More EHV-1 Info...
This is some of the information that was posted up on our website for boarders during our EHV "outbreak".
End of EHV-1 at WRS
April 27:
End of quarantine after 28+ days since last sign of any illness that could be attributed to EHV.
Updates from WCVM and WCVM Field Services:
April 11:
More info on EHV information from the seminar on April 10.
April 4:
Horse owners urged to attend free information seminar on equine herpes virus (EHV) in Saskatoon
The Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan Inc. and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan are teaming up to present an equine herpes virus information seminar on Thursday, April 10, in Saskatoon, Sask.... (full article)WCVM Equine Herpes Virus Update for April 4
APRIL 4, 2008 -- Veterinarians at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine suspect that the neurologic form of equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1) has affected four more horses at a Saskatoon-area farm...(full article).
April 1:
"Hello everyone!
Well, I hate to jinx it, but things seem to quieting down in the wobbly ward. So we are eagerly keeping our fingers crossed that this might be the end of it and have tentatively started the 28 day countdown on sunday...
I would like to clarify some confusion that still seems to exist:
When this all started, we asked you all to refrain from riding any horses that might have symptoms of herpes or just may not seem right. This was to give all of them the rest they needed to fight this off. BUT now that the fevers and swollen legs have stopped, you can start riding again. Riding does not make the horses sick if they are otherwise feeling good. So go ahead without feeling guilty or making others feel guilty. That said, if your horse has had neurological signs, PLEASE get the OK from one of us before you start riding again, just so you donīt put yourself and your horse in danger.
Thatīs it for now... Keep your fingers crossed!
Nathalie & Kristin "
March 28:
More info from WCVM:
WCVM Equine Herpes Update March 28
March 20:
Another note:
There has been some confusion as to how long horses shed the EHV virus without clinical signs. The reason it's so confusing, is that NOBODY really knows... So we have some funding to look into that and REALLY need your cooperation on this. As mentioned at the last meeting on tuesday, we would like to take blood samples and nasal swabs from horses with fevers. We will have one of our in-clinic vets with us in the afternoons (about 6pm this weekend) to do that, so PLEASE come and find us!
Thanks alot! Nathalie & Kristin (and all the horses that may benefit from this in the future...)
March 20:
Here is a link to the official info from the WCVM:
Information on Equine Herpes Virus can be found on the college website http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/collegenews
You can also phone the large animal clinic number during work days and speak to Dr.Lohmann, who is VERY knowledgeable about herpes, and will be able to answer ANY questions.
(I must admit, you guys are really doing your homework, and the questions are getting harder to answer! Good work!)
Hang in there, team!
Nathalie & Kristin
March 17:
Update March 17th :
As I'm sure you've heard, we are now up to five neurological horses being treated in the "Wobbly Ward". So far, everyone's state seems pretty stable and we're keeping our fingers crossed that the worst is over for them. On tuesday, we will be having a quick meeting again at 5pm in the foyer of the stable, just to update everyone and answer any questions. Thanks for everybody's help so far and for keeping such a positive attitude!
Drs Poirier & Tokateloff
March 15:
I apologise for the delay in any updates or confusion in the changes there have been in the last couple of days. As the situation changes, we are trying to keep our action plan flexible and adjust as need be.
So the latest is this: There have been more neurological horses both indoors and outdoors. So now that we have the confirmation that all the horses seem to have been equally infected and exposed, we are going to lift the ban on having the inside horses outside and vice versa. This also arrises from the fact that we need to bring the outside sick horses in so that we can provide adequate care for them throughout the day and night. PLEASE REMEMBER: the neurological disease is caused by the EXACT SAME virus as the snotty nose and swollen legs, so there is no need to be more afraid of the neuro horses than of any other horse. We need to stick together through this, so please donīt shun the people who own neuro horses, especially since they will need a lot of moral support.
If you want to get a hold of us at any time, you can contact us via e-mai through the willow ridge webpage or call at 966-7178. Iīll do my best to keep this updated, but it may lag behind if we get even busier.
Hang in there everyone, and remember to try and keep the infection at Willow ridge and not take it home with you!
- Dr. Kristen Poirier and Dr. Nathalie Tokateloff
Make a Record:
Write down all this info twice a day when at the barn, into a notebook or journal or onto a calendar, or onto cue cards, whatever works.
You can use a chart like the following:
Horse's name: Date & Time Day 1 AM Day 1 PM Day 2 AM Day 2 PM Day 3 AM and so on... Temp: Nasal discharge: Legs: Demeanour: Neurologic:
Online Database
You can now enter your horse's health info directly into a database online. You can use it to track your own horse's health and it will be viewable by the vets so they can also track what's happening in the barn.
To use it, create an account with your name (or your family name). The horses will be tied to the account so please do not create multiple accounts to access a single horse. Instead, for now just make one account and share it if there's more than one person who will be entering info on the associated horses.
Yes, it's a bit simple and rough, but it's been put together in 24 hours and it works! Any problems or questions, ask Michael Yingbull or email him, michael.yingbull@gmail.com
Other points of info:
There is an anti-viral, acyclovir, that may help but is about $250/day for 14 days. You can ask the WCVM if you're interested. For a fever, Bute (directions per bottle) or even Aspirin (5g dose, once a day) can help. Aspirin may also help the stocked up legs. Use the proper dose, and only use one or the other (not both), and ask the WCVM if you want some great big Aspirin tablets. Walking, cold hosing, and wrapping may help the stocked up legs, but they will usually clear on their own in a few days. Some people are choosing to administer Vitamin E to their horses, the theory is that it may reduce free radicals which may play a role in the disease. The dose is somewhere between 5000 IU and 8000 IU depending on the size of the horse.
The first neurological systems to be affected seem to be a horse's sensation in its back legs, which can cause it to drag or stumble, and its proprioceptive sense, the sense that tells it where it's hind legs are, causing it to step on its other foot or to leave a leg in an uncomfortable position. Motor function loss comes later, and includes weakness and urinary retention (bladder doesn't work), but the symptoms can arise and progress rapidly.
Help reduce continued spread of virus by changing your clothes between barns, washing your hands and your boots between outside and inside. There is no longer any restriction on the movement of horses within the property -- turnout as usual, and outside horses can be brought inside.
How to check your horse:
To check for neurologic symptoms, watch for signs of stumbling or weakness in the back legs, particularly when on flat, dry, familiar surfaces. A lot of the horses are being detected at very early stages by performing neurologic tests like these. Circle the horse in smaller circles, and watch for splaying hind legs or stepping on itself. Walk the horse and have someone pull the tail to one side or the other -- a horse with normal strength should resist and keep walking straight, not be pulled sideways by the tail.
Horses compensate well when they can see: blindfolding may reveal trouble earlier. Blindfold the horse and get it to walk, watch for swerving. Back the horse with a blindfold or with it's head up so it can't see its legs; a horse that lacks proprioception and sensation will not move its back legs enough and will almost look like it is about to sit on its tail. Only do these things if you are safe to do it, do not put yourself at risk of injuring yourself or your horse.