African horse sickness (AHS) is not contagious. In susceptible horses, AHS usually begins with an acute fever, followed by the sudden onset of severe respiratory distress. How is African horse sickness spread? African horse sickness is spread by biting midges (also called “punkies” or “no-see-ums”) (vector). Mosquitoes and biting flies Read more…
An investigation showed that this respiratory illness was caused by equine influenza A(H3N8) viruses. Scientists believe this virus jumped species (from horses to dogs) and has adapted to cause illness in dogs and spread among dogs, especially those housed in kennels and shelters. What are the symptoms of flu in Read more…
Genetically susceptible horses develop sarcoids as a result of exposure to bovine papilloma virus (BPV) Sarcoids commonly appear on the head, face, chest, groin but can develop anywhere on the skin. How do you prevent sarcoids in horses? How do I stop my horse getting sarcoids? There is no reliable Read more…
Currently, the only way to definitively diagnose eNAD/EDM is by postmortem identification of lesions by examining the brainstem and spinal cord under the microscope. How do you treat EDM? Animals predisposed to EDM or with a clinical diagnosis of EDM should receive oral alpha-tocopherol acetate supplementation. Improvement in clinical signs Read more…
African horse sickness is often diagnosed by virological methods. More than one test should be used to diagnose an outbreak (particularly the index case) whenever possible. AHSV can be isolated from the blood of live animals, or from tissue samples, especially spleen, lung and lymph nodes, collected at necropsy. How Read more…
EMS is a result of genetic predisposition combined with environmental and physiological factors such as obesity, high sugar diets, lack of exercise, and concurrent illnesses. Horses and ponies with EMS are often described as being “easy keepers” and have a tendency to become overweight. What causes EMS in horses? EMS Read more…
African horse sickness is spread by biting midges (also called “punkies” or “no-see-ums”) (vector). Mosquitoes and biting flies may also be able to transfer the virus. Dogs can become infected by eating (oral) contaminated horsemeat. How is African horse sickness virus transmitted? Disease transmission: AHS is spread by biting midges Read more…
Contagious equine metritis (CEM) is a transmissible venereal disease in horses, caused by the bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis . What causes CEM in horses? Contagious equine metritis (CEM) is a highly communicable venereal disease of horses, caused by the bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis. This disease can spread widely from a single asymptomatic Read more…
Based on recommendations from Dr. Eleanor Kellon, performance horses might benefit from 10 grams of L-leucine along with a sugar source after exercise to help with exercise recovery and rebuilding glycogen stores. This is especially recommended for horses with poor topline and frequent muscle soreness. What does leucine do for Read more…
Fasting the horse prior to testing is no longer recommended as further decreases the test sensitivity. Resting insulin concentration is measured in a horse that has been fed only grass hay or pasture. A single serum sample is needed for analysis.Diagnosing Insulin Dysregulation & Equine Metabolic Syndrome. Test Positive TEST Read more…