| It's flu season and you feel a little under the | | | | normal for these symptoms to persist between |
| weather. Did you know that your horse can get | | | | two and seven days. If they persist much longer |
| the flu too? That's right! Just as the flu spreads | | | | than this, a repeat call to your vet is definitely in |
| quickly through groups of people, equine influenza | | | | order. |
| spreads quickly through groups of horses as well! | | | | How does the flu spread? It is basically spread |
| But don't worry, while your horse may need to | | | | through the air, and passes from horse to horse |
| lay low for a few days, most horses recover | | | | when they inhale the infective material. A horse |
| without complications, and very few die. | | | | with the flu who coughs easily passes his infection |
| So how do you know if your horse is dealing with | | | | to surrounding horses, which is why the equine flu |
| a bout of the flu? A fever in the range of 101 to | | | | spreads so quickly in areas where there are lots |
| 106 degrees Fahrenheit is usually the first sign. | | | | of horses! |
| When your horse gets the characteristic cough, | | | | While there is no medicine that will "cure" the flu, |
| however, you can be pretty sure (but don't bet | | | | horses with the flu need to rested until the cough |
| the farm quite yet!) that he has the flu. The | | | | has fully subsided to allow the respiratory |
| cough usually comes on following the fever, and is | | | | epithelium to completely heal. Rest your horse in a |
| dry and hacking at first. Within a few days the | | | | well-ventilated, clean stall and be sure that |
| cough will become less frequent and moister, and | | | | exercise is strictly limited. |
| will last a few weeks. | | | | A horse will need at least three weeks, and |
| That being said, it's not a good idea to diagnose | | | | sometimes as long as several months, to get |
| your horse yourself. Why? Because the | | | | better. Keep in mind that older and younger |
| symptoms for flu can mirror other, more | | | | horses get hit by the flu harder than other |
| dangerous conditions, like viral rhinopneumonitis | | | | horses, and should be given special consideration. |
| and viral arteritis. Call your veterinarian, who will | | | | If you have a very young or very old horse, ask |
| run blood tests and take nasal discharge in order | | | | your vet about giving the horse antibiotics to |
| to conclusively diagnose equine influenza. | | | | prevent secondary bacterial infections. |
| How long will symptoms last? While the | | | | There are basically two types of viral flu, and |
| temperature should subside within three days or | | | | there are vaccines that can protect your horses |
| so, other symptoms your horse might exhibit if | | | | against both of them. Ask your veterinarian, |
| he has the flu include nasal discharge, weakness, | | | | especially if your horse is one of many horses |
| stiffness, loss of appetite, and lack of energy. Do | | | | kept together in close quarters, if an equine |
| these symptoms sound familiar? They are usually | | | | influenza shot should be used. |
| what humans get when they have the flu! It is | | | | |