Equine Information
  • Equine Preventive Health Care
Vaccination Schedule                                                            
Venezuelan, Eastern, & Western Encephalomyelitis
Tetanus
Rabies
Influenza
Rhinopneumonitis
West Nile
Streptococcus Equi (naïve or horses under 10 years)
Copyright 2012 VHNW
Frequency
annually
annually          
annually
semi-annual
semi-annual
semi-annual
semi-annual

Dental Care

Suggest have oral examination at least once a year to prevent abnormalities from developing.  Perform dental float of teeth if necessary.
  • Prefoal Vaccination Schedule
Broodmares should be vaccinated for Rhinopneumonitis at 5, 7, and 9 months of pregnancy.  Pneumobort-K is the preferred vaccine because it is specific for Equine Herpes Virus 1, which can cause abortion and paralysis and can be spread through the air.

Broodmares should also be vaccinated against VEW Encephalitis, Tetanus Toxoid, Rhino/Flu, and West Nile 4 to 6 weeks prior to foaling.  The mare will then produce antibodies to these vaccines which will be passed in the colostrum (first milk) to the newborn foal providing protection against these life-threatening diseases.  When the foal is born, a thorough physical examination should be performed.  Then to prevent an impaction, an enema should be administered to help pass the meconium.  The foal's navel should be dipped with either 1% tammed iodine or 7% iodine 2 to 3 times a day for the first 2 days.

Broodmares should also be dewormed within 48 hours after foaling to prevent the parasite strongyloides westeri from being transmitted to the foal via the milk.
  • Common Diseases Affecting Young Horses
Tetanus - This severe disease progresses very quickly.  Affected horses experience stiffness, rigidness, overreaction to noise and stimuli, inability to open the mouth, difficulty breathing, and recumbency.  Fatal if untreated and sometimes despite early, aggressive treatment.  Usually occurs consequent to a wound in a non-vaccinated horse.

Encephalomyelitis (EEE, WEE, WNV, VEE) - Spread by mosquitoes, these viruses affect the brain and spinal cord.  Infected horses have severe depression, weakness, incoordination, ataxia, stiffness, fever, difficulty eating, and abnormal behavior.

WEE is fatal in about 25% of cases.  EEE is nearly always fatal.  WNV fatalities are relatively rare (about 30% of horses with neurological signs of WNV infection will die) although recovered horses might or might not retain neurologic deficits.  VEE is often fatal.

Rhinopneumonitis (Equine Herpesvirus I and IV) - This virus is extremely well dispersed.  Type 1 is commonly associated with respiratory disease, weak foals, and abortion (and rarely neurologic disease); type 4 is primarily associated with respiratory disease (and rarely weak foals and abortion).  The neurologic form of the disease (EHV-1) appears to be on the rise recently; it causes horses (sometimes in groups) to lose control of their hind legs and bladder (and other things).  There have been several epidemics of the neurologic form in the past couple of years; vaccination is likely not protective against the neurologic form.

Influenza - Influenza is usually not life-threatening, but it increases vulnerability to other diseases, including pneumonia.  Clinical signs include fever, lethargy, cough, nasal discharge, muscle aches, and inappetence.

Rabies - Clinical signs include weakness in the limbs, loss of neurologic control of limbs, loss of ability to swallow, profound depression, or furious states where the animal aggressively attacks objects or people.  Always fatal.

Potomac Horse Fever - This disease can cause severe diarrhea, severe laminitis or founder, and abortion.

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) - Clinical signs can include weakness, lameness, incoordination, inability to move correctly (especially in the hindquarters) or to stand up, seizures, weight loss, blindness, loss of balance, disuse of a single limb, and/or inappropriate sweating.  Lack of treatment can lead to permanent nerve damage and death.

Strangles - Easily transmitted by other horses and by intermediaries such as people, buckets, and tack.  Early clinical signs include nasal discharge, cough, inappetence, and fever.  Later, the horse often developes swellings in the throat, between the jaws, and/or under the ears.  Occasionally, abscesses affect other parts of the body, causing colic or signs of neurological disease.
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For after hours emergency care
Contact us at (936) 344-8469.
Adult horses over 1 year of age (high and medium fecal egg count) Spring Moxidectin with praziquantel Summer Moxidectin Fall Ivermectin with Praziquantel   Winter Ivermectin Adult horses over 1 year of age (low fecal egg count) Spring Moxidectin with praziquantel Fall Moxidectin with praziquantel Adult horses with unknown de-worming history or no de-worming within the past 6 months Week 1 Fenbendazole (Panacur) Week 2 Pyrantel pamoate (Strongid) Week 3 Ivermectin Week 4 Moxidectin After completing this initial de-worming schedule, continue with the appropriate rotation listed above For healthy foals 6 to 8 weeks Panacur 14 to 16 weeks Pyrantel pamoate (Strongid) 22 to 24 weeks Panacur 30 weeks Pyrantel pamoate (Strongid) 38 weeks Ivermectin with praziquantel All de-wormers should be given based on an accurate weight obtained by using a weight tape. De-wormers should be administered when the horse has an empty mouth to ensure the horse swallows all of the medication. For weak, debilitated or pregnant horses, contact Dr. Steve Van Wagner for a consultation (936) 344-8469.
VETERINARY HOSPITAL OF NEW WAVERLY
Equine deworming recommendations (updated 4/11)

Guidelines are based on new research that recommends a targeted or strategic deworming plan as opposed to the old rotational method.  This plan determines the amount of Strongyle eggs in a particular amount of fecal material by performing a Fecal Egg Count (FEC).