EEE continues...

The recent EEE outbreak in SW Michigan (see previous post) continues to grow significantly. There are now over 18 confirmed cases with an additional 56 suspected cases. The virus appears to be spreading eastward, with several new cases being reported in the counties downwind of Barry County (the epicenter of the outbreak).

Given there is still plenty of mosquito season ahead of us yet, it is very likely this most recent outbreak will only continue to spread. The importance of vaccination cannot be overemphasized. Generally the vaccine is considered protective for at least 6-8 months. So if your horse was vaccinated very early in the year (early March or before), it may make sense to consider getting a booster vaccine now.

COW: Navicular Bursa Injection

Here is an interesting radiograph from the other day. This x-ray shows the proper placement of a spinal needle into the navicular bursa. Because the target area is so deep within the foot, it is best (though not always necessary) to confirm proper placement with a radiograph. The navicular bursa is a little sack of fluid around the deep digital flexor tendon at the level of the navicular bone. It serves to lubricate the tendon as it glides over the navicular bone. This is the area of discomfort in horses with navicular disease. Other structures associated with this bursa, aside from the navicular bone, could also be a source of lameness.

Navicular bursa injections are not our first choice for treatment of navicular disease, but in cases that are refractive to other treatments, this can be a highly effective method of delivering anti-inflammatory medication directly to the source of discomfort.

The most significant potential complication with navicular bursa injections is the risk of infection. We go to great measures to do this under sterile conditions, however, anytime we stick a needle in to something the risk for infection is present. The problem with the navicular bursa is that, if it gets infected, it is much more difficult to treat then a regular joint, because of where it is anatomically within the hoof capsule. The other risks are damage to the deep flexor tendon. Because of those risks, it is not something we jump right to, but in certain situations, it can be the best option.

Fall Reminders

That’s right, I said FALL. I know Labor Day has not quite greeted us yet, but the days are getting noticeably shorter. It is not too early to think about the Fall visits. These are especially important reminders for equestrian teams and if you are getting out and about with your horses later this year.

The recent outbreak of EEE in Michigan (see post below) has been a poignant reminder of the importance of regular vaccinations. If your horse has not yet been vaccinated against West Nile and Sleeping Sickness, run to the phone now to schedule to get this taken care of. This is the time of year that the incidence of these diseases peaks out. With the many cases of EEE, now confirmed in West Michigan, the importance of vaccination cannot be overstated.

This is also a good time to get fall vaccines done. Influenza and Rhinopneumonitis vaccines are included with our Spring vaccines, but they do not afford protection much beyond 5-6 months. So if your horses were vaccinated in April or before, now is the time to schedule the fall visit. This is also the ideal time to make sure your horses are current on their Rabies immunizations as well.

This is also a good time of year for regular dental care. It is especially important for the older horses before we get into the thick of winter.

Do not forget about getting the fall fecal sample submitted. The ideal time to submit a fecal is around the middle of September. If you have not yet made the switch to the new program, now is the ideal time. The details of our parasite control recommendation can be found at www.wmvs.com/documents/equine-deworming.pdf Do not forget the Parasite Control Kits, available at the office. They are a great way to save significant expense on the dewormers and fecals, all while making the program easier to follow.

A Weekend in the Hamptons

One of the farms we have the pleasure of servicing is having an open house this Saturday. If you have not had the pleasure of touring their lovely facility in the past, this is the perfect opportunity. They will be showcasing some of the dressage talents of their people and horses. Included below is their press release. You can get more details at www.hamptongreenfarms.com


Hampton Green Farm of Fruitport, Michigan – one of the nation’s foremost breeders of Pure Spanish Horses and home to champion dressage stallions - will open its doors to the public for a unique fundraiser to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lakeshore. In conjunction with a rare “Top Ten” auction of some of the Farms’ finest young horses, Hampton Green Farm will host a public Open House on Saturday, August 21 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.

Guests are invited to tour the beautiful 185-acre grounds and paddocks, view the majestic horses in the fields, watch champion dressage demonstrations by Olympic level trainers, and enjoy a fabulous buffet dinner on the grounds by French chef Frederic Boyer. Guests will be asked to make a $10 donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lakeshore at the door, with proceeds to support mentoring programs for at-risk children in West Michigan.

Perhaps one of West Michigan’s best kept secrets, Hampton Green Farm is located at 5440 E. Farr Road, Fruitport. The farm is dedicated exclusively to breeding and training Pure Spanish Horses – for centuries considered the horses of kings and renowned for their strength, beauty and gentle grace. All the Farm’s stallions compete in the top dressage circles of Spain and the United States, trained by some of the country’s top Olympic dressage competitors. For more information on the Farm and photos of the horses and grounds, visit www.hamptongreenfarm.com.

The Open House and buffet are open to the public, with no reservations necessary. The buffet will be available throughout the afternoon, with guests invited to stroll the grounds, enjoy the ambience and take in the sights at their leisure. “This is an amazing opportunity to see some of the top show horses in the world right here in our backyard,” says Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lakeshore CEO Brian Obits. “This is one of the true hidden treasures of West Michigan. We’re grateful to Hampton Green Farm for allowing us to be part of this wonderful event!”

EEE. It's Here!

Last week I talked with a veterinarian friend in southwest Michigan who mentioned that he had recently seen a case of suspected EEE. As of 2 days ago, there were 3 confirmed cases of EEE in horses in SW Michigan, as well as several other highly suspicious cases, that are awaiting the completion of further testing to confirm the diagnosis. Infected horses have been identified in Cass, Barry & Calhoun counties.

Veterinary medicine is notorious for using letter abbreviations for disease names. This alphabet soup may seem a little silly, but with diseases like Eastern Equine Encephalitis you can see why we all call it EEE. The more common name for this disease is Sleeping Sickness. That name is a bit of a misnomer since it implies a peaceful, resting state. It is anything but. This is a very nasty disease, characterized by neurologic deficits with symptoms including fever, depression and weakness that rapidly progress to lack of coordination, head pressing, a “sawhorse” stance, circling, paddling and/or convulsions. Affected horses can be very irritable with aggressive behavior, they may be excitable, blind, and/or have abnormal sensitivity light and sound. 75 to 90% of affected horses will die from the disease.

It can be difficult to sort out EEE from some other neurologic diseases. Rabies is the most significant other possibility for horses exhibiting these symptoms. Other possibilities include West Nile Virus, Western EE and Venezuelan EE (VEE is not know to exist in the northern regions of the U.S.) Because of the potential human health concerns with these viruses, definitive conformation of the disease is critically important. While there are blood tests for some of these diseases, a brain specimen (post mortem) is required to definitively confirm the diagnosis.

The fortunate thing about EEE, WEE, WNV & Rabies is that we have very effective and safe vaccines readily available to prevent infection. The caveat to vaccination is that they must be properly administered using a properly handled and stored product well in advance of exposure to the bug. Immunization against these diseases is a staple of our current vaccine programs. These are vaccines all horses should always get, every year, regardless of where they go or what they do. Vaccination is by far and away the most effective single measure to undertake to prevent infection.


EEE, WEE, and WNV all are viral diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. Because of that, we usually do not start to see cases until late summer (August or September) because it takes a while to get enough virus circulating through mosquitoes to result in an infection. EEE is carried by birds, that usually are not affected by the virus. Mosquitoes bite the bird and then transmit it to horses or humans. Because mosquitoes are the major vector in the spread of the disease, measures to control the mosquito population are crucial to successful control strategies. But given that several cases have been reported while it is still relatively early in the summer, means that we are sure to see more cases as the summer progresses.

The other reason these disease are of such great concern is that humans can also be affected. With EEE, affected horses are not a source of infection to people or other animals, but Rabies certainly can be. That said, if a horse is affected with EEE it is a pretty good indicator that the virus is present in the mosquito population in that area. So other horses in the same proximity are certainly at risk as well.

One of the scariest things about these cases, is that it is still relatively early in the summer to start to see this mosquito vector borne disease. The importance of proper vaccination cannot be overemphasized. It is not too late to get your horse(s) vaccinated if it has not already been done. Annual vaccination is considered protective. The other disease prevention strategies really center around limiting exposure to mosquitoes. This has been a very wet summer, especially in SW Michigan, where these cases are emerging. It would be prudent to eliminate sources for standing water around your barn or property. Bringing horse into the barn, especially around dusk can be helpful as well. Fly and mosquito sprays can be beneficial, but none of them seem to last very long. Stay tuned for further updates.

All In the Name of Progress

Last week I had the opportunity to spend a day at Horse Progress Days in Topeka, IN. Okay, so it may not quite be on the same plain as the upcoming Word Equestrian Games, but it is a pretty fun event. It is traditionally the Friday and Saturday before the 4th of July. The event draws in excess of 10,000 people each day. The idea behind Horse Progress Days is to showcase innovations revolving around the use of horses in agriculture. Because of that, the annual event has a strong Amish influence.

There are not a lot of places you can go anymore to see a hitch of 18 horses pulling a 4 bottom plow, or a hitch of four abreast baling hay, or a team dragging a 30 foot log. Horse Progress Days is the place that affords those opportunities. There are also many seminars throughout the day on draft horse related topics. Attendees also are give the opportunity to drive a team of horses, regardless of past experience. Of course there is also a large trade show of numerous vendors showcasing anything and everything related to draft horse and farming with horses. The highlight of the event is the breed presentation at the end of the day. This showcase gives all those is attendance a brief history and demonstration of almost all breeds used for draft, including some light horses, like Morgans, Arabians, Saddlebreds, Dutch Harness horses, and pretty much all of the draft breeds- even the fairly uncommon ones.

The ‘homemade’ ice cream is always a crowd favorite. The reason I put ‘homemade’ in quotes is that, as you can see in the picture below, the people in the tent are tending to the ice cream machine being powered by horse on a treadmill, and the dozen or so empty boxes of GFS soft serve ice cream mix!

This really is a fun, family friendly event that gives the opportunity to see how farming with horses really works. Next year’s event is in Lancaster, PA. For more info check out horseprogressdays.com

COW (Case of the Week): Glaucoma

Here is a picture of a horse I saw a week or so ago. This is probably one of the most extreme examples of an eye with chronic glaucoma that I have seen in quite a while. Glaucoma is when the pressures inside the eye become much higher than they should be. As you can see in the picture, the left eye is considerably larger than the right. The left eye has become so large as a result of chronically high pressures within the globe. When an eye experiences this much damage they are difficult to salvage.

This horse reportedly has had a long standing history of ‘eye problems.’ Most cases of glaucoma in horses are the result of uveitis, as was the case with this horse. There are many different things that can cause uveitis in horses, but the most common form is recurrent uveitis or ‘moon blindness.’ Glaucoma is a condition that usually develops as a consequence of uveitis. It is critically important to evaluate these ‘eye problems’ early on in the course of the disease. When an eye reaches this stage, it is impossible to undo all of the damage that has been done.

Eye problems in horses should not be taken lightly. It is critically important to treat these cases early and aggressively. Diseases of the eye are also extremely difficult to sort out over the phone. We commonly get phone calls from clients asking what they should treat a watery or swollen eye with. It is not possible for us to make treatment recommendations without examining the eye, because one medication that might be the right treatment for one condition could be the absolutely wrong treatment for the other. A good treatment plan always starts with a diagnosis.