Equine Health Assessment Hippology 2018 Equine Health Assessment

Equine Health Assessment Hippology 2018

Equine Health Assessment Recognizing what is “normal” vs. “abnormal” horse behavior

Terms to Know Symptom = subjective evidence of a health issue Sign = measurable evidence of a health issue Disease = imbalance in normal function Infection = presence of an organism that causes a health issue Inflammation = the body’s response to injury, infection ”itis” Immunity = animal having producing or obtaining antibodies to fight off a health issue

Vital Signs Temperature = 99 -101 degrees F Pulse = 35 -45 beats per minute; under L elbow, Facial Artery inside jaw, digital pulse at the back of the pastern just above coronary band Respirations = 8 -16 breaths per minute Capillary Refill Time = 1 -3 seconds; gums (gingiva) Skin Pinch Time = 1 -2 seconds; near junction of neck and shoulder

INFECTIONS Parasites Internal vs. External Bacteria Viruses Fungi Protozoa Rickettsia

Parasites - Flies Biting vs. Non biting Lifecycle 1 -3 weeks Adult Eggs Larva Pupa Transmit diseases, annoyance to horse/rider

Parasites - Flies Clean stalls. Insecticides Bug zappers Fly predators Fly mask Repellents

Parasites - Mosquitoes Biting vs. Blood feeding Only females bite Transmit viruses Lifecycle 10 -14 days Shorten grazing time when mosquitoes are out. Eliminate standing water. Insect repellent.

Parasites - Lice Biting vs. Sucking Lice Transferred by direct contact. Worse in winter/spring. Cause anemia, sores on skin and itching. Due to lifecycle differences Treat q 2 weeks to eliminate

Internal Parasites

Internal Parasites • Important to know lifecycle pathway • Management depends on interrupting the lifecycle somehow. • ADULT -> EGGS -> LARVA -> PUPA

Where can internal parasites live?

Equine Digestive Tract Mouth -> Esophagus -> Stomach -> Small Intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) -> Cecum -> Large Colon -> Small Colon -> Rectum -> Anus

Large STRONGYLES (Blood Worms) Large Strongyles – blood sucking intestinal parasite; cause inflammation of the blood vessels, anemia and blood clots Most common internal parasite 3 types (S. vulgaris, S. edentatus, S. equinus) Climate plays a big part in lifecycle

Large Strongyles

Large STRONGYLES

Small STRONGYLES Stay in Digestive Tract; DO NOT MIGRATE in BLOOD VESSELS! Found in Small intestine and Cecum 6 month lifecycle Bright red larvae in manure

Gasterophilus (Bots) • • • Bot flies lay eggs on horse Larva in stomach or small intestine. Lifecycle can take 1 year! Can cause mouth or stomach ulcers, colic Dewormer, fly repellent, pick up manure

Bot Larva

Gasterophilus (Bots)

ASCARIS (Roundworms) Affects only young horses < 18 months old 14 inches long in Small Intestine

Ascaris Lifecycle

Tapeworm • • • Mites eat tapeworm eggs. Horses then eat mites and are infected. Attach to lining of gut and take nutrients from the horse Infect stomach, cecum, small intestine Lifecycle lasts 2 -6 mo Anemia, weight loss, intestinal bockage, colic, infections Treatment with pyrantel and praziquantel

Tapeworms

Tapeworms

Pinworms • Primarily seen in stabled horses • Worms live in large intestine and anus • Female worms migrate to anus and lay eggs • Anxiety, restlessness, colic, rubbing hind end, skin sores • Tape test • Washing anus with warm soapy water and anthelmintics • Cannot be passed to humans

Pinworms

Pinworms

Bacterial Diseases In Horses • Anthrax Brucellosis Leptospirosis Lyme Disease Salmonellosis Strangles

Fungal Diseases In Horses Aspergillosis Blastomycosis Coccidiomycosis Histoplasmosis

Viral Diseases In Horses Equine Infectious Anemia Equine Influenza Equine Viral Arteritis Equine Viral Encephalomyelitis (Sleeping Sickness Eastern Western Venezuelan Rabies

Infectious Disease Control Vaccinations Biosecurity Parasite Control Program Quarantine new or sick animals

Equine Vaccinations

Vaccine Recommendations Core Recommendations Tetanus Rabies EEE WNV ? Equine Influenza

Vaccine Recommendations Risk Based Antrax Botulism Equine Herpesvirus Equine Viral Arteritis Potomac Horse Fever Rotavirus Strangles