1. Basic Horse Health & Disease Prevention Kristen M. Wilson Regional Extension Horse Specialist “Maryland Cooperative Extension provides equal access programs”

2. (Horse Industry Handbook & Cherry Hill) Horse Health Management Horses must be observed at regular intervalsHorses must be observed at regular intervals Know personality and normal stimuli responses from each individual animalKnow personality and normal stimuli responses from each individual animal Establish normal values for your horseEstablish normal values for your horse Record keeping is keyRecord keeping is key

3. Daily Observation

4. Recognizing Problems Learn to Recognize Abnormal Behavior

5. (Cherry Hill) Vital Signs Measurements of a horse’s body function and are good indicators of the horse’s overall health

6. (Horse Industry Handbook) Vital Signs Common vital signs:Common vital signs: –Temperature –Pulse –Respiration –Gut Sounds –Mucosal Color/Capillary Refill Time –Skin Pliability

7. (Horse Industry Handbook & Cherry Hill) Vital Signs: Temperature –Normal: 100°F or 38°C –Varies: 99.5 – 101.5°F –Exercise, excitement, hot weather, illness and pain will raise the temperature –Shock and very cold weather will decrease temperature –Mercury vs. Digital

8. Temperature (Hill, 1997. Horse Health Care)

9. (Cherry Hill) Vital Signs: Pulse –Horse should be calm, rested and relaxed for most accurate results –To determine pulse – gently press fingers against an artery –Count the beats for 30 seconds and multiply by 2 Normal Resting Pulse Rates (In Beats Per Minute) 2 weeks oldup to 100 4 weeks old 70 Yearling45 – 60 2 Years40 – 50 Adult30 – 40

10. Heart Rate (Hayes, 1997. Hands-On Horse Care)

11. Digital Pulse (Hill, 1997. Horse Health Care) A good indicator of foot problems

12. (Horse Industry Handbook) Vital Signs: Respiration Normal respiration is 8 - 16 breaths per minuteNormal respiration is 8 - 16 breaths per minute To determine watch the nostrils or flanksTo determine watch the nostrils or flanks Nostrils flare and contract with each breathNostrils flare and contract with each breath The respiration rate should NOT exceed the heart rateThe respiration rate should NOT exceed the heart rate

13. Respiration (Hill, 1997. Horse Health Care)

14. (Cherry Hill) Pulse/Respiration Ratio Normal Ratio – 4:2 or 2:1Normal Ratio – 4:2 or 2:1 A more significant measure of stress than each of the actual figures aloneA more significant measure of stress than each of the actual figures alone Respiration exceeding pulse is an indicator of serious stressRespiration exceeding pulse is an indicator of serious stress Call vet immediately!!!Call vet immediately!!!

15. (Cherry Hill) Vital Signs: Gut Sounds Gut sounds can help you diagnose a sick horseGut sounds can help you diagnose a sick horse Caused by the normal contracting and relaxing movements of the digestive tract during the digestion processCaused by the normal contracting and relaxing movements of the digestive tract during the digestion process Place an ear on the flank area or use a stethoscopePlace an ear on the flank area or use a stethoscope Abnormal- Absence of gut sounds!Abnormal- Absence of gut sounds!

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

17. (Horse Industry Handbook; Cherry Hill) Vital Signs: Mucosal Color Indicator of blood circulationIndicator of blood circulation Several mucous membranes can be checked: the inner lips and gums, inside the vulva and nostrils –should be moist and pinkSeveral mucous membranes can be checked: the inner lips and gums, inside the vulva and nostrils –should be moist and pink Determine capillary refill time by pressing your thumb on the horse’s gum and then releasing itDetermine capillary refill time by pressing your thumb on the horse’s gum and then releasing it It should take ~2 seconds for the blood and normal color to return to the areaIt should take ~2 seconds for the blood and normal color to return to the area

18. Capillary Refill Time (Hayes, 1997. Hands-On Horse Care)

19. Mucous Membranes-Sick Horse

20. (Cherry Hill) Vital Signs: Skin Pliability Test for dehydrationTest for dehydration Pinch a fold of skin on your horse’s neck and release it - it should quickly flatten back in placePinch a fold of skin on your horse’s neck and release it - it should quickly flatten back in place If the horse is dehydrated - the skin will flatten slowly or tend to stay in a foldIf the horse is dehydrated - the skin will flatten slowly or tend to stay in a fold

21. Skin Pliability Test (Hill, 1997. Horse Health Care)

22. (Horse Industry Handbook) Other Factors to Consider –Bodily fluids (feces, urine, saliva & sweat) –Body condition and weight –Movement –Hair coat –Hoof condition –Feeding habits –Behaviors

23. Body Fluids

24. Hair Coat Normally shiny and generally healthy looking

25. Body Condition & Weight BCS - 9 BCS - 1BCS - 5

26. Henneke Body Scoring System

27. Hoof Condition

28. Hoof Care

29. Pick Out Hoofs Daily

30. Feeding Habits & Behavior Know what your horse’s normal behaviors areKnow what your horse’s normal behaviors are Decreased interest in feed could indicate dental problems and/or health problemsDecreased interest in feed could indicate dental problems and/or health problems Anything out of the ordinary could be an indication of a health problemAnything out of the ordinary could be an indication of a health problem

31. Disease Prevention Equine diseases reduce performance, cause economic and personal losses, lowers morale of workers and often affects farms reputationsEquine diseases reduce performance, cause economic and personal losses, lowers morale of workers and often affects farms reputations GoalsGoals –Prevent or minimize exposure to infectious agents –Optimize resistance

32. How Do Diseases Spread? 1.Air 2.Living animals of the same species 3.Living animals of other species 4.Dead or sick animals 5.Feed 6.Water 7.Movement of contaminated personnel, equipment and vehicles 8.Movement of effluent between properties

33. Equine Disease Control Program 1.Optimize health and nutrition plans for animals 2.Use rodent, parasite and vector control programs throughout the year 3.Do not allow horse access to streams and waterways 4.Contract with a veterinarian and clearly post their contact information

34. Equine Disease Control Program 5.Communication is key 6.Limit human access to barns if they are not clientele or workers 7.Clean and disinfect barns, stalls and equipment regularly 8.Discard all manure and bedding from stalls that house sick horses

35. Equine Disease Control Program Become familiar with common diseases that affect horsesBecome familiar with common diseases that affect horses Identify symptoms with the onset of a diseaseIdentify symptoms with the onset of a disease Vaccination PlanVaccination Plan Deworming PlanDeworming Plan

36. Common Equine Diseases Equine Encephalomyelitis (sleeping sickness)Equine Encephalomyelitis (sleeping 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)

37. Identifying Symptoms

40. Vaccination Program Vaccines –Vaccines – Inactivated, modified, or killed forms of bacteria and viruses that are administered to horses so that they acquire immunity to diseases Usually given twice yearlyUsually given twice yearly Booster shots required for unvaccinated animalsBooster shots required for unvaccinated animals

41. Sample Vaccination Schedule FallFall –Tetanus, Influenza, Rhinopneumonitis, Rabies SpringSpring –EEE, WEE, Potomac Horse Fever, West Nile Virus, Influenza, Rhino, Coggins Test No vaccine is 100% effective and good management strategies are neededNo vaccine is 100% effective and good management strategies are needed

42. Parasite Control & Management Management plans should consider internal and external parasitesManagement plans should consider internal and external parasites Consult your veterinarian when establishing a programConsult your veterinarian when establishing a program Types –Types – –Rotational –Daily

43. Sample Deworming Schedule Month Class of Dewormer JanuaryIvermectin MarchOxfendazole MayMoxidectin July Pyrantel Pamoate (double dose) or Ivermectin/Praziquantel SeptemberFenendazole NovemberIvermectin

44. Summary Visual inspection of your horse on a daily basis can help prevent illness and/or injuryVisual inspection of your horse on a daily basis can help prevent illness and/or injury Important to know normal vital signsImportant to know normal vital signs Good management practices can improve your horse’s overall health and prevent diseases from spreadingGood management practices can improve your horse’s overall health and prevent diseases from spreading

45. Kristen M. Wilson kswilson@umd.edu 301-596-9478