A yearling stallion in MRC Beauce-Sartigan, Quebec, recently tested positive for respiratory equine herpesvirus (EHV). The horse developed clinical signs on October 30, including cough, nasal discharge, and increased breathing noises. In addition to EHV, he also tested positive forStrep. zooepidemicus.He is recovering, and three additional cases are suspected.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.EHV 101Herpesvirus is highly contagious among horses and can cause a variety of ailments in equids, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and EHM.RELATED CONTENT: Everything You Need to Know About EHV-1In many horses, the first or only sign of EHV-1 infection is fever, which can go undetected.In addition to fever, other common signs of EHV-1 infection in young horses include cough, decreased appetite, depression, and a nasal discharge. Pregnant mares typically show no signs of infection before they abort, and abortions usually occur late in gestation (around eight months) but can be earlier. Abortions can occur anywhere from two weeks to several months following infection with EHV-1.Horses with EHM usually have a fever at the onset of the disease and might show signs of a respiratory infection. A few days later, neurologic signs such as ataxia (incoordination), weakness or paralysis of the fore- and hind limbs, urine retention and dribbling, loss of tail tone, and recumbency (inability to rise) develop.Herpesvirus is easily spread by nose-to-nose or close contact with an infectious horse; sharing contaminated equipment including bits, buckets, and towels; or clothing, hands, or equipment of people who have recently had contact with an infectious horse.Routine biosecurity measures, including hygiene and basic cleaning and disinfection practices, should be in place at all times to help prevent disease spread.Current EHV-1 vaccines might reduce viral shedding but are not protective against the neurologic form of the disease. Implementing routine biosecurity practices is the best way to minimize viral spread, and the best method of disease control is disease prevention.

Check the tarp frequently to be sure it is secure over the hay. | Alayne BlickleHay has become a hot commodity. Its challenging to locate good hay, and its expensive when you find it. When you do locate a good source, its important to get your hay supply in and protected so it stays in good condition and lasts through the winter. Depending on where you live in North America, next years hay crop might not be available until June through October. Plus, it can be difficult, expensive, and very stressful sourcing hay in the spring if you run low speaking from experience!As a horse business owner who needs to purchase around 40 tons of hay each year to get my crew of horses through the winter, Ive seen all sorts of ways to stack it with mixed results. In many cases I can tell the hay in some stacks is no longer of the caliber Id want to feed to my horses.This past fall was the first year we had to stack/tarp hay outside of our hay barn. We had to scramble to figure out how to do this correctly so the 20 tons we were stacking outdoors wasnt lost to rain and mold during the winter.Preparing Your StackHay is a major investment, said Sandy Young, owner of Treasure Valley Hay, in Nampa, Idaho. Young has been a hay broker since 2008, focusing primarily on southwestern Idaho, but with customers in all Western states. Youre investing in high-quality food to keep your animals healthy and give you peace of mind knowing you have what you need to carry you through the winter until next summer.Protecting your investment with a heavy-duty, high-quality tarp is critical. If you dont at least cover the top of the stack with a good tarp, moisture from rain and snow will seep into the stack from the top down to the bottom and could ruin all the hay, she said.Where you locate your stack is important. As with other structures on your horse property, place your haystack in a high, well-drained area. Make it easy to access for the initial delivery people, as well as efficient for you as you use the hay.Youll need to place the stack on a barrier or structure to protect the bottom bales. Hay placed directly on the ground will wick up moisture, ultimately molding and rotting on the bottom. Start with wood or plastic pallets, or a thick, dense layer of flakes of straw, said Young. If you do need to put your stack directly on the ground, be sure to place the cut edge of the bale down, strings to the side, so damaged hay will be easier to pick off.We try to stack hay so the exposed sides of the stack are (uniformly) straight, up and down, with no ledges, said Young. We also try to overlap the bottom bales on the pallets, so the hay bales just hang over the edge (of the pallet) a little bit. That way rain and snow wont settle on the (pallet) boards and wick moisture back under the bale, causing superficial damage.You can make your hay-stack as tall as you want. If you are hand-stacking, it will probably be four to eight layers high. If your hay is delivered by equipment, such as a haystack retriever, it will be in a prestacked amount, usually nine layers high, and it wont need to be readjusted. The weight will vary but is usually 3 to 5 tons.Choosing The Right TarpPrep the top of your stack with a single row of bales laid end to end, across the middle of the top, said Young. This will form a peak (once the tarp is placed across it) so the pile sheds water like a roof and you wont get puddles which eventually leak. Tarps are not 100% waterproof. Dont set anything on top to hold the tarp down, she added. It creates a depression that causes water to puddle, which is likely to cause leaking.The way you spread and secure the tarp is crucial to the lasting quality of the hay. Ive seen all sorts of ways to do this, said Young. Her suggestions include using long nail spikes and pushing them through the tarp grommets into the hay, kind of like nailing the tarp into the hay. You can also screw dog tie-out stakes into the hay and attach them to the tarp. Rubber bungees, ropes, and bailing twine can also be used to secure the tarp. Young said she prefers to create bailing twine loops with long tails that she secures to the pallets prior to building the stack. These can simply be used to cinch the tarp down once everything is in place. Wind is the biggest enemy of your tarp, she noted. Tie your tarp snug, and dont let it flap in the wind.You can get a tarp big enough to cover the stack completely, all the way to the ground, she added. Or get one thats just big enough to go over the (top) edges and down the sides at least a couple of feet. If the ends of the bales (on the sides of the stack) are not covered, theyll get weathered, which is okay, unless theres a hay ledge that snow or rain settles on and soaks into.Weathered hay thats merely discolored is fine to feed horses. Wet and moldy is not. Get a good heavy-weight tarp with lots of grommets. Do not get a lightweight, cheap tarp, youll regret it, said Young.A good, heavy tarp should last three to five years, said Brad Jensen, a dealer in Western Ag hay tarps, the flagship blue and white tarps used by commercial hay growers and dairy owners. Use a good-quality tarp, create a peak (at the top of your stack), keep the tarp tight, and take care of it so it extends the life of the tarp.Western Ag tarps have boards and a rope sewn into them. The rope is attached to the board, so you arent just pulling on a grommet that can rip out, said Jensen.The biggest reason tarps wear out is they arent tied properly, and when they are flailing around in the wind they break down. Tie the tarp down and keep it tight, said Jensen. This helps them last longer. If you want to reuse the tarp for next year, clean it up and fold it up nicely. We usually hang them on a wall where the mice wont nest and make holes in them.If your stack is two pallets wide, the tarp should be a minimum of 12 feet wide. Thatll give you a 1-2 foot overhang of the tarp on the stacks sides, said Young. If the tarp is too big, it will be heavy and bulky, and difficult to manage. Young suggested working with multiple smaller tarps that are at least 24 feet long and overlapping them. This is especially useful once you start to take hay from the stack.If you use multiple tarps, overlap them by at least a 4-foot minimum, with the opening facing away from the prevailing winds and downhill, she said. This will hopefully prevent water and snow from working its way under the tarp and ruining the hay.Check the ties often, and keep them taut, she added. To extend the tarps life span, Young suggested placing an old tarp, sheets, towels, or horse blankets as padding beneath it (along edges or on corners of the stack). This reduces the friction created by the wind rubbing the tarp against the hay.Like many other things on a horse property, stacking and tarping hay for winter storage can be a chore. Take a deep breath and relax, said Young. At least you know youve got plenty of good hay. And know that winter doesnt last forever.

Seventy-five horses stabled in Barn 4 at the Mahoning Valley Racetrack in Mahoning County, Ohio, were placed under quarantine after one horse tested positive for strangles. The initial positive horse is isolated. A second horse tested positive on November 27 and is being removed from the property.Temperatures are being taken twice daily. As a precaution, horses with a high temperature or enlarged lymph nodes are being removed from the property.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About StranglesStranglesin horses is an infection caused byStreptococcus equisubspeciesequiand spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that arent showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:FeverSwollen and/or abscessed lymph nodesNasal dischargeCoughing or wheezingMuscle swellingDifficulty swallowingVeterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can helplower the risk of outbreakorcontain one when it occurs.

Check water sources at least twice daily for ice, and more often in colder climates. | Anne M. Eberhardt/The HorseAs we head into an incredibly cold stretch of weather for the start of winter, there has been much discussion on how to prepare horses. Increasing forage intake to help keep core body temperature warm while it ferments in the digestive tract is incredibly important. Also consider providing blankets and shelter, depending on your horses hair coat.One factor we cannot overlook, however, is keeping horses hydrated. Most equine nutritionists consider water to be the most important nutrient because of the various functions it performs. These include regulating body temperature, digestion, absorption, and utilization of nutrients, moving feedstuffs through the digestive tract from mouth to rectum, and removing waste products.How Much Water Does My Horse Need?On average, the adult horse drinks approximately 1 gallon per 100 pounds of body weight; therefore, the average 1,000-pound horse needs about 10 gallons of water a day. It is very important to make sure horses are consuming enough water, especially when their diets are high in dry feed content, such as hay, to help ensure the feed is moving through the digestive system. If horses do not consume an adequate amount of water, they may become dehydrated quickly, could go off their feed, and might suffer from impaction colic.RELATED CONTENT | Help Your Horse Weather WinterMany horses decrease their water intake below required amounts in extremely cold weather for a variety of reasons, such as not wanting or being able to walk to a water source, water being too cold to drink (preferred water temperature is between 45 and 65 degrees F for most horses), or water being frozen.Preventing Dehydration This WinterHorse owners and managers can do several things to ensure their horses do not become dehydrated:If a drop in temperature is predicted, make sure water is freely available before the temperature change, so horses are properly hydrated before the cold weather hits.If hot water is not available in the barn, get insulated water jugs and bring it from the house. Invest in heated water buckets or a water heater. Make sure these are grounded, and routinely check to make sure they are working properly. A horse that gets shocked when he tries to drink will be conditioned to not drink!Break ice if it forms on the water source, and remove the chunks of ice. Although horses can break through thin ice, it can deter them from drinking. Frost-free type waterers can be helpful, but even these can freeze if horses are not drinking often enough. Check water sources for ice at least twice a day and more often in colder conditions.Monitor your horses hydration status daily. If you do not know how, ask your veterinarian or another experienced horse person to train you in doing skin pinch tests and evaluating mucous membranes.Soaking feeds can be a way to get additional water into your horse. For example, beet pulp is a feed that can hold a good amount of water, and most horses are willing to eat it. Chopped hays also absorb water and are usually willingly consumed by horses. Ideally, soak these dry feeds in warm water for about 15 minutes before offering them to the horse.Take-Home MessageWhen the temperatures drop, make sure water is accessible at all times, and that horses are drinking enough. It is crucial to have water available at mealtimes, especially when feeding dry feeds; researchers have shown that horses drink the most water within three hours of consuming a meal. Finally, carefully monitor both water intake and hydration status daily, especially during extreme or rapid changes in the weather.

Thirty horses in Texas recently tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA). The cases are spread across eight counties.The positive cases include nine horses in El Paso County, one horse in Wise County, five horses in Collin County, one horse in Bexar County, two horses in Harris County, one horse in Gonzales County, one horse in Bastrop County, and 10 horses in Dallas County.All affected horses are either isolated or have been euthanized.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About EIAEquine infectious anemiais a viral disease that attacks horses immune systems. The virus is transmitted through the exchange of body fluids from an infected to an uninfected animal, often by blood-feeding insects such as horseflies. It can also be transmitted through the use of blood-contaminated instruments or needles.ACoggins test screens horses blood for antibodiesthat are indicative of the presence of the EIA virus. Most U.S. states require horses to have proof of a negative Coggins test to travel across state lines.Once an animal is infected with EIA, it is infected for life and can be a reservoir for the spread of disease. Not all horses show signs of disease,but those that do can exhibit:Progressive body condition loss;Muscle weakness;Poor stamina;Fever;Depression; andAnemia.EIA has no vaccine and no cure. A horse diagnosed with the disease dies, is euthanized, or must be placed under extremely strict quarantine conditions (at least 200 yards away from unaffected equids) for the rest of his life.

On November 25, a 22-year-old mare in MRC Haut-Saint-Franois, Quebec, tested positive for equine influenza after developing clinical signs on November 8. The mare is now recovering, and 20 additional cases are suspected.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About Equine InfluenzaEquine influenzais a highly contagious respiratory disease that infects horses, ponies, and other equids, such as donkeys, mules, and zebras. The virus that causes it is spread via saliva and respiratory secretions from infected horses. Horses are commonly exposed via horse-to-horse contact; aerosol transmission from coughing and sneezing; and contact with humans contaminated hands, shoes, or clothes or contaminated tack, buckets, or other equipment.Clinical signs of equine influenza infection can include a high fever (up to 106F); a dry, hacking cough; depression; weakness; anorexia; serous (watery) nasal discharge; and slightly enlarged lymph nodes. Consider monitoring your horses health at shows by taking his temperature daily, which can help you pick up on signs of infection early and take appropriate measures to reduce disease spread.Vaccinationis an important and inexpensive way to protect your horse. US Equestrian requires proof that horses have had an equine influenza vaccination within the six months prior to attending organization-sanctioned competitions or events. Your veterinarian can help you determine what other vaccines your horse might benefit from.In addition to vaccinating, following strictbiosecurity protocolscan help reduce your horses chance of infection and disease. Such measures include quarantining new equine arrivals at barns, disinfecting buckets and equipment, and preventing nose-to-nose contact between horses.Click hereto read common questions and answers about equine influenza.

On November 23, a 7-year-old mare in Northumberland County, Ontario, tested positive for equine influenza. The horse was bought from a sale and developed clinical signs five days later, including a cough and nasal discharge. Other horses on the property have developed mild coughs.The facility manager is working with their veterinarian to implement animal movement restrictions and biosecurity protocols.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About Equine InfluenzaEquine influenzais a highly contagious respiratory disease that infects horses, ponies, and other equids, such as donkeys, mules, and zebras. The virus that causes it is spread via saliva and respiratory secretions from infected horses. Horses are commonly exposed via horse-to-horse contact; aerosol transmission from coughing and sneezing; and contact with humans contaminated hands, shoes, or clothes or contaminated tack, buckets, or other equipment.Clinical signs of equine influenza infection can include a high fever (up to 106F); a dry, hacking cough; depression; weakness; anorexia; serous (watery) nasal discharge; and slightly enlarged lymph nodes. Consider monitoring your horses health at shows by taking his temperature daily, which can help you pick up on signs of infection early and take appropriate measures to reduce disease spread.Vaccinationis an important and inexpensive way to protect your horse. US Equestrian requires proof that horses have had an equine influenza vaccination within the six months prior to attending organization-sanctioned competitions or events. Your veterinarian can help you determine what other vaccines your horse might benefit from.In addition to vaccinating, following strictbiosecurity protocolscan help reduce your horses chance of infection and disease. Such measures include quarantining new equine arrivals at barns, disinfecting buckets and equipment, and preventing nose-to-nose contact between horses.Click hereto read common questions and answers about equine influenza.

Look for equine dental care resources all month on TheHorse.com. | iStockAre your horses teeth getting enough attention? If your veterinarian isnt examining them at least once a year, the answer is probably not.A horses mouth is constantly changing as her teeth erupt and wear. Without proper maintenance, untreated oral abnormalities can lead to pain, resistance in the bridle, problems chewing and digesting feed, and more.To help educate owners about their horses oral health, The Horse has partnered with Zoetis to promote horse oral health through our Equine Dental Awareness Month. Look for dental-related horse health content all month long on TheHorse.com, ourFacebook pageandTwitter feed, and in our e-newsletters.

In this roundtable discussion led by Dr. Julia Miller, three experts cover common types of wounds seen in horses, complications with wound healing, and the most effective treatment options.Register NowThis webcast begins on Monday, December 16, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. EST Days Hours MinutesAbout the Experts: Julia Miller, DVMJulia Miller, DVM is an upstate New York native and a Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine graduate. She completed a large animal rotating internship at the University of Georgia and then worked as a mixed small and large animal general practitioner for several years before returning to Cornell to complete her dermatology residency. After completing her residency, Miller stayed on at Cornell as an assistant clinical professor in dermatology before she moved into private practice in beautiful Louisville, Kentucky. Miller has a special interest in the management of chronic otitis externa, and all things related to equine skin disease.Lauren Schnabel, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMRLauren Schnabel, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMR, is a professor of equine orthopedic surgery at North Carolina State University, in Raleigh. Her specific clinical and research interests are in the use of regenerative therapies for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and in the rehabilitation of elite athletes. Schnabel has performed and published studies on wound healing in the horse and continues to evaluate new therapies for wound healing in her clinical practice.Lisa Fortier, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVSLisa Fortier, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS is the James Law Professor of Surgery at Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine, in Ithaca, New York, where, over the past 30 years, she has garnered an international reputation for her significant contributions in the areas of equine joint disease, cartilage biology, and regenerative medicine, particularly her pioneering use of biologics such as platelet rich plasma, bone marrow concentrate and stem cells in horses and humans.Kyla Ortved, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMRKyla Ortved, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMR, is an associate professor of large animal surgery and Jacques Jenny Endowed Chair of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvanias New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square. Her clinical focus is on equine orthopedic surgery while her research efforts focus understanding the pathophysiology of joint disease and developing regenerative therapies for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries in the horse.

Five donkeys were present at the Cheshire Military Museum earlier this month to celebrate the arrival of the Purple Poppies Tour, a special exhibition which commemorates the role animals and birds have played in war.Donkeys Colin, Diccon, William, Nell and Missy were representing the northern region of the Donkey Breed Society, who were originally gifted the crocheted poppies by a group of makers from Richmond in Yorkshire.The poppies were subsequently combined with some additional artefacts to create an exhibition which has toured museums in northern England over the last few months. While at the Cheshire Military Museum, they will be housed in the Animals at War temporary exhibition.We are very pleased to bring this interesting work to Cheshire. These animals must be remembered, said Allison Roberts, chair of the Donkey Breed Societys northern region.They experienced much horror and yet their contributions have assisted in giving us the democracy we enjoy today. We are very grateful to all the museums that have welcomed the tour in 2024.Penultimate stopThe tour began at the York Army Museum before moving to the Cumbrian Museum of Military Life in Carlisle and is now making its penultimate stop at the Cheshire Military Museum. In January 2025, the tour will take up residency at the Green Howards Museum in Richmond for six months.Alongside the donkeys, there were also childrens activities and re-enactment performances and Sarah Booth, secretary of the northern region of the Donkey Breed Society, gave a short speech.During her speech, Sarah read a letter from Nigel Allsopp from the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation who wished the exhibition, the greatest success.Often overshadowed by the horse, it is important to remember that donkeys and mules were the great unsung heroes of military campaigns, they were the logistical backbone of armies throughout the centuries [and] recently employed by coalition special forces in Afghanistan in mountainous terrain, said Nigel in his letter.The Cheshire Military Museum in Chester is dedicated to Cheshire military personnel from the 17thcentury through to the present day.The museum also houses the archive of the Cheshire Regiment.Related contentNew enrichment paddock for some of The Donkey Sanctuarys smallest residentsThe Donkey Sanctuary rolls out vaccination programmes to prevent rabiesProtest outside Amazon HQ calls for sale of donkey skin products to be bannedThe post Donkeys welcome Purple Poppies tour to Chester appeared first on Your Horse.