Download Disease risks from abroad

Sheet
fact Sheet
hoke
Disease risks
from abroad
a relatively common condition seen in horses
es and is typically caused by obstruction of the
gus (food pipe) with food; occasionally a foreign
be involved e.g. wood or plastic. Fortunately
ses of choke resolve quickly and spontaneously
With increasing movement of horses worldwide and
cases in which the obstruction lasts for longer
minutes are likely to require veterinary assistance. climate warming, diseases which are common in tropical
and subtropical countries can be found travelling
ortant to note that this is not the same as the
north; demonstrated by the recent outbreaks of
atening condition in humans, where the term
refers to blockage of the windpipe rather than the Bluetongue and Schmallenberg disease in the British
agus. This difference means that unlike humans, farm population. The threat of a devastating disease
like African horse sickness entering the UK and killing a
with choke can still breathe.
large proportion of the horse population is so real that the government has already put
regulations in place for managing a possible outbreak. The risk of the entry of a new equine
disease into the UK has the potential to not only cause welfare issues and equine deaths but
the possibility of large scale disruption of equine events and activities of the scale seen in the
foot and mouth outbreak of 2001.
Horse owners and veterinarians should be vigilant and keep exotic diseases in their mind when
dealing with a sick animal or sudden unexplained death. It is imperative that these situations
are recognised in the earliest possible stage and appropriate biosecurity measures are put into
place to minimise spread.
KEY POINTS
African horse
Sickness:
•
•
The entry into the
UK of diseases such
as African horse
sickness and West
Nile virus are an
ever present threat.
•
Owners and vets
must be vigilant
and keep exotic
diseases in their
mind when dealing
with a sick animal or
unexplained death.
•
Early recognition
and good
biosecurity practices
are essential to limit
spread.
•
Suspected cases
must be reported
to Animal Health
(AHVLA) department
of DEFRA.
caused by African horse sickness
virus;
REGULAR DENTAL EXAMINATIONS AND
TREATMENT
CANtransfer
REDUCE
THE
RISK
OF CHOKE
midges
the
virus
from
•
infected to non-infected horse;
KEY POINTS
• clinical signs vary, depending on the
•
•
•
•
form, mostly fatal;
Don’t panic!
Choke is form
rarely- fever
life-threatening
• respiratory
and severeand
many cases
will
resolve
spontaneously.
respiratory problems;
Seek veterinary
advice
the choke
lasts more than
• cardiac
form if- fever
and generalised
30 minutesswelling
and while
waiting
for
the
vet remove all
(oedema);
food to prevent your horse eating and worsening
• fever form - high temperature and
the obstruction
mild symptoms, usually only in
Following an
episode of choke it is worth monitoring
donkeys;
your horse’s respiratory rate (normal <16 breaths/
no effective
treatment;
• rectal
min) and
temperature
for several days.
prevention
involves
midge
• regular
Arrange
dental
check-ups
foravoidance
your horse
stabling
during
high
midge
to reduce the risk of choke as a result ofactivity
a painful
mouth. (dusk until dawn), fly sheets, insect
repellent, avoid stagnant water;
•
vaccines not licensed in the UK.
XLEquine - Better Together
XLVets Equine - Better Together
A hOrSE SuffErINg frOm
AfrIcAN hOrSE SIcKNESS
ShOwINg fluID SwEllINg
Of ThE chEST ArEA
Disease risks
fromSheet
abroad
Fact
XLEquine
Choke
west Nile virus:
•
mosquitoes transmit the virus usually from infected
wild birds to non-infected horses and/or humans;
•
signs are fever, depression, neurological signs,
and ponies
andsigns;
is typically
death in 30% of horses
with clinical
•
•
•
•
medical conditions
MC
Equine
Piroplasmosis (EP):
• seen
Caused
by a protozoa, called Theileria equi
Choke is a relatively common condition
in horses
and Babesia caballi;
caused by obstruction of the
• transmitted
via infected tick;
oesophagus (food pipe) with food; occasionally
a foreign
no specific treatment available, only supportive care;
body can be involved e.g. wood or plastic.
Fortunately
• signs
are fever, depression, anaemia,
prevention is by vaccination
and
mosquito
control
jaundice,
dark urine, abortion;
many cases of choke resolve quickly and spontaneously
and avoidance:
and only cases in which the obstruction
for longer
• lasts
treatment
is available but does not always
two vaccines are licenced
and
available
in
the
UK
for
clear infection
and very toxic to horses/
than 30 minutes are likely to require veterinary
assistance.
high risk horses and yards;
It is important to note that this is not the donkeys;
same as the
note that disease affects
birds, humanscondition
and horses.
prevention
involves tick control.
life-threatening
in humans,•where
the term
“choke” refers to blockage of the windpipe rather than the
oesophagus. This difference means that unlike humans,
horses with choke can still breathe.
SEE AlSO fAcTShEETS ON
EquINE INfEcTIOuS ANAEmIA
(EIA), EquINE VIrAl ArTErITIS
(EVA) AND cONTAgIOuS
EquINE mETrITIS.
ical signs:
PrEVENTINg ExOTIc DISEASE:
comply with the regulations for health
testing associated with the importation of
TwO VAccINES ArE lIcENcED AND AVAIlAblE fOr
horses;
ching/arching of the neck
hIgh rISK hOrSES AND YArDS
isolate all new horses and those returning
●
ghing
to the yard after competing abroad for
a period of at least three weeks in well
& saliva discharging from the nose
separated quarantine facilities;
oling
ensure horses coming in from abroad are
●
tested for potentially infectious diseases
nterest in food
REGULAR DENTAL EXAMINATIONS AND
prior to introduction to the yard;
TREATMENT CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF CHOKE
asionally a lump may be seen or felt
ensure good insect control with fine mesh
●
he left side of the neck.
on isolation facilities;
KEY POINTS
uspect your horse is suffering from
control and avoid midges and mosquitos
●
is important to prevent your horse
with insect repellents and fly sheets;
s this will make the blockage worse
• Don’t panic! Choke is rarely● life-threatening
and
avoid standing
water and site muck heap
e difficult to clear.
ISOlATINg AND TESTINg NEw hOrSES
manyPrIOr
casesTO
will resolve spontaneously.
away from the stables to reduce midge/
INTrODucTION ONTO ThE YArD hElPS lImIT ThE
struction doesn’t
clear quickly of its
mosquito
SeekDISEASE
veterinary advice if the choke
lasts numbers.
more than
SPrEAD Of cONTAgIOuS AND •
ExOTIc
ord then veterinary assistance must
30 minutes and while waiting for the vet remove all
ht. There are a number of steps
food to prevent your horse eating and worsening
can take to help to confirm and treat
the obstruction
lem.
further information contact your local XLEquine practice:
• Following an episodeFor
of choke it is worth monitoring
and ponies with dental problems
your horse’s respiratory rate (normal <16 breaths/
vent them grinding their food
min) and rectal temperature for several days.
), individuals that bolt their food too
• Arrange regular dental check-ups for your horse
and those fed XLEquine
dry pelleted
or cubed
is a novel and exciting initiative conceived from within
to reduce the risk of choke as a result of a painful
e all at increased
risk. profession made up of independently owned,
the veterinary
progressive veterinary practices located throughout themouth.
United
culty/repeated attempts at
lowing
●
Kingdom, members of XLEquine are committed to working
together for the benefit of all their clients.
© XLVet UK Ltd.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without
prior permission of the publisher.
- Better Together
www.xlequine.co.uk