Signs of Equine Disease

Neuralgic Equine  Herpesvirus

• H i gh fever

• A t axi c or paralyzed in the h i nd legs

• Incontinence

• Very rapid progression to recumbency

• During febrile phase - most infectious

• Six to 12 days later is when the neurologic signs set in.

• Majority have no respiratory signs; those that do show only a mild nasal

discharge.

West Nile Symptoms

• W e aknes s

• A t axi a (an unsteady gait)

• D e pression or apprehensio n

• F e ve r

• Muscle fasciculation ( t r emors )

• D e crease in appetite.

• In a small number of horses, muscle weakness may progress to paralysis of all

four limbs, recumbency and death within 2 to 9 days.

Lyme Disease Symptoms

Clinical symptoms appear in less than 10 % of horses that are infected.

• L a meness -- usually associated with larger joints (not the foot) and frequently

shifts from limb to limb - a generalized stiffness.

• B e havioral changes -- unwillingness to work (which may be associated with

musculoskeletal pain), increased irritability, changed attitude.

• Fever may or may not be present.

• Occasionally la miniti s .

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis Symptoms

• S e izures

• D e pressio n

• In ability to coordinate voluntary muscle activity p a ralysi s .

• Muscle atrophy – asymmetrical, usually hindquarters

• Cranial nerve deficits, including facial paralysis, drooping ear, lazy eyelid, and

difficulty eating and swallowing.

Horses with EPM usually do n o t h ave a fever, depression, or loss of appetite, even

though they may have difficulty eating .

Potomac Fever

• D e pressio n / l ethargy

• D r opping off feed

• H i gh feve r (between 103ºF-106ºF)

• E x treme watery, shooting diarrhea . Diarrhea develops quickly and

dehydration may result.

• Edema of the legs, abdomen and head indicate poor circulation caused by

the disease, as well as a protein imbalance