EQUINE VACCINATIONS – TOP PRIORITY

We are being inundated with questions about the Equine Herpes Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.  To help alleviate the concern we have re-issued our Vaccination Recommendations.  They can be found on our website by following this link: PSEH Vaccination Recommendations. 

These vaccination guidelines are organized  into the core vaccines recommended for ALL horses in Florida (Tetanus, EEE, WEE, WNV, and Rabies) and risk based vaccinations (Flu, EHV, Strangles, Rotavirus, Botulism, and Potomac Horse Fever).

Risk based vaccinations are appropriate for many horses after weighing the risks and benefits of administration.  Horses that will be traveling to sales or shows have increased risk of acquiring various infectious diseases.  Horses that travel to specific areas of the country where certain diseases are prevalent may require additional vaccines.

These recommendations do not name specific vaccines or makers.  Vaccine makers and pharmaceutical companies are constantly changing, and vaccines are sometimes unavailable due to back orders; or ceased vaccine production.  Please consult your veterinarian for currently recommended vaccines.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has very comprehensive vaccination guidelines and information about vaccine technology and principles available on their website.  (AAEP Vaccination Guidelines)

Eastern Equine Encephalitis – have you vaccinated?

Summer is here and horses and people will have an increased risk of exposure to Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEE)

EEE is a mosquito borne virus that is endemic in the eastern United States. The virus is carried by birds primarily and spread to horses and humans through mosquito bites. The incidence of mosquitoes and therefore infection rate is increased most years during the late summer months and into the fall in central Florida.

Horses that are infected with EEE show signs of unsteadiness, fever, depression or erratic behavior, and a marked loss of coordination and/or weakness. Treatment is limited to supportive care and many horses will die or are euthanized 48-72 hours after the initial signs. The mortality rate in horses has been reported to be at least 90%.

The immunity obtained through vaccination begins to decrease after 4-6 months, and many horses will have inadequate protection after 6 months. Horses that have not been vaccinated in the last 4 months should receive a booster at this time. Research by vaccine producers and universities in endemic areas suggest vaccination for EEE every 4-6 months to ensure adequate protection for this deadly disease. Timing vaccination in adult horses in the spring and fall may offer the best protection.

Horses less than 2 years of age seem to be at an increased risk of vaccine failure. This may be due to prolonged maternal antibody interference in some horses. In other words, the antibodies a foal received from its dam may not allow the foal to respond adequately to the initial vaccination(s). Therefore, a longer “series” of booster shots is recommended for weanlings. Begin vaccinating the foal at 4 months, booster at 5, 6 and 9 months and then every 4 months until 2 years of age. Once well vaccinated, adult horses can be protected with vaccinations every 4-6 months.

Another group of horses at increased risk are adult horses recently imported to the southeast from the west or Europe (places where the disease is not endemic). These horses need to be vaccinated immediately and boostered within 3-5 weeks. Continuing boosters every 4 months for the first year is also recommended for these horses.

Discuss your vaccination protocol with your veterinarian to insure the health and safety of your horses.

Raymond D. Rood, DVM

New Equine Ophthalmology Consultant

Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital is pleased to announce that Dr. Noelle McNabb (DVM, Diplomate ACVO) will be joining Dr. Dennis Brooks (DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVO) as an ophthalmic consultant.

Dr. Noelle McNabb, Adjunct Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Florida, graduated from Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993.  She completed her residency in Comparative Ophthalmology at the University of Florida from 1994-1997, and was awarded Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 1997.  Dr. McNabb established and provided ophthalmology services at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston from 1997-2001, and Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital from 2001-2005.  Concurrently, she was primary consulting ophthalmologist at Rochester Equine Center in Rochester, New Hampshire from 1997-2005.  She returned to Florida practice in 2006 in the greater Tampa Bay area.  In 2011, Dr. McNabb established a practice in Sarasota, and was appointed Adjunct Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Florida.  Special interests include infectious keratitis, recurrent uveitis, ocular neoplasia, corneal grafting and transplantation.

UNDER TACK DYNAMIC RESPIRATORY SCOPE

Peterson & Smith now has a new dynamic respiratory endoscope to use for obtaining under tack images of a horse’s pharynx and larynx.   Unlike scoping on a treadmill this endoscope is worn on the saddle pad of the horse while it is training on the track under natural conditions.  The images are transferred to a computer for complete analysis when the exam is over, but some of the video can be viewed on a wireless monitor while the horse is training as long as the horse is not too far away.

This scope will specifically be useful for horses that either make an abnormal noise or have exercise intolerance – and routine endoscopy at rest or following training either yields no answer or an incomplete answer.  While it will most commonly be done on race horses it will have application to all types of performance horses.  One of the most common issues this technology will confirm is dorsal displacement of the soft palate.  In addition, it can be used for problems that cannot be diagnosed without endoscopy during exercise:  mild paralysis of an arytenoid (flap),  collapse of the arytenoepiglottic (AE) folds, collapse of the pharynx, and retroversion of the epiglottis.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Peterson & Smith are excited to announce that we are able to provide Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).  MRI has become the gold standard in human medicine for the definitive diagnosis of many conditions, and is rapidly becoming just as important in veterinary medicine.  Here at Peterson & Smith, it is important to us to bring the highest quality service to our clients in everything that we offer, and we are confident that this MRI meets our standard for care.

The value of the information gained from an MRI is a result of the quality of the magnet used and of the expertise of the person reading the images.  The quality of an MRI image is directly related to the strength of the magnet that produces the image.  We will be utilizing the services of MREquine™, who have a magnet that is the strongest magnet available for use in horses.  The images will be read by Dr. Robert Schneider, who is a board certified surgeon and is the pioneer in the field of equine MRI.  He has interpreted as many MRI studies in horses as anyone in the world, and has trained many of the veterinarians evaluating MRI images in this country today. The reports will be available 24 hours after the imaging is performed.

In horses, MRI has been extremely useful in diagnosing lameness issues in particular areas on the horse.  In many cases, it is superior to radiographs and ultrasound because it offers more of a 3D view of both bone and soft tissue structures and shows early minor changes that are too subtle to be detected by other modalities. Its capabilities are limited to the feet and lower limbs, however, this includes the majority of areas affected by lameness.   With an MRI, we can more accurately make the diagnosis, formulate a treatment plan and, just as importantly, offer a more accurate prognosis. Overall, it provides an excellent tool for us to be able to prolong the athletic life of our equine athletes.