| Unless you have been living under a rock, you | | | | your stable.. For some reasons, crows are |
| have probably heard about West Nile Virus and | | | | especially susceptible to West Nile Virus and |
| know it is a threat to your horse. How, then, do | | | | mosquitoes that bite them can spread it to your |
| you protect your horse from this and other | | | | horse. Do not allow rodents such as squirrels or |
| mosquito borne illnesses? By reducing mosquitoes | | | | chipmunks to feed on the grain that the horse |
| around your stable, helping your horse avoid the | | | | wastes. Try to keep wild animals and birds at a |
| ones that remain, and vaccinating your horse | | | | distance from your horse's living quarters. |
| against the illnesses common in your area. | | | | Avoidance consists of keeping the horse in the |
| According to the United States Department of | | | | stable at night, dawn, and dusk, when the |
| Agriculture, there are four types of encephalitis | | | | mosquitoes are most active. All windows and |
| that strike horses in the United States and | | | | doors that are open should have screens to keep |
| Canada. These are: 1)Eastern Equine Encephalitis, | | | | the mosquitoes out of the stable. Outdoor lighting |
| 2)Western Equine Encephalitis, 3)Venezuelan | | | | should be far enough from the stable that it does |
| Equine Encephalitis, and 4)West Nile Virus. All four | | | | not attract mosquitoes. Finally, the use of |
| strains have similar symptoms. Most horses that | | | | repellants designed for horses is important. Do not |
| contract them have a mild flu-like illness. Some | | | | use repellants designed for humans, as these may |
| horses have fever, headache, and a sore throat. | | | | make your horse ill. |
| The most severely affected horses have a | | | | There are vaccinations for all of the equine |
| sudden fever and headache followed by | | | | encephalitis strains found in the United States and |
| convulsions, coma, and even death. According to | | | | Canada. For West Nile Virus, two doses are given |
| the Texas Animal Health Commission, even | | | | thirty days apart. The vaccination program should |
| horses that survive the severe version of these | | | | start approximately 3-6 weeks before the start |
| illnesses are usually brain damaged and unfit to | | | | of the mosquito season in your location. There |
| ride. | | | | are two vaccinations available. West Nile |
| Because all of these diseases are viruses, there is | | | | Innovator, made by Fort Dodge, has been shown |
| no treatment for them. Supportive care, such as | | | | in the lab to be 95% effective. It consists of killed |
| fluids, rest, support when the horse cannot stand, | | | | components of the virus that trick the horse's |
| and love are the only options currently available. | | | | immune system into producing antibodies against |
| This makes prevention of prime importance. | | | | the virus. Recombitek Equine West Nile Virus |
| Prevention can be broken down into three areas: | | | | Vaccine is a modified live virus vaccine. It uses |
| reducing the source, avoiding the source, and | | | | the canary pox virus to carry proteins from the |
| vaccination. Since these diseases are spread by | | | | West Nile Virus and that causes the horse's |
| mosquitoes, it is important to make sure there is | | | | immune system to make antibodies. Each year, |
| no where for the mosquito to breed around your | | | | the horse should be given a booster of the same |
| horse. Without water, there can be no | | | | kind of vaccine the horse originally received to |
| mosquitoes. Empty all containers holding water | | | | make sure it stays healthy. |
| except for the water your horse drinks. Wash | | | | Vaccinations for Eastern, Western, and |
| out water troughs or buckets on a weekly basis. | | | | Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis are given in a |
| Mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, can be added to | | | | similar fashion to the West Nile Virus vaccine. |
| your horse's trough to eat the mosquito larvae if | | | | Your veterinarian will tell you which types of |
| they are legal in your location. Mosquito dunks, | | | | encephalitis are prevalent in your area and will |
| which contain Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, can | | | | administer the vaccinations for that type. Two |
| be put in water troughs or buckets to kill the | | | | vaccinations are required for each virus the first |
| mosquito larvae without hurting your horse. | | | | year, but there are products that contain |
| All of the common mosquito borne illnesses, but | | | | vaccinations for all three of these encephalitis |
| especially West Nile Virus, normally live in birds. | | | | viruses. Consult your veterinarian to make sure |
| Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis lives in chipmunks | | | | your horse is properly vaccinated. |
| or squirrels, but it is rarely found in the United | | | | Follow the principles of reducing mosquitoes, |
| States so far. Mosquitoes only bite horses when | | | | avoiding mosquitoes, and vaccinating your horse |
| their primary host is not available when they need | | | | to prevent mosquito borne illnesses. Such illnesses |
| a meal. For that reason, discourage birds, | | | | can prove deadly, making prevention essential. |
| especially crows and grackles, from nesting near | | | | |