Early planning can help keep horses healthy

INDIANAPOLIS — Spring is always a good time to get horses and other equine up-to-date on vaccinations, especially for the mosquito-borne diseases that can be so devastating.

This year, now is the time for horse owners to schedule those veterinary appointments to ensure vaccinations are given on time.

According to Dr. Jennifer Strasser, a veterinarian with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, private veterinarians are busier now than ever and she is hearing from horse owners that wait times are longer to book appointments.

Strasser recommends annual vaccinations in early spring to ward off Eastern and Western equine encephalitis, as well as West Nile virus. All these diseases, which can cause neurologic damage and even death, can be prevented with vaccination and annual boosters.

Vaccination

Early-season vaccination is important because mosquitoes, which carry and spread these diseases, seem to take flight earlier every year. Relatively mild winters do not kill off the biting pest populations.

Vaccinations against EEE, WEE and WNV — available in convenient combination products — require four to six weeks for immunity to build. Those receiving the vaccines for the first time need to be administered two doses, three to four weeks apart.

“That four- to six-week lead time, along with tight veterinary clinic schedules, means February is not too early to start thinking about spring health maintenance schedules,” Strasser said.

Veterinary Deserts

Obtaining veterinary services, especially for large animals, is becoming increasingly difficult in some areas.

For a variety of reasons, some parts of Indiana are in “veterinary deserts” without a practitioner located within the county or no one providing on-farm service.

This problem is not unique to Indiana. According to the Farm Journal Foundation, more than 500 counties across the United States have shortages of veterinarians who care for livestock.

The shortages are causing hardships for animal owners, as well as threatening the security of our nation’s food supply and rural economic development.

BOAH has been working to increase access to veterinary care across Indiana, including collaborating with the Indiana Board of Veterinary Medicine, which licenses veterinary professionals.

Together, the two boards are working to increase access to care statewide by identifying ways to lower barriers and delays to licensing, advancing telehealth services and amending Indiana laws that inhibit practice in rural areas.

Planning & Prevention

Efforts to address veterinary shortages will take time to change the trend. Meanwhile, Strasser reminds horse owners to plan ahead to book care visits, keep vaccinations current and strive to control mosquito populations around the farm to deter exposure.

WNV is a neurologic disease that typically appears in Indiana equids in mid-summer through fall. It causes swelling of the brain, which can produce staggering, incoordination, weakness of limbs, ataxia, partial paralysis or death in horses. This disease is also transmitted by mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds.

Other diseases, including equine influenza, tetanus, strangles and rabies, can also be prevented through vaccination. These diseases can be detected in all seasons.

A veterinarian can discuss risk factors and vaccination options for equine herpesvirus. Horse owners are encouraged to consult with a veterinarian to develop a vaccination plan for their horses.

Take measures now to reduce mosquito populations throughout the year. Drain standing water from birdbaths, troughs and other containers and keep weeds and grass mowed regularly.

Be sure to keep water circulating in water troughs to prevent development of mosquito larva. Always follow label directions when using a product to control mosquitoes in ponds or standing water.

“Dawn and dusk are high insect-exposure times. During mosquito season, owners may want to stable their animals overnight to provide added protection. Insect repellents should be used judiciously, and always according to label directions,” Strasser said.

Equine owners who observe signs of illness in animals should consult with a veterinarian as soon as possible about testing and treatment.