vaccination | Horse Racing Free Tips

Annual UK Equine Research Showcase To Take Place Virtually

University of Kentucky Ag Equine Programs will host its 10th annual UK Equine Showcase virtually through four sessions over four dates in January and February 2021.The event will continue the “life journey” theme initiated last year and will emphasize weanling to yearling horses, presenting both completed and work-in-progress projects relevant to this age group.

“We are excited to once again put together an excellent set of lectures and continuing education featuring many of our colleagues,” said Emma Adam, assistant professor and research and industry liaison at the Gluck Equine Research Center. ““The way our industry is helped through the resources we have at the University of Kentucky is unparalleled.”

Due to the current pandemic, the event has moved to a virtual format. Organizers wanted to continue to provide information and continuing education opportunities in 2021 rather than postpone for a year. Recognizing that staying engaged for long periods of time via a virtual format is challenging, organizers chose to break up the annual event into several shorter sessions over the course of a few weeks.

Jan. 5, 6-7:30 p.m. EST, will focus on musculoskeletal issues and include the following topics and speakers:

Bisphosphonates, NSAIDs and other medicines in the juvenile horse with Scott Stanley, professor of analytical chemistry at the Gluck Equine Research Center.
Sesamoid bone maturation by the laboratory of James MacLeod, director of UK Ag Equine Programs and John S. and Elizabeth A. Knight chair and professor of veterinary science at the Gluck Center.
Bone pathology in Wobbler's Syndrome with Jennifer Janes, assistant professor of anatomic pathology at UK's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

Jan. 19, 6-7:30 p.m. EST, will focus on nutrition and pasture topics and include the following information and speakers:

Mineral requirements for a growing horse with Mieke Brummer-Holder, assistant professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences.
Amino acids and protein synthesis in the growing horse with Kristine Urschel, associate professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences.
UK Horse Pasture Evaluation Program information with Krista Lea, program coordinator, and Ray Smith, professor and extension forage specialist, both from the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.

Feb. 2, 6-7:30 p.m. EST, will focus on parasitology, vaccination immunology and causes of mortality and include the following information and speakers:

Vaccination, immunity and immune response in weanlings with David Horohov, chair of the Department of Veterinary Science, director of and Jes E. and Clementine M. Schlaikjer Endowed Chair at the Gluck Center.
Parasitology as it pertains to weanlings and yearlings with Martin Nielsen, Schlaikjer professor of Equine Infectious Disease at the Gluck Center.
Common(est) causes of mortality in this age group with Laura Kennedy, assistant professor and veterinary pathologist at the UK VDL.

Feb. 9, 6-7:30 p.m. EST will cover hot topics in a mini session format of 10 minutes each, with updates about equine research literature resources at UK, nocardioform placentitis summary from 2020, COVID-19 economic impact and the next equine survey, lab updates, Equine Biological Passport update, genetic diversity project, updates on equine surface research, important parasitology updates and more.

“This is a unique and special outreach event. The purpose is to showcase some of what is happening at the University of Kentucky in terms of scientific discovery and service efforts relevant to the young horse,” MacLeod said. “Participants will hopefully gain new information they can apply to their programs, but importantly also a greater appreciation for some of the critical questions being addressed at UK, why these issues are important and where the cutting edge of research is on a number of very interesting topics. This annual program, now reaching 10 years, highlights our commitment to advance research, service and teaching for the benefit of horses and the equine community.”

The UK Equine Showcase is open to veterinarians, owners and managers of all horse breeds or anyone with an interest in learning more about foals and horse management. Its virtual format means that this opportunity is open to attendees from across the U.S. and even world.

The cost to attend all sessions is $25 until the early-bird registration deadline of Jan. 5. This package will include a PDF of the presentations and access to a recording of the sessions after the event has concluded. Attendees can also opt to attend only one or two of the sessions they are interested in. Individual event registration will also be available for $10 each. There are special rates for farms interested in having multiple employees attend. Students from any university can participate for free. Please contact equine@uky.edu for help in registering for those discounted or free sessions. Continuing education credit for veterinarians and veterinary technicians is pending approval by the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners. Register here. Contact equine@uky.edu with questions about the event or with help registering.

UK is also accepting sponsor participation for the showcase. Presenting opportunities are available to participating organizations on a first-come, first-served basis. Email equine@uky.edu for details.

Should A Horse With An Unknown History Be Vaccinated?

If a horse is bought at a sale or an auction and his vaccination history is unknown, what is the best approach for administering routine shots? Should he be given boosters, assuming he has been vaccinated previously? Or should he be given shots as if he has no vaccination history at all? Do titers need to be pulled to see what, if any, diseases he is immune to? These are all important questions that can greatly affect a horse's health and safety.

It's best to treat a horse with no vaccination history as if he has never received any vaccines, administering both shots and their routine boosters, reports EQUUS magazine. Administering additional doses of most vaccines is not harmful, with one exception: The strangles vaccine.

In rare instances, horses that have had strangles before, or those that have been repeatedly vaccinated for strangles, may develop a potentially serious complication if administered the vaccine again: purpura hemorrhagica. This abnormal reaction is when the blood vessels of the head, legs and abdomen swell.

Owners of horses with unknown vaccination history would be wise to draw a titer to see if the horse has antibodies to the organism that causes strangles before administering the vaccine.

Botulism: A Deadly Disease

Botulism in not a disease many horse owners are familiar with—but they should be as the disease is often deadly. Caused by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium, the soil-borne disease is more common in certain areas of the country, like Kentucky. The spores of the bacterium produce a neurotoxin that block the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles. This results in progressive weakness that makes the horse unable to swallow. Up to 50 percent of horses that receive supportive care can die; those that get no assistance are even more likely to perish from the disease.

Horses can get botulism in three ways:

Ingestion of decaying plant material or animal carcasses in hay or on pasture grass
Infection through wounds
Ingestion of spores and vegetative cells that cause Shaker Foal syndrome

There are different types of botulism: Types and B are associated with forage, while Type C is associated with the accidental ingestion of decaying animals.

A vaccination for botulism type B is available, but it is not considered a core vaccination as it is found mainly in Kentucky and the mid-Atlantic states. A horse's risk of getting the disease should be discussed with its treating veterinarian to determine if vaccination is necessary.

Foals are at particular risk of developing botulism, so pregnant mares should be vaccinated against the disease before they foal. Foals born in areas of the country where botulism abounds should receive Botulism type B toxoid at 2, 4 and 8 weeks old even if the mare was vaccinated.

There are no licensed vaccines for botulism A or C.

Read the AAEP botulism vaccination recommendations here.