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Spring 2013 Brackla Hospital Church Acre, Brackla Bridgend CF31 2JT Llantrisant Cefn Mabley Newbridge Road CF72 8EX Barry 62 Salisbury Road Barry CF62 6PU Porthcawl 126 West Road Nottage CF36 3RY 01656 782345 Pencoed 13 Penprsyg Road Pencoed CF35 6SS 01656 862490 FARM ANIMAL AND EQUINE NEWSLETTER Vaccination Amnesty for Horses During the months of April and May 2013 we are holding a vaccination amnesty for horses. If you have a horse whose vaccinations have lapsed, we are offering to give the 2nd vaccination for free to help you get back on track. This offer applies to both flu and tetanus vaccinations or tetanus alone, whichever you prefer. Visit charges will still apply but we will happily see your horse at one of our surgeries if you prefer. Your horse is precious to you, so why put him at risk? Thank you to those farmers who attended our footrot in sheep information day sponsored by MSD animal health at Rhiwceiliog last month. We hope you found it useful. Thanks must also go to the Morgans who hosted the event and Mrs Matthews who provided a sumptuous spread. Keep your eyes open for future events and offers on our website www.maesglasvets.co.uk Welcome to the first edition of the Maes Glas Veterinary Group farm animal and equine newsletter. We aim to tell you all about our upcoming promotions and client events and to provide interesting and useful articles. Please let us know what you think of it and if there are any topics you want to see covered. For the latest Maes Glas news please visit our website www.maesglasvets.co.uk Do I Need To Vaccinate My Horse? Unusually, we have recently seen several cases of tetanus in horses in the Bridgend area. Tetanus is a disease caused by toxin producing bacteria, Clostridium tetani. This is found in much of the environment including soil and droppings. The bacteria thrives in low oxygen conditions such as at the base of puncture wounds and produces its powerful toxin which affects the muscles and nerves causing progressively worsening muscular stiffness and spasm. The horse will often develop an anxious expression, flared nostrils and may have difficulty chewing and swallowing food and saliva hence the old name of “lockjaw”. The horse will often overreact to normal stimuli such as noise and light and may have difficulty in moving around and a tendency to hold the tail straight and stiff behind when walking. If the muzzle is Johnes disease in dairy cattle A Farming Connect talk for dairy farmers raised to the same height as the ears then you may see the third eyelid flash over the eye surface. In advanced cases the horse may be completely unable to feed and collapse and fits are frequently seen. Death will normally follow soon after this point is reached. Unfortunately tetanus, once developed is difficult to treat, the majority of cases are euthanased. On the other hand, the vaccine is extremely effective at preventing the condition from developing. We recommend that your horse is vaccinated for tetanus, or if this is not done then anti-toxin is given each time a wound is found or suspected. When vaccinating, the initial course is two doses given 4 -6 weeks apart followed by a subsequent dose one year after. After this the requirement is for a single vaccine given every 2 years. Foals can be vaccinated from 3 months old. If the mare has been vaccinated in the last few weeks of pregnancy (the primary course should have been given before the mare became pregnant) then a degree of immunity will be acquired by the foal. Nevertheless, we recommend an injection of tetanus anti-toxin be given to foals soon after birth to provide protection for their first few months of life. Why not share a visit with a friend and book a vaccination for your horse? Prevention is better than cure. Cows not milking like they should? Find out if Johnes could be affectToo many culls? High cell counts? ing the health and productivity of Lame cows? your herd and how to manage it effectively. It may be Johnes disease and you don’t know it. Thursday 21st March, 11.30am - 2.30pm at Ty Tanglwst farm, Pyle. CF33 4SA www.maesglasvets.co.uk FARM ANIMAL AND EQUINE NEWSLETTER Liver Fluke Liver fluke is a parasite that causes damage to the liver in cattle and sheep. It causes diarrhoea, reduced weight gain, decreased milk yields, reduced fertility and can result in death as well as downgrading of carcases. The parasite requires wet habitat as it must pass through mud snails to complete its life cycle and it is particularly prevalent in Wales. Control of fluke can be difficult but effective use of available grazing is very important. If possible avoid grazing around water margins by fencing off ponds, streams and boggy ground. This is particularly important in dairy cattle as treatment is difficult due to the long milk withdrawal on many flukicides. We tend to see three peaks of fluke related disease during the year. In July to December we see very sick animals as the pasture burdens are highest, and large numbers of larvae migrate through the liver resulting in massive acute damage. From October through to January a milder form with marked weight loss can occur and in the spring we see chronic disease as overwintered larvae emerge causing weight loss, diarrhoea, swollen bellies and sometimes swelling under the jaw. Different flukicides have different actions. Only Trichlabendazole containing products have an effect on immature fluke. Control programs using flukicides will vary from farm to farm depending on the risk of infection. Resistance to certain flukicides has been seen in the area and we recommend they should be used in conjunction with veterinary advice Flukicides should be used at the time of winter housing to kill adult fluke that would otherwise result in chronic fasciolosis in spring, and again in the spring to reduce pasture contamination and keep levels lower through the year. Treatments may also be required during the warmer months. Mild, wet winters such as the one we have just had lead to a higher risk of clinical disease. If you want to discuss a potential fluke problem, give us a ring and ask to speak to a member of the farm animal team. Free blood tests for Cushings in Horses Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), commonly known as Equine Cushing’s Disease causes the horse’s pituitary gland, which secretes hormones to control body functions, to work too hard. This can lead to a variety of signs in your horse or pony including a tendency to recurrent laminitis, obesity and recur- rent infections. Often marked fat deposits above the eyes are seen as well as a long haircoat which may not be shed properly in the Summer. where laminitis develops secondary to Cushings disease, it is much harder to control the laminitis without taking steps to control the Cushings as well. Contact the surgery to book Controlling the disease a consultation and a with medication helps free blood test for to reduce the tendency Cushings courtesy of of your horse to suffer Boerhinger Ingelheim from the above prob- during April, May and lems. In particular, June 2013. AHVLA services After opposition to proposed government cuts, Carmarthen AHVLA services are to remain open to Welsh farmers for 2013. Carcass submission for post-mortem examination should be arranged through your normal veterinary surgeon. Services are no longer available on weekends. Abortion in ewes Many infectious causes of abortion can also infect humans bedding must be removed and destroyed to prevent spread of - Consider vaccinating all flock replacements against EAE and (zoonotic infection) disease on your farm Toxoplasmosis - An abortion rate in excess of two per cent is suggestive of an - Maintain a closed flock wherever possible - All feed must be stored in vermin-proof bins - Purchase all flock replacements as maiden sheep whether ewe - Sheep should be managed in clean environments infectious cause and veterinary investigation is essential - All aborted ewes must be isolated immediately and kept away from in lamb sheep for at least 1 month - Aborted material and infected lambs or gimmers - Try not to buy old pregnant - Water should be supplied from a mains supply with ponds and ewes - they are seldom a bar- surface water fenced off gain and always a great disease risk To submit samples for abortion diagnosis we need the foetus(es), a piece of placenta, and ideally a blood sample from the ewe. While the first submission may identify a recognised cause, it is important to continue collecting aborted material during the outbreak as more than one agent may be present within the flock and such knowledge is essential when formulating treatment, control and prevention strategies. Some infectious agents which cause abortion in ewes can infect humans (zoonotic infection). Pregnant women are especially vulnerable, as are very young children, the elderly and people who are immunosuppressed. Contact with the animals themselves and any discharges or abortion products should be avoided, as should contact with persons dealing with such animals, their clothing and equipment. Farmers with unvaccinated flocks can request blood samples for Toxoplasmosis and Chlamydia (the organism which causes Enzootic abortion) — both major causes of abortion in ewes. MSD animal health will cover the lab fees for up to 6 samples from each farm.