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Horses May Need Up To Three Weeks Of Recovery After A Virus

It's not just humans that should take it easy if they're ill: experts say horses that have had the flu or other respiratory issues should rest for at least three weeks to allow their bodies to heal. Though lower-level exercise isn't necessarily harmful, high-intensity exercise can suppress immune system response and increase the horse's susceptibility to disease.

Intensely exercising a recovering horse can also cause him to lose weight and tire more quickly, as well as have a harder time recovering. Exercising does not affect virus duration or the duration of virus shedding.

It takes a minimum of three weeks for the respiratory epithelium and the mucociliary apparatus to heal, so allowing horses to rest or complete only low-level exercise is imperative. If exercise is begun and the horse seems distressed, it should be stopped immediately. Open communication with the treating veterinarian is key to creating a return-to-work plan tailored to the horse and his specific health issue.

Eye Of The Tiger: Genetic Reason Behind ‘Tiger Eye’ Discovered

Equine eyes have evolved and adapted in very specific ways to allow the flight animals the best possible advantage. There are some changes to the eyes that aren't easily explained, like the creation of “tiger eyes” in Puerto Rican Paso Fino horses. “Tiger eye” refers to horse eyes that have yellow, amber or bright orange coloring.

Researchers at the University of California-Davis have discovered two genetic mutations responsible for the unusual eye color that is desired by Paso Fino breeders. The tiger eye trait is autosomal recessive, meaning one copy of the mutated gene must be inherited from each parent.

Most tiger-eyed horses have inherited two copies of the Tiger-eye 1 allele, but some have one copy of each mutation (Tiger-eye 1 and Tiger-eye 2). The researchers tested 196 related breeds and have not found the mutation in any other breed but the Puerto Rican Paso Fino.

UC-Davis now offers a genetic test for tiger eye. This test allows breeders desiring a tiger-eyed horse to strategically plan pairings.

AAEP Publishes Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis Guidelines

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has published on its website comprehensive guidelines to assist practitioners with identification, diagnosis and control of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM), a progressively debilitating disease of the central nervous system that affects horses that reside or once spent time in North or South America.

“EPM is widely considered the most important infectious neurologic disease of horses in North America,” said guidelines author Amy Johnson, DVM, DACVIM. “The variable clinical signs and widespread seroprevalence pose challenges to diagnosis. These guidelines aim to summarize essential information regarding this disease process, as well as highlight the three criteria for highest diagnostic accuracy in potentially affected horses.”

The EPM Guidelines, available as a PDF file, were reviewed and approved by the AAEP's Infectious Disease Committee and board of directors. View the EPM Guidelines here.

Besides EPM, AAEP guidelines for 20 other equine infectious diseases are available here. In addition, two foreign animal disease guidelines—for African horse sickness and Glanders—can be found here.

The post AAEP Publishes Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis Guidelines appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Critter Fixers’ Stars Dedicated To Mentoring Black Veterinarians

Looking for a new show to watch while the cold weather drags on? Give Nat Geo WILD's Critter Fixers: Country Vets a try. Featuring rural veterinarians Drs. Terrence Ferguson and Vernard Hodges, the reality show follows the two Black practice owners as they treat everything from cats and dogs to camels, lizards, pigs, ducks, rabbits and more.

The two owners are drawing attention for more than their easy-going, kind attitudes: People magazine reports they're serving as role models for Black students who dream of a career in veterinary medicine. Black vets make up just 2 percent of practicing vets in the United States, but Drs. Hodges and Ferguson are working diligently to change that statistic.

The team has grown their influence as mentors by taking time to talk on the phone with students beyond their local area. The Critter Fixers also speak in schools and on Zoom calls for career and professional days.

The second season of Critter Fixers: Country Vets premieres Saturday, May 22, at 9 p.m. EST on Nat Geo Wild. Previous episodes are streaming on Disney+.