Additional Travel Tips for Horse Owners Traveling To or From Colorado
1. Contact the State Veterinarian's Office of the destination state to find out if travel requirements have changed for that state.
2. Call organizers of the event to see if they have new health requirements or if it has been cancelled.
3. If traveling, practice appropriate biosecurity measures. Biosecurity tips may be found at www.colorado.gov/ag.
4. Isolate any new animals and those returning to the home premises for three weeks when possible.
5. Use separate water, feed supplies and equipment.
6. Continue to monitor the CDA webpage at www.colorado.gov/ag for further information to aid in the decision making for transporting horses.
If your horse attended the Ogden, Utah event:
CDA encourages all horse owners who attended the Ogden, UT, even to notify their veterinarian and isolate and monitor their horses for clinical signs of the disease. These horses should have their temperature taken twice a day. Horses with elevated temperature can be sampled by a veterinarian to analyze whether their horse is shedding EHV-1. Individual horse and barn bio-security is very important. Some horses may not show signs of the disease but may still be a carrier. Those owners are also encouraged to restrict movement of their horses.
General Disease Information
EHV-1 is not transmissible to people; it can be a serious equine disease that can cause respiratory and neurological clinical signs; it can even result in death. The most common way for EHV-1 to spread is by direct horse-to-horse contact. It can also be spread by contaminated tack, equipment, and people's clothing. In addition, the virus can be spread through aerosols (airborne) for a limited distance.
Symptoms include fever, decreased coordination, nasal discharge, urine dribbling, loss of tail tone, hind limb weakness, leaning against a wall or fence to maintain balance, lethargy, and the inability to rise. While there is no cure, the symptoms of the disease may be treatable.
Horse owners should isolate any sick horses and immediately contact their veterinarian. Any individual horse with clinical signs consistent with neurological EHV-1 infection should be removed immediately from the area and placed in a separate enclosure for isolation.
The Department has received numerous calls from veterinarians, horse owners and media. To help facilitate a timely response, please see the following list.
1. If veterinarians or horse owners have questions about the disease, testing, or other aspects of the investigation:
a. Contact your local veterinarian
b. Dr. Kate Anderson, 303-239-4161, Kate.Anderson@ag.state.co.us
c. Dr. Carl Heckendorf, 303-239-4161, Carl.Heckendorf@ag.state.co.us
2. If you are a media outlet and would like to set up an interview: contact Christi Lightcap, 303-239-4190, Christi.Lightcap@ag.state.co.us
Additional Resources:
A Guide To Understanding the Neurologic Form of EHV Infection
USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service Resources
American Assoc. of Equine Practitioners Fact Sheet
CSU EVH-1 Fact Sheet
This information brought to you by the Colorado Horse Council as a benefit for our members. To continue receiving valuable updates, become a member today. Or learn more about the benefits of becoming a member.
The Colorado Horse Council, Inc. is a grass-roots, all-breed, non-discipline specific organization dedicated to linking the horse owners and the horse industry of the State of Colorado into a powerful, common voice in order to protect their common equine interests through legislation and education. It also employs a full-time contract lobbyist, who works with the State Legislature on horse and agriculture-related issues.
For more information on Colorado Horse Council, please call our office at 303-292-4981.
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IMPORTANT NEWS FROM BRAZOS VALLEY EQUINE HOSPTIAL - May 18, 2011 -An outbreak of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHV-1) (neurological form of herpes virus infection) has been traced to horses who attended the NCHA's Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah on April 30 - May 8, 2011. Horses from this show returned to at least 9 states and Canada. This illness has impacted many shows and training schedules.
We wanted to send an update on the current EHV-1 status. To date there have been zero cases of disease reported in horses unless they were at the cutting horse show in Ogden, Utah or directly exposed to those horses when they returned to the farm. There will likely be horses that test positive for EHV-1 soon, but if they are appropriately quarantined and stay home they are low risk to spreading this virus. Our recommendation to horse owners is to still stay home and not travel until more information is available. As long as this is contained to horses exposed in Ogden, Utah or on the farm, there will not be a prolonged outbreak. If you feel strongly you must attend a competition we suggest the following:
1. Practice excellent biosecurity for you and your horses. Competing in the same arenas is not a problem, but stabling near, sharing water, and nose to nose contact with shedding horses may spread the disease.
2. Closely observe your horse and take a rectal temperature twice daily
3. Vaccinate your horse with either Rhinomune or Pneumobort K at least 14 days prior to travel
4. Treat your horse with Valtrex while you are at the event. Valtrex is a type of antiviral that is most effective when given early in the course of the disease
5. Treat your horse with Asprin. The neurologic signs are thought to be caused by blood clots secondary to inflammation of the blood vessels. Aspirin may help reduce the clinical signs. Do not give Aspirin with Bute, Banamaine, Equioxx, or other NSAIDs
6. Treat your horse with L-Lyseine. Lyseine has some antiviral properties in other species. It has not been studied in horses, but is not likely to cause a problem.
7. After returning home stable your horse away from the general population for 21 days and continue to monitor rectal temperatures twice daily. You can continue to use the same training facilities but do not share equipment between horses. As long as there is no fever or illness you can safely return to the general population after 21 days.
UPDATE:
Brazos Valley Equine Hospital has identified a horse positive with Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHV-1) (neurological form of herpes virus infection) on a PCR test. The horse is not symptomatic, currently on anti-viral drugs, and has been well quarantined since arrival in Parker County. in Weatherford, Texas. Particular exposure has been contained. This horse does not pose a threat to other horses. No other horses have tested positive at this time.
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ADMS encourages ALL equine owners to be proactive in planning for show events.
Make sure the show is being held BEFORE you travel with your animals.
Although it has been stated that there is no vaccine for this virus, make sure any animals traveling to shows are current on vaccinations and show no signs of illness.
Have a quarantine area ready for your show animals upon return. DO NOT put your show stock right back into your pastures. Preferably, the quarantine area should be so that the outside (show) animals are in complete isolation. Also remember to make sure you wash your hands thoroughly, even go so far as to change footwear before approaching your other stock.
No one wants a wide-spread panic, however, precautions must be taken in order to avoid this! Please be aware of the situation and do everything you can to avoid the spread of this and other transmittable equine diseases.