Tips To Keep Your Horse Safe

The EHV-1 virus will not affect humans, but is highly contagious among horses. Here are some tips you should be aware of for keeping your large furry friends safe during this outbreak. Including some natural options for boosting your horse’s immune system. There is no vaccination against the EHV-1 neural virus.

The EHV-1 virus has so far only been confirmed in horses that attended the Ogden, Utah Cutting show. No other horses have been affected. If you are concerned that your horse may have been exposed to a horse returning from the Ogden, Utah show. You should isolate the horse 50+ feet from other horses and initiate bio-security measures to ensure the safety of your other horses. Take the horses temperature twice a day for the next 2 weeks. If the temperature rises above 101°F, contact your veterinarian immediately. Normal temperature for your horse is 99°F – 101°F.

Avoid Unnecessary Travel

Officials have recommend avoiding trailering your horses until the extent of the outbreak has been determined. This will help keep the virus from spreading if there are any additional horses found to be carrying the virus.

Update: (May 26th, 2011)
The WSDA has released a document with recommendations for equine shows and events regarding the EHV-1 Biosecurity procedures. As of May 27th, it is no longer necessary to cancel or reschedule equine shows or events. However, the following event recommendations and bio security guidelines should be in place shows and events for the next several weeks:
http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/AnimalHealth/docs/EventRecommendations.pdf (external: PDF)

Boost Immune Systems of your Horses

You can boost the immune systems of your horses using the following methods:

EHV-1 is resistant to vaccines, there is no and a vaccination may temporarily weaken your horse’s immune system immediately following the vaccination. Re-vaccinating a well protected horse in the face of a potential new exposure to EHV is not necessary. Vaccinating any closer than 2 weeks prior to exposure won’t be helpful and may be harmful as there won’t be enough time for the horse to develop a protective immunity.

Instead, the following is a safe and natural way to boost your horse’s immune system and can be administered daily. This is especially encouraged prior to attending equine events where there will be many other horses.

• Use a high-quality Probiotic such as Equerry’s Probiotic Plus or Equerry’s Probiotic Choice. These supplements contain enzymes, vitamins and minerals, including Selenium – great for the Spokane region which is highly deficient in Selenium.
• Give your horse Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) – This can be placed in their water and/or their grain. We give our horses ample amounts of ACV especially when traveling to protect them from viruses.
• Any or all of the following herbs
  • Allium sativum: Garlic
  • Echinacea purpurea: Purple Coneflower
  • Uncaria tomentosa: Cat’s Claw
  • Eleuterococcus senticosus: Siberian Ginseng
  • Juglans regia: Walnut
  • Carduus marianus V: Milk Thistle
  • Viola tricolour: Heartsease

How to take your horse’s temperature: http://www.ehow.com/how_4634106_horses-temperature.html