Monthly Archives: September 2022

Horses, The Pet Professionals

Protect your horses from equine influenza

Equine influenza, also known as equine flu, is a widespread viral infection in horses. The UK has experienced several outbreaks in the past decade, requiring strict quarantines to resolve, which means economic losses for horse owners who cannot participate in events or competitions.

While it is rarely fatal, it spreads rapidly, may increase the chances of your horses developing complicated pneumonia, and animals might be affected severely enough to be out of work for several weeks.

Keep reading to know more about how to help your horses avoid equine influenza.

How does the equine flu get to my yard?

The equine influenza virus is highly contagious, and it’s very easy to find its way to your horses.

It spreads via airborne droplets, just like with human flu, and when animals are infected, they must be isolated to avoid spreading it further. Shared materials like feed buckets, tack or other objects and clothes can also be contaminated, and they can be a source of infection.

Due to this, good biosecurity measures are necessary to avoid cross-contamination and to ensure that people vising your yard do not bring in the virus from other places.

Horses travelling for competitions or events are more at risk of contracting the virus due to the number of other animals around them. As clinical signs might not show up immediately after infection, they could well be shedding the virus whilst not showing any signs that they are sick.

If you think one of your horses might be infected, you must call your vet immediately so that they can do the required testing. They will then guide you on what to do to minimise the chances of transmission and to help avoid a serious outbreak that could lead to a strict lockdown.

Is it possible to help protect my horses from equine influenza?

The most common signs of equine influenza are:

  • Runny nose;
  • High temperature;
  • Cough and weakness;
  • Lack of appetite.

This disease also destroys the cells lining the throat and lungs. Because of this, infected animals can be predisposed to secondary complications such as bacterial pneumonia, which can take up to three weeks to improve.

With the potential to not only cause a lot of suffering to your horse but also to remove them from work for an extended period, prevention is critical.

As we’ve mentioned, proper biosecurity is vital to avoid bringing in the virus from elsewhere and spreading it to your horses, but quarantining new horses and vaccinating your animals is also crucial to prevent potentially serious problems with this disease.

 

Equine influenza is a highly contagious disease that quickly leads to outbreaks and might cause monetary losses due to animals that will be suspended from work, so don’t hesitate to contact your vet if you are unsure about your horses or how to improve the biosecurity and health protocols of your yard.

 

Would you like to know more about horses? Check our Equine Courses:

Equine courses

 

Dogs

Keep medications away from dogs

 

Keep medications away from dogs

If your dog suddenly seems unwell, it can be tempting to give them medicine you have at home, but many of the most common medications humans use are toxic to our furry friends.

These include acetaminophen (Paracetamol), common anti-depressants and sleeping pills, among many others and they can cause gastrointestinal effects (such as vomiting and diarrhoea), neurological effects (such as seizures) or even kidney and liver failure.

This is why human medications should never be given to dogs and should always be out of reach to ensure they aren’t accidentally swallowed.

 

How to prevent dogs from accidentally ingesting medications

Here are some tips on how to keep your dogs safe from accidentally ingesting medications:

  • Always keep both human and veterinary medications in a place where your pets can’t access, such as a closed cabinet or drawer. If your dog is persistent, you might need to lock that cabinet;

 

  • If you drop a pill on the floor, immediately pick it up;

 

  • Don’t leave pills unattended on tables or nightstands;

 

  • Keep human medications separate from pet medications to prevent them from getting mixed up;

 

  • Always keep medications in their original box;

 

  • Pay attention to storage instructions and expiration dates – some medications might need to be stored in the fridge, for example. Don’t give your dog expired medications;

 

  • Don’t let pets have contact with medication patches, such as a nicotine patch;

 

  • Don’t let pets lick skin where a topical medication has just been applied;

 

  • Don’t throw medications in the garbage, especially if you have a curious dog that has a tendency to sniff around the trash.

 

What to do if your dog accidentally ingests medications

If your dog ingests a medication that wasn’t prescribed for them, contact your veterinarian immediately, and let them know what medications your pet has eaten and how much. You can also contact the Animal poison line  (https://www.animalpoisonline.co.uk/).

If your vet isn’t available for any reason, it’s best to take your pet to the nearest emergency vet. Time is of the essence, and the sooner your pet is assessed, the better.

Ultimately, you should never give dogs human or veterinary medications without consulting your veterinarian. Not only are certain human medications toxic to pets, but even for the ones that are safe, administering the correct dosage is essential to prevent problems for your dog or cat.

Even medications meant for pets might only be safe for a specific species. For example, certain flea medications commonly used for dogs are highly toxic to cats. Be sure to follow your vet’s instructions carefully when giving your pet any medication.

Would you like to know more about dogs? Check our Canine Courses:

Canine courses