|
 My
AA (17 year old mare) was infected first. She did have a snotty nose
and the most horrible cough. However, remained in good spirits
…..eating and drinking. The symptoms were obvious about 3 Sundays
ago (of course, the incubation period is 3-5 days). She looked like
she was getting over it well . . . the cough was still lingering
but other than that all was looking well. There were a few early
high temperatures, but her temperatures returned to the normal range
after a few days. However, at day 16 she went into decline with
sudden temperature spikes with an all-round feeling of being very
unwell, thick mucousy snot, and the return of the cough! At this
stage she was treated with more bute (10mls) to help manage the
temperatures and put on a course of Sulfa-T (antibiotics). As of
yesterday, she is looking a lot brighter and her temperatures have
returned to normal. This is week 4 for her.
My next to contract it is a 16 ASB TB ex broodmare. Again, deep
cough and lots of snot. She was treated on two occasions with bute
when she had elevated temperatures. She never went of her feed and,
other than the bothersome symptoms, stayed in good spirits. As of
last weekend (week 3 for her) it looked like she was EI free and
back to her normal self . . . nose had cleared and coughing had
stopped.
Next to get it was my injured weanling foal. This foal came from the
knackery (as did her mother, mentioned above), had never been
handled before until the emergency vet came out on a Sunday (a few
months back) to treat a smashed leg. Needless to say, we didn't
think she'd have the strongest constitution of all the horses on the
property. However, other than a mildly snotty nose (more clear than
mucousy in her case) and a couple of coughs, she seemed fine. She
had elevated temperatures for about 2 days and was treated with 5mls
of bute on both occasions. To be frank, I think she was over it on
week 2 ... or it seemed that way. Temperatures are still being
checked regularly and she hasn't spiked again.
The next to show obvious symptoms were my two pregnant TB mares --
an 18 year-old with a decidedly chequered past (at time of
contracting it she was 4 weeks due), and a healthy 9 year-old (due
in mid November). On vet's recommendation, both pregnant mares were
put on a 5-day course of Sulfa-T as soon as it had become obvious
that they had EI (but not before). Both had snotty noses with a
cough, and other than spiking on one occasion each (treated with
10mls of bute at the time), seemed to be coping fine. However, the
older brood mare at around day 4 stopped eating and her fluid intake
was very minimal. Although her temperatures were continually in the
'normal' range she was feeling very, very ill. I had spoken to a
number of vets about her. I was given some VAM and a BComplex
injection for her as 'pick-me-ups'. However, nothing worked. For
close to four days she didn't eat and drank very
 little.
In the end both vets agreed to put her on 10mls of bute for 4 days
straight, then to bring her back to 5mls for 3 days. Normally, you
wouldn't treat an EI infected horse with bute unless they had the
elevated temperatures. However, this mare's situation was rather
unique. The bute certainly did the trick. Within 24 hours she was
'almost' herself again and eating and drinking. Bloods were also
taken by one of the vets to ensure nothing more sinister was
happening. Fortunately, they came back normal for an EI infected
horse. The younger mare, although a bit depressed, snotty and
coughing, didn't stop eating or drinking (actually, she took
advantage of the situation by sifting out all the good stuff in both
feed bins!). Both appear to be over the worst of the virus and
getting back on track.
There is another older pregnant mare on the property (not mine) that
also became very ill. She, again, was different. She had an
abnormally raised heart-rate, though was eating well and seemed
quite bright. She was due in 2-3 weeks at time of contracting EI.
The emergency vet has been required to treat her on two occasions
over this period. Foal is due any day.
Oh, I forget to say, both "older and late term pregnancy" mares
became incontinent. Each time they coughed, they urinated all over
themselves. Poor dears, they all did look so sick and uncomfortable.
And, lastly, my rising 2-year old WB/TB got it. Well, it was only a
matter of time (all horses did get the symptoms in a period of 5
days after the first on the property was diagnosed with EI …..mind
you it was obviously incubating some days beforehand). She too was
treated with 10mls of bute each time she spiked. As with most of the
others, she had the very musousy nose and the cough. We thought she
was going to get secondaries when her temperature after week 2
started to rise again. However, it remained high for only one day
before returning to normal range. She is also now in good spirits
(week 3) and looks to be over the worst of it.
I should say, I did prepare for the worst as soon as we were advised
that a property a street away had been confirmed as having EI
infected horses. I bought 3 boxes of bute (3 boxes of 5 x 20ml
tubes) and 7 boxes of antibiotics (6 x Sulfa-T and 1 x Sulfa-B). I
have used 4 boxes of Sulfa-T and almost all the bute (extra Sulfa-T
was required on my older brood mare that had vulva discharge last
weekend). After speaking with the agistment manager, she had said
that I was smart to get what I got at the time due to medication
shortages in the area. She managed to get generic products (just as
good mind you) for all of hers as the ones I had bought had since
become out of stock. The ABs she managed to get were in very large
80ml tubes and not as user-friendly and she could only get bute tubs
they she had to syring herself. I have since bought a 500ml tub of
bute as back up. After my AA got secondaries, I didn't want to be
left high and dry if the others went down hill too. Fortunately, she
was the only one to get the secondaries.
All in all it has been a very trying time for all concerned and for
all horses …particularly my older mare that is due in just over a
fortnight's time. And the financial cost of meds for me has been
just under $1k. That doesn't include vet bills which have yet to
arrive.
and any tips for those that think they may become infected….
Don't do testing
straight away as there have been plenty of false-negative tests
which then require another vet visit and further tests (yes, this
happened to us!)
Do stay in contact
with you vet. They're only a phone call away and are the best ones
to give you guidance on this.
Please do have
some bute on hand to manage any temperatures 39+ ASAP. Needless to
say, you should speak with your own vets as all horses have
different histories. However, the rule of thumb is that horses over
39 will get treated with 10mls of bute each time they spike and that
the smaller ponies/weanlings/foals would get 5mls.
Antibiotics are
really something only an owner can determine. I have two pregnant
mares and my vet wanted them on the ABs as soon as it was obvious
they had EI. I then decided I would get a box each for the others,
with a spare. However, only 3 of mine have required ABs, and one of
the pregnant mares requiring more due to a side issue. Mind you, I
will use them at some stage and was more than happy to have them on
hand should they have been required.
Get some G-Y or
similar gel. When you a putting the digital thermometer up so many
bottoms ….2-3 times daily over a 3 week period, this will become
invaluable.
Karen |
