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Core and Lifestyle Vaccines for Dogs and Cats

Core and Lifestyle Vaccines for Dogs and Cats

Aug 19, 2024 | Cats, Dogs, Vaccines

Whinny’s Wisdoms

Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic

 

Hello again, wonderful pet parents! It’s Whinny here, your friendly clinic mouse, back with more squeaky wisdom. We’re talking today about vaccines, the tiny but mighty protectors that can make all the difference in your pet’s life. We’ll dive into the essentials first, then add a little extra cheddar to the mix with lifestyle vaccines! These vaccines are just as important, especially if your pets like to socialize or explore the great outdoors. Let’s dive in, starting with how we protect the pooches.

Companion Animal Clinic at Springhill Equine

Dogs

Core Vaccines

Rabies:

Let’s start with the big one—rabies. This vaccine is a non-negotiable for your dog’s health and safety. Rabies is a deadly virus that can affect all mammals (yep, even me!), and once symptoms appear, there’s no cure. The good news? A simple rabies vaccine protects your dog—and helps protect the people and other pets around them too. This is why rabies vaccination is legally required in most areas.

Distemper/Parvo Combo (DHPP): 

Now, let’s talk about the distemper/parvo combo, often bundled together with a few other important vaccines. Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause serious respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological problems. Parvo, on the other paw, is a nasty virus that affects the intestines and can be deadly, especially for puppies. This combo vaccine also protects against adenovirus (which can lead to hepatitis) and parainfluenza (a respiratory virus). It’s like giving your dog a superhero cape, helping them fight off multiple villains with one shot!

Now, let’s talk lifestyle vaccines—these are key for dogs who like to sniff, play, and explore the world around them.

Bordetella (Kennel Cough):

Does your dog like to meet new friends, visit dog parks, or stay at kennels? If so, Bordetella is a must. This vaccine protects against kennel cough, a highly contagious respiratory infection that spreads like gossip at a cheese party. It’s a mucosal vaccine, meaning it goes right into the nose or mouth, where it can work its magic. And just like your dog’s social calendar, it needs to be updated yearly.

Canine Influenza:

For pups who mingle with other dogs, canine influenza is another important vaccine. This flu can spread quickly in places like doggy daycares or boarding facilities, causing a serious cough, fever, and fatigue. If your dog is a regular at these spots, this yearly vaccine will help keep them safe and sound.

Leptospirosis: 

Now, here’s one that’s especially important for our outdoor adventurers. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that’s common in our area and can be spread through contaminated water or soil—yikes! If your dog loves romping around in parks, on properties, or near water, this vaccine is a must. It helps protect them from this potentially serious disease.

Lyme Disease:

Lyme disease is spread by ticks and is more common in certain areas. While it’s not a big concern in the Southeast, if your dog is a frequent traveler, especially to northern regions, this vaccine could be a lifesaver. It’s all about being prepared, just in case your pup decides to take a road trip.

Cats

Core Vaccines

Rabies:

Just like our canine companions, cats need protection from rabies too. Whether your feline friend is a homebody or a neighborhood explorer, rabies vaccination is essential. It’s a life-saving vaccine that ensures your kitty stays safe and that you’re complying with local laws.

FVRCP Combo:

Now, for the feline trio of protection—the FVRCP combo. This vaccine covers three big threats to cats: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (fancy term for feline herpesvirus), Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia (also known as feline distemper). Rhinotracheitis and Calicivirus cause upper respiratory issues, which can make your cat feel really crummy, while Panleukopenia is a serious virus that affects the blood cells and can be deadly. The FVRCP combo is like the feline version of a super-suit, keeping them safe from these dangerous diseases.

Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic

And now, onto the lifestyle vaccine for our fabulous felines.

Feline Leukemia (FeLV): 

This is the one to consider if your cat loves to explore the outdoors or hang out with other cats. Feline leukemia is a virus that can weaken a cat’s immune system and lead to serious health issues. Every kitten should start with a series of FeLV vaccines to build their initial immunity. After that, if your cat is indoor/outdoor or has contact with cats who are FeLV positive, they’ll need this vaccine yearly to stay protected.

Why Vaccines (and Vets) Matter 🩺

Remember, it’s not just about getting vaccines; it’s about making sure they’re the right ones for your pet’s lifestyle. That’s where your veterinarian comes in! When you bring your furry friend in—or have my docs out for a home visit!—for their vaccines, they’re also getting a full health check-up. We will get down to brass tacks…err, borzoi tabbies…to help you decide which vaccines are necessary based on your pet’s activities and risks, keeping them safe and sound. And, we’ll plan that schedule based on your pet’s age—puppies and kittens have a bit of extra work to do to ramp up their initial protection! There’s a schedule and we must stick to it! So, we’ll see your new addition often for the first few months to ensure we prime their immune system the right way. These frequent visits are also the very best way to monitor growth, discuss training and milestones, and ensure your pets are kept on the right size and type of prevention as they grow.  

The Annual Exam: A Must-Do!

Vaccines are vital, but so is that all-important annual exam. This is when your vet gets to give your pet a thorough once-over, catching any issues early and ensuring they’re in tip-top shape. It’s like a yearly spa day—but with fewer bubbles and more belly rubs!

Remember: we’re all about keeping your pets safe, healthy, and ready for all their adventures—whether that’s a romp in the park, a snuggle on the couch, or a dash through the fields.

Until next time, keep those tails wagging and whiskers twitching!

~Whinny

P.S. If you haven’t brought your canine and feline friends in to meet Dr. Speziok yet, or had her come to your house to meet them, you are missing out! Yes, you read that right, your favorite vet makes house calls! That takes most of the stress out of things for your less-socially inclined feline, or your herd of rambunctuous dogs. Call our office today to schedule your visit! 352-472-1620.

Whinny’s Wisdoms is the official blog of Whinny the Clinic Mouse at Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic in Newberry, Florida. If you liked this blog, please subscribe below, and share it with your friends on social media! For more information, please call us at (352) 472-1620, visit our website at SpringhillEquine.com, or follow us on Facebook!

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Equine Core Vaccines and What They’re For

Equine Core Vaccines and What They’re For

Dec 18, 2023 | Vaccines

Whinny’s Wisdoms

Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic

Hey everybody, it’s your favorite clinic mouse Whinny here! Everyone knows their horses need to be vaccinated, but not everyone knows what we’re vaccinating for, and why it’s so important to stay on schedule. The health and longevity of our equine friends is a priority for every responsible horse, pony and donkey owner, so today we’re going over the core vaccines.

Core vaccines, designed to protect against specific and potentially life-threatening diseases, play a crucial role in achieving this goal. There are five key core vaccines for horses: Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE), Tetanus, West Nile Virus (WNV), and Rabies.

Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic

  • Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE): EEE and WEE are viral diseases transmitted by mosquitoes that affect the central nervous system of horses. Symptoms of both diseases can start with a fever and lead to severe neurological symptoms, emphasizing the importance of vaccination. Neurologic symptoms can range from severe onset of stumbling, depression and seizures. Unfortunately in the case of EEE cases are often fatal. Vaccination against EEE and WEE is vital, especially in regions where mosquitoes are prevalent and should be boostered every 6 months after they have had their primary vaccination series as a foal.
  • Tetanus: Tetanus is caused by the bacterium commonly found in the soil, Clostridium tetani, and is contracted through wounds or injuries. Tetanus can result in muscle stiffness, difficulty swallowing, and even death. Tetanus vaccination is a cornerstone in equine healthcare, preventing this potentially fatal disease. Boosters are typically administered every 6 months.
  • West Nile Virus (WNV): WNV is a mosquito-borne viral infection affecting the central nervous system. Infected horses often have a fever and may exhibit neurological signs, such as incoordination, circling, muzzle twitching and others. Vaccination against WNV is recommended, particularly in areas where the virus is prevalent. Biannual boosters help maintain protection.
  • Rabies: Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is zoonotic. A disease being zoonotic means that it poses a risk to humans. Rabies symptoms can be varied, especially in equines and the disease is almost universally fatal. Unlike in dogs where rabies presents with excess salivation and aggression, in horses symptoms can be as non-descript as colic, lameness or depression. Rabies vaccination is essential for both equine and human health. Horses should receive regular yearly boosters as part of a comprehensive vaccination plan.

Whinny Wisdom: The EEE vaccine is nearly 100% effective at preventing the disease, but only for six months. If you have mosquitos for more than six months a year, your horse needs two boosters every year! Horses can get EEE seven months after their last vaccine, so there’s no grace period.

Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic

Core vaccines are critical in protecting against preventable diseases in horses. By adhering to a well-rounded vaccination protocol on a regular schedule, horse owners contribute to the overall health and longevity of their equine companions. And take it from this mouse: it’s the cheapest and most effective thing you can do to protect your horse.

If you aren’t already signed up, you might want to consider the 2024 Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic Wellness Plan, which includes these core vaccines as well as Rhino and flu, depending on what your horse’s risk is, a dental float, Coggins, a Wellness exam, fecal egg count, and all emergency fees waived for the year! It’s a great program. In addition to bundling and saving, you also don’t have to remember when your horses are due for vaccines: we’ll track that for you and call to schedule when it’s time! Wellness Plans are the cheapest part of horse ownership, and arguably the most important. Set your horses up for a successful 2024! Click here to go to the Wellness Page of my website to sign up, or call our office today! 352-472-1620.

Until next week,

~Whinny

P.S. I’m trying to get to 1,000 subscribers by the end of the year. If you haven’t done so already, help a little mouse out and subscribe to her blog! It’s super easy, you just scroll down to the big purple box and put your email address in. I promise I won’t email you anything besides my blog, and that will make sure you don’t miss out on any of my Wisdoms!

P.P.S. (Yes, it’s a two-fer! Get it?!) Are you looking for a stocking stuffer for your favorite horse person? The Adventures of the Horse Doctor’s Husband series (3 books so far) is a great gift idea! And if you have a young person in your life who’s thinking about becoming an equine vet, you can support them with our wonderful handbook called How to Become an Equine Veterinarian: A Guide for Teens. It’s age appropriate for 12-25, and covers everything they need to do through middle school, high school, and college to become a great candidate for vet school. And as my humans say all the time around here, the world needs more equine vets! You can find book details and links to purchase over on the Books Page of my website, or just click on the image below. After you subscribe, of course!

Whinny’s Wisdoms is the official blog of Whinny the Clinic Mouse at Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic in Newberry, Florida. If you liked this blog, please subscribe below, and share it with your friends on social media! For more information, please call us at (352) 472-1620, visit our website at SpringhillEquine.com, or follow us on Facebook!

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Barn Cat Care

Barn Cat Care

Jul 18, 2022 | Cats, Vaccines

Tuesdays with Tony

There’s a new doctor at Springhill Equine. I had to be told she was new though, because she’s been hanging out here for close to four years. I guess she was a vet student until now, but she always takes the time to pet me when she arrives, so she gets my approval. Anyway, the humans call her Dr. Speziok and she’s going to be bringing some other interesting critters to Springhill Equine besides horses and donkeys. She’ll see dogs and cats, goats, sheep, cows, camelids, and pigs in addition to the run of the mill horses we’re used to.

Since there’s going to be other cats besides just me and Teenie coming by, why don’t we talk about veterinary visits for the feline in your life? Some people think cats don’t need to go to the vet, especially if they live inside. I live at a vet clinic and get fussed over all the time, so I never really thought about it, but health care is important for all animals, especially the best animals—cats!

Checkups

Cats should go to the veterinarian (or have the vet come to them—Dr. Speziok can do that too!) at least once per year as long as they are healthy. When cats start to get into the double-digit years (cough cough Teenie cough) they ideally have a veterinary exam every 6 months for a checkup.

Vaccines

Cats need vaccines, kind of like horses, but -no surprise- cat immune systems are better than horse immune systems, so they need vaccines a little less often. Every kitten should have a few rounds of a combination shot commonly called feline distemper. It actually includes feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia virus which are all a bunch of nasty diseases no self-respecting cat wants to get.

Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic

Kittens also all need to be vaccinated for feline leukemia virus. This disease is way less common than it used to be, so we may not need to continue the vaccine as an adult, but it’s still necessary for the little ones! And then the one we kitties have in common with horses -and most mammals- rabies! Rabies vaccines are required by law and protect us from a deadly disease that we could spread to the humans in our lives.

Adult cats like me need to see their doctor at least once per year for checkups and vaccines, and sometimes need to have dental cleanings. For those, the humans put us under anesthesia, which is great because I would never lower myself to saying “Ahhh” just because I was told to.

Population Control

Every cat and kitten should be spayed or neutered. There is a tremendous overpopulation of cats in the world, and while we’re awesome, we need to make sure there’s enough human caretakers for all of us. Trust me, as a neutered cat myself, I’m glad I don’t have to worry about online dating! Ridding us of the pesky hormones also decreases the chance of reproductive cancers—especially for the lady cats like Teenie. Kittens can start *ahem* procreating as young as 4 months, so get them fixed sooner rather than later if they’re in mixed groups!

Prevention

The other thing your favorite feline friend needs is monthly flea and heartworm prevention. This is doubly true for those of us that live in the Sunshine State. There are so many of those nasty, itchy, fleas here that the human bug researchers travel here from all over the country to study them. Now, I’ve always gotten my prevention from my minions (I did choose to let a veterinarian provide for my needs) but it turns out you also need to get your cat prevention from their vet. Some of the grocery and feed stores sell cheap knock off products that claim to kill fleas, but they don’t work! Look alike imports often have a different active ingredient, and aren’t actually the same thing at all. Don’t waste your money on knock offs, get the real deal prescription flea and heartworm prevention from your vet, and use the extra cash you save to buy a new scratching post!

Anyway, I’m sure all of us around here will learn a little more about dogs, ruminants, and most importantly, cats now that Dr. Speziok is here. Be sure to let her know if you have any questions. And if your kitty hasn’t seen a doctor in a while, give my team a call to get on her schedule!

Until next week,

~Tony

P.S. I know you’re subscribed to my blog (the big purple box below) and my YouTube Channel, which has about a hundred videos packed full of free horse knowledge. And since you are, you won’t miss any of the exciting things that are coming up! The humans are really getting into making videos, and you don’t want to miss out on a thing! Lots of excitement happening around here!

Tuesdays with Tony is the official blog of Tony the Clinic Cat at Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic in Newberry, Florida. If you liked this blog, please subscribe below, and share it with your friends on social media! For more information, please call us at (352) 472-1620, visit our website at SpringhillEquine.com, or follow us on Facebook!

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Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Aug 19, 2019 | EEE Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Vaccines

Tuesdays with Tony

Eastern Equine Encephalitis  

 

So I was scrolling through Facebook the other day (I may have hacked one of the docs pages, one day maybe they will let me have my own page) but to my surprise I came across a post about horses and people in Florida becoming infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis. I was shocked and frankly a little scared! I have heard everyone around here talk about the dreaded “triple E” before and I even think we had a few cases come through the clinic last year. Nonetheless, reading about it being so close to home yet again, made me realize just how lucky I am that cats don’t get EEE.

 

What is EEE?

 

Eastern Equine Encephalitis, sometimes referred to as “Sleeping Sickness”, is a viral disease that affects birds, horses and humans. It typically occurs on the eastern half of the United States and more specifically in the southeast. “Encephal” means head or brain, and “-itis” means inflammation, therefore, the virus that causes EEE results in inflammation of the brain in both humans and horses. Birds typically are not affected by the disease and just carry it, although the exception to this is Emus.

 

How is EEE Transmitted?

 

Mosquitoes, what are they even good for? All they do is buzz around, bite us, cause horrible itchy skin, and spread nasty diseases. These little suckers are the main transmitters of EEE. A mosquito bites a bird that is a carrier of the virus. The mosquito then bites your horse (or you) and transmits the virus. Don’t you just wish we could wash mosquitoes mouths out with soap? Lucky for most birds and mosquitoes, the virus typically does not affect them, they are just the carriers and transmitters of the disease. However, once an infected mosquito bites you or your horse, the whole story changes. A horse that is infected with EEE cannot, however, spread the disease to another horse, or to a human, and humans cannot spread the disease to horses. Basically, transmission of the virus is the fault of birds and pesky mosquitoes. 

Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic

Clinical Signs

 

90% of horses and 35-50% of humans that become infected with EEE will die from the disease. Once a horse is bitten by an infected mosquito it takes 7-21 days before clinical signs appear. An infected horse may initially show signs of depression, fever, increased heart rate, decreased appetite, and drooping of the eyes and lips, hence the term “Sleeping Sickness”. Clinical signs can eventually progress to weakness, erratic behavior, and seizures which can lead to your horse laying down and not being able to get back up. 

 

Treatment

 

As an honorary doctor, my favorite thing about my job is the successful treatment of an ill patient. Sadly, EEE does not have a specific treatment, and supportive treatment is often unsuccessful. It hurts my kitty heart when I hear about a horse who has had to suffer through the effects of EEE. Of course, myself and the docs here will do all that we can for a horse who has contracted EEE. 

The goal of supportive care is to treat fevers associated with EEE, and this is usually accomplished with the use of NSAIDs. Often times, horses with EEE will be placed on intravenous fluids and may require nutritional support as they typically have a hard time drinking and eating on their own. 

Once a horse reaches the point of the disease where they lay down, it is unlikely they will stand back up. When they are down they can thrash and cause self-inflicted trauma. Slings have been used on occasion to assist a down horse back into the standing position, however, horses with EEE are typically in a comatose state and the use of a sling is widely unsuccessful. Since EEE is a virus, no kind or amount of antibiotics will be useful in treatment. Often, humane euthanasia is elected by owners to prevent their horse from further suffering. 

 

Prevention

 

Fortunately, there is an extremely effective vaccination against EEE. As you are all well aware by now, my docs here are sticklers for upholding the highest standard of care for your horses. This includes the EEE vaccination which is also considered a “Core Vaccine”. What is a “Core Vaccine” you ask? Well, it is a vaccination that is vital to keeping your horse healthy and protected from diseases they are at risk for. 

Here at the clinic we use a combination vaccine that will provide your horse protect from 4 or 5 of the common diseases they are exposed to. You may hear the docs or technicians refer to the vaccine being administered to your horse as the EWT/WN or EWTR/WN.  All these letters can get very confusing at times. EWT/WN stands for Eastern encephalitis, western encephalitis, tetanus, and west nile, where as EWTR/WN includes all of the above plus the rhinopneumonitis vaccine.  

These vaccines are given at least every 6 months. Horses that travel often or are in many competitions during the year may receive the EWTR/WN vaccine 3 times a year. The most important thing to remember is that mosquitoes are present in Florida all year long! Because of this, twice yearly vaccinations against the mosquito-borne illnesses including EEE and West nile are imperative to your horse’s health and frankly, their life. 

It is definitely mosquito season and there have been reports of EEE all around the area, so if you think you might be behind on getting your horse vaccinated, give me a call at the clinic and we will get you on the schedule and your horse up-to-date.  

 

Until next week,

~Tony

Tuesdays with Tony is the official blog of Tony the Clinic Cat at Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic in Newberry, Florida. If you liked this blog, please subscribe below, and share it with your friends on social media! For more information, please call us at (352) 472-1620, visit our website at SpringhillEquine.com, or follow us on Facebook!

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Rabies

Rabies

Jul 29, 2019 | Rabies, Vaccines

Tuesdays with Tony

Rabies

This week I’m starting with the condensed version of things. Rabies can look like just about anything neurologic, from a little bit quiet, to raging maniac. It can also look like a wound that won’t heal, and is super itchy. Oh, and it can also look like a mild colic that doesn’t respond to Banamine. Even better, you can get Rabies from your horse. The answer? VACCINATE your horse for Rabies. And your dog, and cat, too! And now, the rest of the story.

If you’re a mammal, you can get it

Rabies is an interesting virus. Lots of them are, but Rabies is really good at getting itself passed around. To start with, it only infects mammals, but it does a pretty good job being able to infect all of them. From rats, to foxes, to dogs, cats, and elephants, they all have the potential to get Rabies. Once an animal is infected, it usually takes between three and eight weeks to show symptoms. BUT, and it’s a huge but, it can take a really, really long time for symptoms to show up, like months, and in rare cases, years. Rabies has to travel from the point of entry to the brain before it starts wreaking havoc, and the immune system is fighting it the entire way. This means if an animal gets infected by a bite at the tip of its tail, it’s going to be a long time before it makes it to the brain. Know what keeps it from getting to the brain? A vaccinated animal! Know who makes sure your horse gets all the right vaccines at the right time? My Docs!

Rabies in Da House!

I’m not gonna lie, I find it fascinating what teanie, tiny viruses can do to make sure they live, and reproduce. Now that the Rabies virus has made it to the brain, it’s going to change the behavior of the animal to increase the chances it gets passed around. How crazy is that?!? I mean, I’ve changed the behavior of my humans so it’s more to my liking, but I’m a wickedly intelligent cat. This is a virus. You can’t even see it with a microscope. While signs of rabies can start out pretty varied, almost all infected animals will go through these next phases at some point. The virus will make them start drooling. This is brilliant because the virus is concentrated in the saliva. What better way to spread yourself than make more drool? 

Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic

Next, the virus makes the animal lose its fear. This means that wild fox is faster to come up to you and act tame. Or, if no humans are around, go after a horse like you see in this video https://www.facebook.com/TCEESFL/videos/1985117155060876/   The fear of water thing is a bit of a myth, but nearly all of them will get aggressive at some point. Which makes sense. This aggression drives them to attack and bite other animals, and then the virus gets to live another day, in another animal. Know what prevents this? A properly vaccinated animal. 

What’s with the crazy quarantines?

Because rabies can be given to humans, the Health Department takes quarantine and testing very, very seriously. My Docs recommend calling your local Health Department if you have an animal you think may have rabies.They will work with animal control, and/or local veterinarians to capture and test the suspicious animal. They will then quarantine your animals, and your property for the safety of everyone else. You don’t want to be the one responsible for spreading rabies to everyone in your neighborhood, do you? Pretty sure that would get you unfriended in real life as well as the Face thingy. 

If your animals are vaccinated by a veterinarian, that quarantine will only be 10 days. I know none of you would vaccinate your animals any other way, because you know your veterinarian is the best way to make sure the vaccines are handled and administered properly, but we all have weird friends and relatives. If you vaccinated your animals, or, even worse, if they aren’t vaccinated at all, that quarantine could be as long as 6 months, because of the potentially long incubation time I talked about earlier. Seems like cheap protection to have your veterinarian properly vaccinate your horse. 

Speaking of Vaccines

I hear this one all the time: my dog and cat get vaccinated for rabies every three years. How come my horse gets it every year? Because your horse is really bad at responding to the vaccine, that’s why. Horses are really bad at the important things like digestion, good support structure, and responding to vaccines. Extensive research shows that horses are protected by the vaccine for 14-16 months. That’s not a spectacular response time. And that’s why your horse should get one every 12 months. Rabies vaccines are also only recognized by the powers that be when administered by a veterinarian. Again, I know you would never administer your own vaccines, but there’s the weird friends and family to think about. 

Back to where I started. Make sure your horse is vaccinated for rabies yearly, and report weird wildlife behavior. 

Now be a well-behaved, non-rabid human and scroll down to the subscribe button. If you subscribe, you get my blog a day early, and you never miss my wisdom and charm. 

Until next week,

~Tony

Tuesdays with Tony is the official blog of Tony the Clinic Cat at Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic in Newberry, Florida. If you liked this blog, please subscribe below, and share it with your friends on social media! For more information, please call us at (352) 472-1620, visit our website at SpringhillEquine.com, or follow us on Facebook!

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Vaccines: It Really Is Life and Death

Vaccines: It Really Is Life and Death

Oct 15, 2018 | EEE Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Rabies, Tetanus, Vaccines

Tuesdays with Tony

Vaccines

I know this has been said before, but apparently some of you still need reminding: Vaccinate your horses. Every 6 months. By a veterinarian- not something you picked up at the feed store. Don’t skip Rabies, or West Nile, because you’ve owned a lot of horses and you’ve never had one get those diseases. Please humans, for the love! Bonus tip: if your horse has been vaccinated by a veterinarian within the appropriate time period and does contract the disease he was vaccinated against, the vaccine company will probably pay for your treatment costs. Of course, this would be an extremely unlikely scenario, because these vaccines are so incredibly effective. This whole anti-vaccine movement makes me so mad, I could pee outside my litter box!
    Many of these life-threatening diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes. Now, there are 2 ways to protect your horse from such diseases:
    1. Keep your horse indoors in a fully enclosed, air-conditioned, mosquito-free environment 24/7.
    2. Vaccinate.

Seeing as most horses live outside, horse owners usually choose the latter. That’s not to say you can’t work on mosquito control at your farm. Eliminating standing water, installing fans, and fly spray systems are all great ways to cut down on the number of mosquitoes in your barn. But you are never going to be able to prevent your horse from ever being bitten by a single mosquito; and it only takes one bite. Let’s take a closer look at these diseases, to remind us why it’s well worth a few bucks twice a year to protect horses against them.

 

West Nile Virus

    West Nile Virus is transmitted by a bite from an infected mosquito. The early signs of West Nile are subtle. Your horse may have muscle fasciculations, or twitches, of his face, ears, and neck. He may go off his feed. He may have a fever and act lethargic. You may also notice that he is hyper-reactive to sound, touch, or light. Within a few days, most horses will progress to stumbling, falling down, and being unable to stand. They may go blind. They are often distressed because they want to get up, but their legs are too uncoordinated for them to do so. The rule of thumb with West Nile virus is that once a horse is recumbent, or down, they never get back up. If the horse is not euthanized at this point, his signs will progress to seizures or coma, followed by death.
    Now, on to the treatment for West Nile: oh yeah, there isn’t one. All vets can do is supportive care in the form of IV fluids, anti-inflammatories, nutrition, and slinging the horse to keep it standing. If caught early enough and kept standing, eating, and drinking, about 30% of these horses will survive, but many of them will have lasting neurologic deficits.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis

   This is another mosquito-transmitted disease for which there is no treatment. Some fun facts about Eastern Encephalitis: far and away the most cases of this disease are seen right here in Florida. In fact, we  Floridians have already had 18 cases this year! The EEE vaccine only lasts for 6 months max, so you HAVE to be getting your horses boostered twice a year for this one. Another fun fact: Eastern Encephalitis is almost 90% fatal. This means that no matter how early the signs are noticed, nor how soon supportive care is initiated, the horse is most likely not going to survive longer than 5 days.
    Early signs of Eastern Encephalitis include fever, depression, and going off feed. The condition usually deteriorates rapidly to stumbling, circling, head-pressing, and sometimes blindness. EEE is also called “sleeping sickness,” so named because of the characteristic stance horses tend to adopt during the later stages of the disease. These horses hang their heads low between their legs, often with their tongue sticking out and their eyes nearly swollen shut. From there, many horses become recumbent (there’s our new vocabulary word for the day again), and begin to have seizures or go into a coma. At that point, a decision must be made to euthanize the horse.

Rabies

   When people think of Rabies, they often think of that dog (ugh, dogs) in Old Yeller. He had one form of Rabies, called the “furious” form. But there is another presentation of Rabies called the “stuporous” form that many owners don’t know about. It is also important to note that an aggressive, lunging, biting, foaming at the mouth horse would be in the late stages of this disease. Earlier, more subtle signs include dysphagia, or difficulty eating, and difficulty drinking or water aversion. The horse may also exhibit neurologic signs such as incoordination, stumbling, circling, and an altered mental status. In the stuporous form of Rabies, these horses will become unresponsive to their environment. With the furious form, horses can become hyper-reactive and even aggressive.
   The single most important thing for you to know about Rabies is that it is contagious to humans, and it is nearly 100% fatal. The Rabies virus is passed through the saliva of an infected animal. This means that even without sustaining a bite, you can get Rabies from an affected horse or other animal just by coming into contact with secretions from their mouth, eyes, or nose. Vaccinating your horses against Rabies is really a no-brainer. Horses live outside amongst several wildlife species that can carry Rabies, such as skunks, bats, foxes, and raccoons. Moreover, by vaccinating your horse against Rabies, you are really protecting yourself and your own family from exposure.

Tetanus

    Tetanus is a recommended core vaccine for horses because most horses have 4 feet in contact with dirt most of the time. Seeing as Tetanus is a bacteria that lives in the soil (definitely all over Florida), horses have an especially high risk for this disease. The Tetanus bacteria can infect a horse through even the tiniest wound. It is a myth that it takes a puncture from a metal object such as a nail to seed tetanus into a wound; any cut or break in the skin or hoof can create an opportunity for tetanus bacteria to enter.
    Tetanus also has a very high mortality rate when tetanus antitoxin is not administered rapidly. The first sign of tetanus is stiffening of the muscles, often first noted in the jaw, which is why this disease is also termed “lock jaw.” From there, all of the horse’s muscles will begin to contract and will be unable to relax. This results in the “sawhorse stance” typical of tetanus infection. Another common sign of tetanus is third eyelid elevation, which means the pink flap at the inner corner of the horse’s eyes becomes prominent. Over a period of only a few days, horses will go down and be unable to stand. Once the muscles of breathing are affected, the horse inevitably dies.

Western Equine Encephalitis

    If we lived on the West coast I would tell you about Western Equine Encephalitis as well, but thankfully we don’t see that disease round these parts. Suffice it to say, this disease is also spread by mosquitoes, and it causes signs very similar to Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
   You may notice a few themes with these diseases:
    1. They all have a high fatality rate. (That’s why we are so hyper about keeping your horses from getting them.)
     2. They are all easily transmitted to horses, either through the bite of a mosquito or other animal, or through the soil.
    3. They all exhibit some pretty horrible signs that you would never want to witness in your horse.
    4.  They are all easily preventable through vaccines.
   We are fortunate that we have vaccines which are extremely safe and effective against all of these core diseases in horses. Now, it is your job as a responsible horse owner to use your noggin and get your horse vaccinated!
   Ok, I’ll get off my cat-box now.
   Until next week,
        -Tony
P.S. Why don’t you check out the Podcast page while you’re here? After you scroll down a bit more and subscribe to this amazing blog, of course. It’s right below my handsome photo in the purple box.

Tuesdays with Tony is the official blog of Tony the Clinic Cat at Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic in Newberry, Florida. If you liked this blog, please subscribe below, and share it with your friends on social media! For more information, please call us at (352) 472-1620, visit our website at SpringhillEquine.com, or follow us on Facebook!

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