Horse owners should watch for symptoms of equine disease
Reported by Purdue University · July 4 at 7:00 PM · Summary by Hoofdeck
Purdue University is urging horse owners to watch for signs of Potomac Horse Fever, a bacterial disease that can be fatal. A horse at the university's Large Animal Hospital was diagnosed in mid-June, earlier than the July or August cases usually seen in Indiana, and the specialist linked the early timing to a mild winter and spring.
Background
Potomac Horse Fever is spread when horses eat or drink material contaminated by insects that carry the Neorickettsia risticii bacterium, such as caddisflies and mayflies, rather than from horse to horse. Untreated, it causes colitis and diarrhea and can lead to shock or death, so veterinarians generally treat it with antibiotics and intravenous fluids.
Why it matters
Early signs like a horse going off its feed or running a fever can look like many other problems, and quick diagnosis is what improves survival.
What you can do
Call your veterinarian promptly if a horse stops eating, runs a fever or develops diarrhea, and mention Potomac Horse Fever as a possibility. Keep hay and grain covered and water troughs clean of debris and dead insects.
Check what your pet can and cannot eat
Written by Hoofdeck from the report by Purdue University. Background is general information, not advice about your horse; if you are worried, call your vet.