Basic Horse Health & Disease Prevention

Basic Horse Health & Basic Horse Health & Disease PreventionDisease Prevention

Kristen M. WilsonKristen M. Wilson

Regional Extension Horse SpecialistRegional Extension Horse Specialist

“Maryland Cooperative Extension provides equal access programs”

(Horse Industry Handbook & Cherry Hill)

Horse Health ManagementHorse Health Management

• Horses must be observed at regular Horses must be observed at regular intervalsintervals

• Know personality and normal stimuli Know personality and normal stimuli responses from each individual animalresponses from each individual animal

• Establish normal values for your horseEstablish normal values for your horse

• Record keeping is keyRecord keeping is key

Daily ObservationDaily Observation

Recognizing ProblemsRecognizing Problems

Learn to Recognize Abnormal Behavior

(Cherry Hill)

Vital SignsVital Signs

Vital SignsVital Signs

Measurements of a horse’s body Measurements of a horse’s body function and are good indicators of function and are good indicators of

the horse’s overall healththe horse’s overall health

(Horse Industry Handbook)

Vital SignsVital Signs

• Common vital signs:Common vital signs:– TemperatureTemperature– PulsePulse– RespirationRespiration– Gut SoundsGut Sounds– Mucosal Color/Capillary Refill TimeMucosal Color/Capillary Refill Time– Skin PliabilitySkin Pliability

(Horse Industry Handbook & Cherry Hill)

Vital Signs: TemperatureVital Signs: Temperature

– Normal: 100°F or 38°CNormal: 100°F or 38°C

– Varies: 99.5 – 101.5°FVaries: 99.5 – 101.5°F

– Exercise, excitement, Exercise, excitement, hot weather, illness hot weather, illness and pain will raise the and pain will raise the temperaturetemperature

– Shock and very cold Shock and very cold weather will decrease weather will decrease temperaturetemperature

– Mercury vs. DigitalMercury vs. Digital

TemperatureTemperature

(Hill, 1997. Horse Health Care)

(Cherry Hill)

Vital Signs: PulseVital Signs: Pulse– Horse should be calm, rested and relaxed for Horse should be calm, rested and relaxed for

most accurate results most accurate results

– To determine pulse – gently press fingers To determine pulse – gently press fingers against an arteryagainst an artery

– Count the beats for 30 seconds and multiply by 2Count the beats for 30 seconds and multiply by 2

Normal Resting Pulse Rates(In Beats Per Minute)

2 weeks old up to 1004 weeks old 70Yearling 45 – 602 Years 40 – 50Adult 30 – 40

Heart RateHeart Rate

(Hayes, 1997. Hands-On Horse Care)

Digital PulseDigital Pulse

(Hill, 1997. Horse Health Care)

A good indicator of

foot problems

(Horse Industry Handbook)

Vital Signs: RespirationVital Signs: Respiration

• Normal respiration is 8 - 16 Normal respiration is 8 - 16 breaths per minutebreaths per minute

• To determine watch the To determine watch the nostrils or flanksnostrils or flanks

• Nostrils flare and contract Nostrils flare and contract with each breathwith each breath

• The respiration rate should The respiration rate should NOT exceed the heart rateNOT exceed the heart rate

RespirationRespiration

(Hill, 1997. Horse Health Care)

(Cherry Hill)

Pulse/Respiration RatioPulse/Respiration Ratio

• Normal Ratio – 4:2 or 2:1Normal Ratio – 4:2 or 2:1

• A more significant measure of stress A more significant measure of stress than each of the actual figures alonethan each of the actual figures alone

• Respiration exceeding pulse is an Respiration exceeding pulse is an indicator of serious stressindicator of serious stress

• Call vet immediately!!!Call vet immediately!!!

(Cherry Hill)

Vital Signs: Gut SoundsVital Signs: Gut Sounds

• Gut sounds can help you Gut sounds can help you diagnose a sick horsediagnose a sick horse

• Caused by the normal Caused by the normal contracting and relaxing contracting and relaxing movements of the digestive tract movements of the digestive tract during the digestion processduring the digestion process

• Place an ear on the flank area or Place an ear on the flank area or use a stethoscopeuse a stethoscope

• Abnormal- Absence of gut Abnormal- Absence of gut sounds!sounds!

Gut SoundsGut Sounds

(Rose and Hodgson, 2000. Manual of Equine Practice)

(Horse Industry Handbook; Cherry Hill)

Vital Signs: Mucosal ColorVital Signs: Mucosal Color

• Indicator of blood circulationIndicator of blood circulation

• Several mucous membranes Several mucous membranes can be checked: the inner lips can be checked: the inner lips and gums, inside the vulva and and gums, inside the vulva and nostrils –should be moist and nostrils –should be moist and pinkpink

• Determine capillary refill time Determine capillary refill time by pressing your thumb on the by pressing your thumb on the horse’s gum and then releasing horse’s gum and then releasing itit

• It should take ~2 seconds for It should take ~2 seconds for the blood and normal color to the blood and normal color to return to the areareturn to the area

Capillary Refill TimeCapillary Refill Time

(Hayes, 1997. Hands-On Horse Care)

Mucous Membranes-Sick HorseMucous Membranes-Sick Horse

(Cherry Hill)

Vital Signs: Skin PliabilityVital Signs: Skin Pliability

• Test for dehydrationTest for dehydration

• Pinch a fold of skin on Pinch a fold of skin on your horse’s neck and your horse’s neck and release it - it should release it - it should quickly flatten back in quickly flatten back in placeplace

• If the horse is If the horse is dehydrated - the skin dehydrated - the skin will flatten slowly or will flatten slowly or tend to stay in a foldtend to stay in a fold

Skin Pliability TestSkin Pliability Test

(Hill, 1997. Horse Health Care)

(Horse Industry Handbook)

Other Factors to ConsiderOther Factors to Consider– Bodily fluids (feces, urine, saliva & sweat)Bodily fluids (feces, urine, saliva & sweat)

– Body condition and weightBody condition and weight

– MovementMovement

– Hair coatHair coat

– Hoof conditionHoof condition

– Feeding habitsFeeding habits

– BehaviorsBehaviors

Body FluidsBody Fluids

Hair CoatHair Coat

Normally shiny and generally healthy looking

Body Condition & WeightBody Condition & Weight

BCS - 9

BCS - 1 BCS - 5

Henneke Body Scoring SystemHenneke Body Scoring System

Hoof ConditionHoof Condition

Hoof CareHoof Care

Pick Out Hoofs DailyPick Out Hoofs Daily

Feeding Habits & BehaviorFeeding Habits & Behavior

• Know what your horse’s normal Know what your horse’s normal behaviors arebehaviors are

• Decreased interest in feed could Decreased interest in feed could indicate dental problems and/or health indicate dental problems and/or health problemsproblems

• Anything out of the ordinary could be Anything out of the ordinary could be an indication of a health probleman indication of a health problem

Disease PreventionDisease Prevention

• Equine diseases reduce Equine diseases reduce performance, cause economic and performance, cause economic and personal losses, lowers morale of personal losses, lowers morale of workers and often affects farms workers and often affects farms reputationsreputations

• GoalsGoals– Prevent or minimize exposure to Prevent or minimize exposure to

infectious agentsinfectious agents– Optimize resistanceOptimize resistance

How Do Diseases Spread?How Do Diseases Spread?

1.1. AirAir

2.2. Living animals of the same speciesLiving animals of the same species

3.3. Living animals of other speciesLiving animals of other species

4.4. Dead or sick animalsDead or sick animals

5.5. FeedFeed

6.6. WaterWater

7.7. Movement of contaminated personnel, Movement of contaminated personnel, equipment and vehiclesequipment and vehicles

8.8. Movement of effluent between propertiesMovement of effluent between properties

Equine Disease Control ProgramEquine Disease Control Program

1.1. Optimize health and nutrition plans for Optimize health and nutrition plans for animalsanimals

2.2. Use rodent, parasite and vector Use rodent, parasite and vector control programs throughout the yearcontrol programs throughout the year

3.3. Do not allow horse access to streams Do not allow horse access to streams and waterwaysand waterways

4.4. Contract with a veterinarian and Contract with a veterinarian and clearly post their contact informationclearly post their contact information

Equine Disease Control ProgramEquine Disease Control Program

5.5. Communication is keyCommunication is key

6.6. Limit human access to barns if they Limit human access to barns if they are not clientele or workersare not clientele or workers

7.7. Clean and disinfect barns, stalls Clean and disinfect barns, stalls and equipment regularlyand equipment regularly

8.8. Discard all manure and bedding Discard all manure and bedding from stalls that house sick horsesfrom stalls that house sick horses

Equine Disease Control ProgramEquine Disease Control Program

• Become familiar with common Become familiar with common diseases that affect horsesdiseases that affect horses

• Identify symptoms with the onset of Identify symptoms with the onset of a diseasea disease

• Vaccination PlanVaccination Plan

• Deworming PlanDeworming Plan

Common Equine DiseasesCommon Equine Diseases

• Equine Encephalomyelitis (sleeping Equine Encephalomyelitis (sleeping sickness)sickness)

• Equine Infectious AnemiaEquine Infectious Anemia• Equine Viral ArteritisEquine Viral Arteritis• Equine RhinopneumonitisEquine Rhinopneumonitis• InfluenzaInfluenza• Potomac Horse FeverPotomac Horse Fever• RabiesRabies• West Nile VirusWest Nile Virus• StranglesStrangles• Tetanus (lock jaw)Tetanus (lock jaw)

Identifying SymptomsIdentifying Symptoms

Identifying SymptomsIdentifying Symptoms

Identifying SymptomsIdentifying Symptoms

Vaccination ProgramVaccination Program

• Vaccines –Vaccines –

Inactivated, modified, or killed forms of Inactivated, modified, or killed forms of bacteria and viruses that are bacteria and viruses that are administered to horses so that they administered to horses so that they acquire immunity to diseasesacquire immunity to diseases

• Usually given twice yearlyUsually given twice yearly

• Booster shots required for Booster shots required for unvaccinated animalsunvaccinated animals

Sample Vaccination ScheduleSample Vaccination Schedule

• FallFall– Tetanus, Influenza, Rhinopneumonitis, RabiesTetanus, Influenza, Rhinopneumonitis, Rabies

• SpringSpring– EEE, WEE, Potomac Horse Fever, West Nile EEE, WEE, Potomac Horse Fever, West Nile

Virus, Influenza, Rhino, Coggins TestVirus, Influenza, Rhino, Coggins Test

• No vaccine is 100% effective and good No vaccine is 100% effective and good management strategies are neededmanagement strategies are needed

Parasite Control & ManagementParasite Control & Management

• Management plans should consider Management plans should consider internal and external parasitesinternal and external parasites

• Consult your veterinarian when Consult your veterinarian when establishing a programestablishing a program

• Types – Types – – RotationalRotational– DailyDaily

Sample Deworming ScheduleSample Deworming Schedule

MonthMonth Class of DewormerClass of Dewormer

JanuaryJanuary IvermectinIvermectin

MarchMarch OxfendazoleOxfendazole

MayMay MoxidectinMoxidectin

JulyJuly Pyrantel Pamoate (double dose) Pyrantel Pamoate (double dose) or Ivermectin/Praziquantelor Ivermectin/Praziquantel

SeptemberSeptember FenendazoleFenendazole

NovemberNovember IvermectinIvermectin

SummarySummary

• Visual inspection of your horse Visual inspection of your horse on a daily basis can help on a daily basis can help prevent illness and/or injuryprevent illness and/or injury

• Important to know normal vital Important to know normal vital signssigns

• Good management practices Good management practices can improve your horse’s can improve your horse’s overall health and prevent overall health and prevent diseases from spreadingdiseases from spreading

Kristen M. WilsonKristen M. Wilson

kswilson@umd.edukswilson@umd.edu

301-596-9478301-596-9478