A36 Equine Health Management Parasite Control & Vaccinations.

A36 Equine Health Management

Parasite Control & Vaccinations

Infovets Educational Resources – www.infovets.com – Slide 2

Parasites

External Parasites Lice Mites Ticks Fly's Mosquitoes

Internal Parasites Strongyles Tape Worm Bots


Signs of Parasite Infections

Most parasite infections cause weight loss. Some parasites can cause diarrhea, decreased appetite, and colic. If the parasites are migrating through the lungs, there may be coughing and nasal discharge. If the infection is extremely severe, death may occur.


Parasite Transmission

Each one of the internal parasites is spread by orally ingesting the parasite in its infective stage.

This most commonly occurs during grazing. The external parasites are spread by direct contact or having

infested animals in close association with other animals.


Diagnosis

Internal Parasites - Most of these infestations can be detected using a fecal egg count.

This is done by collecting a fecal sample and sending it in to the local veterinarian for a fecal flotation.

External Parasites - Actual parasites or any signs associated with general infestations can be observed during a routine examination of the animal.


Treatment / Deworming Schedule

Adults in a corral or stall should be wormed 3 to 4 times between the spring and the fall.

Adults in a pasture should be wormed 2 to 3 times between the spring and the fall.

It is important to use a product that contains a boticide (Ivermectin or Moxidectin) in the early spring and again after the first frost in the fall. This will ensure that the stomach bot is killed while it is in the stomach, before it begins its larval migration.

It is important to use Moxidectin (Quest) at least once in any given program to kill the encysted stages of some strongyles.


Prevention

It is essential to rotate the use of each product to help minimize resistance build-up. When a particular product is used over and over again, parasites can become resistant to that de-wormer.

Keep stalls and paddocks manure free. Do not spread manure on pastures that horses are currently

using. Keep feeders and water buckets manure free. Rotate pastures frequently and do not over graze.


Oral Paste Administration

First, rinse the horse’s mouth out with a large syringe and water. This will help remove debris that may cause the paste to fall out of the mouth.



Each paste has markings to help with proper dosage. The wheel is used to control the amount of paste administered.



The tube can then be inserted into the cheek area of the mouth and the desired amount of paste administered on the tongue. Because they may burn the mouth, it is important that some pastes do not remain in the cheek pouch.



It is often helpful to turn the tube horizontally in the horse’s mouth, on top of the tongue. This causes the horse to lick and swallow, keeping the paste in the mouth.


Fly and Mosquito Protection

Repelling bugs from horses is big business. Not only are flying bugs irritating to animal and rider, they often carry disease from one victim to another.

West Nile virus is the latest disease for which an alert has been raised to control the spread of flying insects.



Most repellents in use today are based on either the natural or synthetic forms of pyrethrin.

Natural pyrethrin is extracted from dried petals of flowers in the Chrysanthemum genus. The most commonly used flower in that family is the African painted daisy which is grown as a crop in several equatorial regions, such as Kenya and India.

It not only instantly kills any flying insect it comes in direct contact with, but is an effective repellant because most insects find it extremely irritating.



In a few cases, horses can have an allergic reaction to insect repellants.

It is wise to test a new formula for allergic reaction in a horse by applying it to a small area of the horse before spraying it all over.

As a general rule, to protect the horse's eyes and mouth, spray fly repellent on a soft cloth and wipe it on the head region.

Furthermore, apply the repellant in an area where it will not over spray onto the horse's food supply. Keep in mind that pyrethrins are toxic to fish. Keep repellents away from water sources.


Steps to Controlling Insects

Draining swampy areas or standing water near animals is a wise action to protect horses from flying insect invasions. Also, keeping stalls and corrals clean from waste helps to cut down the number of insects that breed near horses.

Following is a checklist of things that can be done to prevent breeding areas for mosquitoes and other flying insects:

Spray horses with an effective mosquito repellent. Eliminate puddles and stagnant pools of water. Make sure any

ditches are draining properly. Turn compost piles on a regular basis.


Steps to Controlling Insects

Empty water in buckets, tarps, tires or other containers. Clean water troughs once a week. Clear storm drains and gutters from fallen leaves. Screen stable windows. Put horses inside the barn from dusk til dawn. Turn off barn/arena lights. Spray a repellent barrier treatment around the barn. Talk to a veterinarian about vaccines for mosquito-borne viruses.


Vaccinations

Preventing disease is considerably less expensive than using a veterinarian to treat individual animals with emergency problems.

It is important that horse owners establish a consistent health program to reduce the amount of infectious disease problems present on their premises.

All animals are susceptible to many infectious diseases. Infectious diseases can enter a facility through purchased additions or carried onto a farm by other animal species and humans.

It is advisable to develop a complete program of management, sanitation, feeding, and health care to ensure a healthy and successful operation.


Vaccination Schedule

Each spring the horse should receive a 4-way vaccine that would include:

East & West Equine Encephalomyelitis Tetanus West Nile

A Rino & Influenza Vaccine (Can get them together as one injection)

If you Rodeo or regularly travel across the state, to horse shows you should give your horse an intranasal vaccine for strangles.


General guidelines for properuse and handling of vaccines:

Refrigerate vaccines prior to use and use entire contents after opening.

Buy all vaccines from a reputable source. Follow all label directions exactly. Give only the recommended dose by the recommended route. Use sterile syringes that have not been used for other purposes. Throw away all outdated and opened bottles. Do not use unnecessary vaccines. Do not mix two vaccines unless required by the manufacturer. Do not vaccinate sick animals.


Types of Vaccines

Modified Live Killed virus Vaccines


Modified Live Vaccines

Advantages One dose required Faster immune response Stronger and more durable response Fewer post vaccination reactions

Disadvantages Not recommended for pregnant animals or animals in contact

with pregnant animals Possible viral shedding to other animals Improper handling may inactivate the vaccine


Killed Virus Vaccines

Advantages Recommended for pregnant animals Stable in storage

Disadvantages Multiple doses required Weaker immune response Shorter duration immune response Reactions more common


Administering Injections

The two most common routes to administer injections are intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SQ or SC).

A few vaccines are given intranasal (IN). Giving vaccines by the improper route can result in failure to immunize and may result in local reactions.


Intramuscular (IM)

Drugs given IM are picked up by the blood supply and spread very rapidly to all tissues of the body.

A needle that is 1 ½ inches in length and 19 or 20 gauge in diameter is recommended for giving IM injections.

The best location to give injections is in the heavy muscles of the neck.

It is best to give no more than 10-20 mL at any one site. To avoid accidental intravenous (IV) administration, pull the

plunger back to make sure no blood appears in the syringe. If blood appears, pull the needle completely out and reinsert the needle in a new site.


Intramuscular (IM)

The area outlined by the white triangle indicates the proper location for intramuscular (IM) injections in the neck.


Administering an IM Injection

Apply generous amounts of alcohol to the area intended for the injection.



With needle in hand, rub up and down on the injection site area (min. of 10-20 strokes). This will distract the horse and desensitize the area.



While rubbing, and in one continuous movement, insert the needle, continuing to rub the area after the needle is inserted. Practice is essential to make this go smoothly. The arrow indicates the location of the needle.



The circle surrounds a needle properly placed in the neck region. Once the needle is placed, a syringe can be attached.



The plunger on the syringe should be drawn back, creating negative pressure. If blood appears in the hub of the needle, it is in a vessel. The needle should be taken out and the entire process started over again.



After special attention has been given to ensure the injection will not be given in a vessel, the injection can be given and the needle removed.


Intramuscular (IM)

The area marked by the white line indicates the location of the sciatic nerve. This area should be avoided when giving injections.


Intramuscular (IM)

The large muscles surrounding the "X" are good areas for IM injections.


Administering an Injection

For safety reasons, it is best to stand on the opposite side of where the injection will be given. It is also best to stand as close to the horse as possible, trying to have at least 3 points of contact between the horse and handler (knee, hip, and hand). With 3 points of contact, any sudden movement from the horse will push the person giving the injection out of the way.


Administering an Injection

Apply alcohol to the area intended for the injection. Once the needle is inserted in the proper location, the syringe can be attached. The plunger on the syringe should be drawn back, creating negative pressure. If blood appears in the syringe or hub of the needle, the needle should be removed and the process started over again. If the needle is not in a vessel, the injection can be administered.


Subcutaneous (SQ or SC)

A 1-inch needle of 22-25 gauge diameter is the best size needle to use.

The loose skin on the top of the neck is a good location for SQ injections.

Substances injected SQ are not picked up by the blood supply as quickly as with IM injections.


Intravenous Injections (IV)

The jugular vein in the neck region of a horse is the best place to administer IV injections or collect a blood sample. First, clean the jugular furrow of the neck with a piece of cotton or gauze pad soaked in alcohol (black arrow). This will sanitize the area and make the vein easier to see.



One hand is placed on the lower portion of the vein, blocking blood flow and allowing the vein to fill with blood. Once the vein is distended, the needle (black arrow) should be placed in a downward direction. Once the needle is in place, blood will often drip or come out of the needle. When blood is coming out of the needle, the lower hand should be removed.



With the lower hand removed, no blood should come out of the needle. The black arrow shows a properly placed needle where blood is not coming out the top. If blood continues to come out of the top of the needle, it could be in the carotid artery, which is located just behind the jugular vein. Every effort should be made to avoid the carotid artery and no injection should ever be given in the carotid artery. If there is any question on the location of the needle, it should be removed.



The black arrow shows a properly placed needle where pressure must be placed with a hand to properly distend the jugular vein and force blood out of the needle hub. It is now time to attach a syringe to the hub of the needle.



Once the syringe is connected to the needle, it is best to draw back on the syringe to make sure the needle is still in the vein. If it is still in the vein, the syringe should easily fill with blood (black arrow).

If everything seems correct, blood can be drawn or an injection can be given.


Intranasal (IN)

Intranasal vaccines are packaged with special applicators that fit on the end of a syringe.

Restrain the horse and squirt the contents quickly into the nasal passages.

The animal may sneeze or cough, but this does not reduce the effectiveness of the vaccination.

Never inject an intranasal product in the muscle or skin.

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