Equine influenza treatment and care

Equine Influenza (horse flu) is a highly infectious affliction inward which the affected creature (horse, donkey, mule or zebra) volition receive got several symptoms including a high fever as well as a dry out cough.

Symptoms include:

• a heat of 39-41deg C (103-106deg F), lasting for i to 5 days.
• a dry, harsh-sounding coughing that may linger for several weeks.
• a clear nasal discharge that may plough light-green or yellowish every bit secondary infections developed.
• swollen lymph nodes nether the jaw
• a clear meat discharge
• depression, lethargy, as well as loss of appetite.
• there may live swelling inward the lower limbs as well as a Equus caballus may live rigid as well as reluctant to move.
• More particular on symptoms

Treatment

Blood tests as well as nasal swabs are necessary for definitive diagnosis, only consistent clinical signs as well as unopen proximity to a confirmed belongings is oft enough.

If yous suspect your Equus caballus has equine flu, halt working him immediately. Continuing to piece of job an affected Equus caballus volition worsen their respiratory status.

The really immature as well as the really onetime are close vulnerable. Aged horses as well as foals aged from i to 5 months tin live affected past times pneumonia, which tin live fatal.

Keep sick horses out of bad weather condition as well as inward the shade.

Treatment of equine flu boils downwardly to balance as well as husbandry. There is no straight agency of fighting the virus amongst drugs, as well as spell anti-influenza compounds are available for travel inward humans, these receive got non been used extensively on horses.

Horses should live rested for i calendar week for every calendar week of fever, amongst a minimum of iii week’s rest. H5N1 veterinary may prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug if the horse’s fever is over 40ºC (104F). Antibiotics may live prescribed when the fever lasts for to a greater extent than than iii or 4 days, or when purulent nasal discharge or pneumonia are present.¹

Fresh air as well as balance are vital. Avoid dust inward the environment, bedding as well as feed (particularly hay) to minimise the peril of bacterial infections of the lungs as well as airways.

Affected horses should live confined, as well as walked for brusk periods to hold circulation. This should give-up the ghost on for at to the lowest degree the catamenia of the fever as well as coughing, followed past times gradually increasing exercise.

The virus damages the respiratory tract, that is the lung tissue as well as windpipe. Secondary bacterial infection tin result. It takes thirty days for repair of this tissue. For equine athletes, a subsequent thirty days is likewise advised earlier starting piece of job again.

Vaccines

A vaccine which induces mucosal (local) antibody protection, has demonstrated protection against natural challenge. The duration of protection is express then boosters should live administered often; every iii to half dozen months.¹

The vaccine virus is shed for upward to 10 days later on vaccination. Horses that volition live going to a contest where testing for equine flu virus is performed for entry should live kept dissever from vaccinated horses for at to the lowest degree 2 weeks to eliminate the adventure of exposure to the vaccine virus.²

Under FEI rules, from 1 Jan 2005 onward, flu vaccination for all horses competing inward FEI competitions requires a vaccination inside half dozen months + 21 days of the competition. Horses competing regularly consequently necessitate twice yearly boosters.³

As at August 2007, 2 vaccines are registered inward New Zealand for emergency use. There are currently no plans to vaccinate horses inward New Zealand every bit a precautionary measure.

Immune stimulants, containing a bacterial extract (Propionibacterium acnes) may shorten the class of viral respiratory diseases as well as when administered 2 as well as 5 days earlier transportation may lessen the incidence of respiratory affliction inward transported horses.

Adverse reactions may happen later on vaccination. These tin include:
• H5N1 transient swelling (max. diameter 5cm) which regresses inside 4 days may seem at the injection site.
• Pain as well as local hyperthermia tin happen inward rare cases.
• H5N1 slight increase inward temperature (max 1.5C) may happen for i (1) day, exceptionally 2 (2) days.
• In especial circumstances, apathy as well as reduced appetite may live observed the 24-hour interval later on vaccination.
• In especial circumstances a hypersensitivity reaction may occur, which may necessitate appropriate symptomatic treatment.

Horses should non live worked difficult for at to the lowest degree 2 days later on each dose of vaccine.

 

Sources:
¹ The Merck Veterinary Manual
² Novartis
³ FEI equine flu vaccination requierments

Article originally published on Horsetalk.co.nz inward September, 2007.

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