West Nile- What You Need To Know
by Kimberly Webb, An EquestrianMag Exclusive Article

Dealing with a sick horse is never fun, especially when it is something that could have been prevented.  West Nile has claimed the lives of dozens of horses over the past 10 years, and has the potential to do more damage in the years ahead. Those that live in warmer climates are the biggest targets. So it is imperative that you know the signs and symptoms and understand the different treatment options that are available to you.  With just a little bit of know-how, you can reduce the risk of West Nile dramatically for your own livestock and those of your neighboring farms.

What Is West Nile?

The West Nile virus is most commonly spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.  The offending mosquito will bite an infected animal, storing some of its blood to digest later.  The same mosquito will then bite a second animal, transferring the virus to a new host.  Because the carrier is virtually impossible to catch, this disease is conducive to outbreaks.  All it takes is one or two infected mosquitoes to infect an entire county of animals or humans.
Once an animal is infected with the virus it turns into West Nile Encephalitis. West Nile Encephalitis is an inflammation of the central nervous system.  Symptoms include:

• fever
• weakness of hind limbs
• paralysis of hind limbs
• impaired vision
• ataxia (weakness)
• head pressing
• aimless wandering
• convulsions (seizures)
• inability to swallow
• walking in circles
• hyper excitability
• coma
• possible death

It is important to note, that even if your horse exhibits all of these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean West Nile.  If you suspect an infection, consult with your vet to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment Options

At present, there is not much that can be done to treat or cure the West Nile Virus.   The good news is that approximately 60% of horses will recover from the disease on their own.  Old or stressed out horses are the hardest hit, and will either pass on their own or end up being put down by the owners to prevent further pain and suffering.

Prevention is Key

While there may not be any treatment options, there are a lot of things that you can do to help stop the spread of West Nile in your community. These include:

Eliminating Standing Water:

• Dispose of all tin cans, containers, buckets, tires, or pots that hold standing water.  Drill holes in any recycling containers that have the potential to hold water.  It only takes a tiny bit of water to serve as a breeding ground, so check your surroundings often looking for potential hot spots.
• Clean out your roof gutters every year.
• Don’t let water stagnate in bird baths or wading pools.
• Stock ponds with fish and make sure that your pond has adequate aeration.
• Chlorinating swimming pools

Avoiding Exposure:

• Avoid turning on the lights in the stable during the evening hours.
• If you must have lights, place them outside of the stable, away from your livestock. 
• Bug zappers are usually not very effective in the elimination of mosquitoes.
• Control the bird population around your stable; this in turn can decrease the chances of virus carrying mosquitoes.

Stay on Top of the Virus

• Check your property for dead birds.  Report any to your local department of health.
• Keep on top of news stories, and pay particular attention to reported cases in your area.
• Fog your stables periodically to reduce the number of mosquitoes
• Purchase topical mosquito repellents (specifically for horses) and apply often during the warm summer months.
• Vaccinate all of your livestock.  There are presently a handful of vaccines available to the equestrian market, and it is imperative that you take advantage of them.   You will want to discuss a vaccination schedule with your doctor- but most horses require a booster at least once a year.

West Nile has been around for several years, and has claimed the lives of too many horses.  Thankfully, much is known about the virus today, and there are many powerful things that you can do to decrease the chances of an outbreak in your community.  By eliminating standing water, avoiding exposure, and keeping on top of the virus, you can protect your family and your livestock.

Reader Comments

Submit your comments

Link to this article

----------------------   It's easy! Just copy code below and paste into your webpage     --------------------

<a href="http://www.equestrianmag.com/article/west-nile-need-to-know-20070115.html">West Nile- What You Need To Know</a> ~ EquestrianMag.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your link will appear like this:
West Nile- What You Need To Know ~ EquestrianMag.com