEALTH CARE PROGRAM Be able to identify problems; know what is normal for your horse Keep accurate records Understand equine diseases Vaccinate and parasite control Avoid high risk conditions for disease/injury Be prepared to handle emergencies Advice and ser...

HEALTH MANAGEMENT GOOD HEALTH CARE PROGRAM Be able to identify problems; know what is normal for your horse Keep accurate records Understand equine diseases Vaccinate and parasite control Avoid high risk conditions for disease/injury Be prepared to handle emergencies Advice and service from a vet and farrier  SIGNS OF HEALTH Body condition Amount of fat cover Score system can be used to judge nutritional status of horses Most should score between 4 and 6 SIGNS OF HEALTH Other signs to examine: Hair coat, hoof growth, eyes, hydration, feces/urine, mucus membranes, capillary refill, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature Sign Normal Temperature 99.5 0F to 101.5 0F Heart rate 32-48 beats/min Respiratory rate 8-16 breaths/min Mucous membranes Pink color Capillary refill time 1-2 seconds COLIC The #1 killer of aged horses! USDA NAHMS Study (1999) Colic: 4.2 events/100 horses/year Veterinary costs $160.00/event Case fatality rate 11.3% 2.4 days of use lost/event  COLIC, WHAT IS IT? Pain in abdominal area Primarily from stretching of components of the GI tract Clinical signs Pawing, kicking a belly, attempt to urinate Progressive Rolling, down  CLINICAL EVALUATION Appearance Attitude, intensity of pain Heart rate Normal 100 Mucous membranes Intestinal motility Shock, hydration Skin, PCV, total protein CLINICAL EVALUATION II Rectal palpation Stomach tube Reflux, odor, volume, pH Abdominal paracentesis Color, volume, WBC, protein TREATMENT Pain relief, Pain relief, Pain relief Identify underlying cause of pain and correction (?) Supportive treatment CAUSES OF DISTENSION Impaction Dry GI contents Ileus Verminous arteritis Obstructive masses Enterolith, sand, parasites (bots & roundworms) Foreign material Hair DISTENSION PART II Displacement Volvulus, Torsion Fermentation Gastric dilation, grain overload, feed change Flatulent colic, gas in large intestine Spasmodic Hypermotility, diet, teeth, excitement, cold water, weather  IMMUNITY Immune system Body’s defense against foreign substance Microorganisms, potentially toxic materials, or abnormal cells General responses: Activates cells to destroy harmful cell Activates other cells to produce antibodies Antigen Substance that induces immune response by stimulating production of circulating antibodies Antibodies Provided to foals through mare’s first milk Colostrum  VACCINATIONS Horses establish immunity to specific disease first by being exposed and then by developing own antibodies to fight it off Vaccines contain inactivated killed organisms or modified live organisms Passive immunity Give animal antibodies produced by another animal Active immunity Challenge horse with just enough antigen so it will build its own antibodies  DISEASE Any condition of horse that impairs normal physiological functions Two broad categories affect horses: Infectious Caused by pathogenic organisms Non-infectious Caused by environmental problems, nutritional deficiencies, or genetic defects  DISEASES OF HORSES Strangles Caused by Streptococcus equi Disease of upper respiratory tract and lymph nodes of head region Inner lymph nodes can get so large, that the horse has difficulty breathing  strangles Transmitted by direct contact with nasal secretions or pus from draining abscess, flies, water buckets, etc. All ages affected; young (1-5 yrs) most affected When infection travels to other areas  Bastard strangles 3-14 day incubation period  Mild lethargy Low-grade fever (102-103) STRANGLES: CLINICAL Nasal discharge that starts clear SIGNS and thick becoming white with pus, Slight cough, Loss of appetite Trouble swallowing Progressive swelling and lymph node tenderness Treatment: antibiotics Vaccination available: 50% efficacy  INFLUENZA Myoxoviruses Influenza A/Equi 1 Influenza A/Equi 2 Same characteristics as man Increased temp Decreased appetite Nasal discharge Coughing Can vaccinate EQUINE VIRAL RHINOPNEUMONITIS Herpes virus: several types (EHV-1, EHV-4) Type 1 major US cause Often complicated by secondary bacterial infection Signs Fever up to 106 for 2-5 days Clear nasal discharge, cough Neurological Form Abortion may occur No treatment (Supportive) Can Vaccinate Modified live – NOT for pregos Killed virus (pneumabort K) for pregnant mares  EQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS Zoonotic to humans 3 key strains Venezuelan (VEE): 70-90% mortality Eastern (EEE): 70-90% mortality Western (WEE): 20-30% mortality Transmitted by mosquitoes or other blood sucking insects Incubation 1-3 weeks and…. SIGNS Increased fever to 106 for 24-36 hours Hypersensitivity to sound Restlessness Excitement Next: brain lesions, drowsiness, drooping ears, abnormal gait, circling Next: paralysisdeath 2-4 days after signs appear VACCINATE!!!!! EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA Also known as “swamp fever” Retrovirus called lentivirus Coggins test: 1970 Dr. Leroy Coggins; 95% accurate Some horses recover from disease and are carriers 3 other ELISA tests, but positives are backed by Coggins Transmitted by blood sucking insects, needles, syringes No vaccine; no treatment  MORE EIA 2-4-week incubation Signs: Fever, weakness, weight loss Incoordination, anemia Tiny blood-colored spots on mucous membranes Dependent edema Severe cases: death 2-3 weeks Acute 1/5 teaspoon blood from an acute EIA horse contains enough virus to infect 1 million horses Chronic (mild bout that is survived) 1/5 teaspoon blood can infect 10,000 horses  EIA After confirmation, seropositive horses must be permanently identified using the National Uniform Tag code number assigned by the USDA to the state in which the reactor was tested, followed by the letter “A.” (AZ is 86A) hot brand, chemical brand, freezemark, or lip tattoo must be applied by a USDA representative Reactor horses must be removed from the herd by euthanasia, slaughter, or quarantine at the premises of origin. The quarantine area must provide separation of at least 200 yd from all other equids.  TETANUS (LOCKJAW) Caused by neurotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani Gets into CNS via peripheral nervous system Results in overreaction to reflex and motor stimuli causing spasmodic or constant muscular rigidity Bacteria in feces of horses and in soil contaminated by horse feces Anaerobic; likes deep puncture wounds 100% mortality in untreated horses 75-80% mortality in treated horses Treat: antitoxin VACCINATE!  WEST NILE VIRUS Spread by mosquitoes that acquire virus from birds Can affect humans, livestock and poultry Signs: Ataxia, lack of coordination, depression Weakness of limbs, partial paralysis Inability to stand Possibly death Vaccinate and control mosquito population  OTHER DISEASES/PROBLEMS Rabies Equine Protozoal Rhabdovirus Myeloencephalitis (EPM) Carnivore bites Parasite Sarcocystis neurona Vaccinate Opossums transfer Can travel to CNS Botulism Incoordination, drooped lip Clostridium botulinum or eyelid Neurotoxin Can remain dormant for Most potent known to man years  Vesicular Stomatitis Blisters (vesicles) and raw ulcers in the mouth (stroma) Blisters on tongue, teats, soles of feet, and coronary band Transfers by insects No treatment Treat lesions  ZOONOTIC DISEASES  Anthrax  Rain rot  Brucellosis  Ringworm  Salmonellosis  Cryptosporidiosis  Vesicular stomatitis  Leptospirosis  Rabies