Van Patter Acres

Proof if Liability Insurance for your horse will be required. This can often be added to your homeowners insurance.

THESE ARE GOOD PRACTICE IN PREVENTIVE HEALTH FOR YOUR HORSE:

Rabies
This vaccine was recently approved for horses. It contains a killed virus to protect against this disease, which affects the central nervous system and results in death. This disease has been on the rise lately and is transmissible from horse to human, thereby posing a severe public health problem. This is an annual vaccine only.

Eastern and western encephalomyelitis
This acute viral disease of rodents, birds, horses and man, is transmitted by the mosquito. The vaccine is a combination of killed viruses. Initial vaccination is followed by a second dose in two to three weeks or four to six weeks, depending on vaccine used. An annual re-vaccination is given thereafter. If vaccinated properly and at the correct time of year, the vaccine will protect your horse for the season.

Rhinopneumonitis
This is a viral disease with three faces: respiratory disease, abortion, and a disease of the nervous system that can cause paralysis. It was once thought all of these problems were caused by the same rhino virus, but there are two rhino viruses involved in this disease: equine herpesvirus-1 and equine herpesvirus-4. EHV-1 protects horses against abortion and possibly the paralysis form. EHV-4 protects horses against the respiratory form, which accounts for more than 46 percent of respiratory disease in the horse, according to recent research

Influenza
An acute, highly contagious viral disease affecting the upper respiratory tract of the horse. The vaccine is a combination of the two most common strains of influenza as a killed virus. Initial vaccination is followed by a second dose in three to four weeks. For horses who are actively showing and/or in contact with many horses in a high traffic situation, this should be given every three to four months, according to the manufacturer. The vaccine provides protection for three to four months.

Potomac horse fever
This is a seasonal disease seen generally in the summer months. It had been reported in 33-plus states as of summer 1998. The disease is characterized by high fever, severe diarrhea, malaise, depression, anorexia and very often a severe founder that can effect all four feet. It has a high mortality rate. There is now an annual vaccine for the prevention of this disease. It is best to give one in early spring. Initial vaccination is followed by a booster in three to four weeks and annual re-vaccination thereafter.

Worming
Parasite control is of utmost importance in maintaining your horse's health and helping prevent intestinal damage. I recommend de-worming every eight weeks, with bot de-worming done in the late fall or early winter. The reason for worming every 8 weeks is that after 10-12 weeks your horse no longer has larvae in his gut; they will have become real worms. If you can't afford to tube-worm every eight weeks, alternate worming with tube and with a good paste wormer.

REQUIRED BEFORE HORSES ARE ALLOWED ON PROPERTY:

Strangles
This contagious bacterial disease of the horse affects the upper respiratory tract with abscessation of the lymph nodes, especially in the upper neck and throat region. A killed bacterin is available. Initial vaccination is followed by a booster in three weeks and a third booster in six weeks from the initial vaccine. Annual re-vaccination is given thereafter. Another vaccine for strangles recommends initial dose repeated in three to four weeks and annually. This is not to be given in the face of an outbreak or at a facility where there was a confirmed case for one year after the case was diagnosed.

Coggins Test
To insure that an animal is not harboring the virus a simple test is performed, the Coggins test. The Coggins test checks for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) antibodies in the horse's blood.