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Things to look out for in the following Winter months for your Horse.

The autumn months lead to preparation for winter months. It is vital to protect your horses against herpesvirus or rhinopneumonitis and influenza. Boosters for EEE, WNV, and WEE for mosquito infested areas are recommended for locations that extend into the winter.

Suggestions:

• Keep your horses vaccinations up-to-date for EEE, West Nile encephalitis, and Potomac horse fever.  For areas with high number of cases, it might be advisable to vaccinate more frequently. It is also suggested to start the vaccination program before the insect season begins. (Always consult a Veterinarian before starting a vaccination program).
• Reduce the habitat for these insects such as getting rid of old tires that might collect water, keep drainage ditches cleared up from dirt.
• To avoid attracting fly insects, turn off arena and barn lights during the night hours.
• Fly sprays that contain the chemical permethrin or permethrin along with pyrethrin to turned-out equines might be a good thing to apply on it.
• Having access to a shady run in might prevent from getting biting flies around your horse since these flies like  strong daylight. While mosquitos are extremely active during dusk and dawn hours.

Lyme Disease

It is caused by a bacteria, it is spread by bear ticks, black-legged ticks, and especially deer ticks. Signs of this disease include fever, lethargy, hypersensitivty of the skin, swollen joints, and in intense cases, it can lead to laminitis or uveitis. Luckily, it is treated with antibiotics but inspecting/removing for ticks daily, using repellents with 2% permethrin, mowing pastures can provide great protection.

Red Maple Poisoning

Very important to know that wilted red maple trees are fatal to equines. The unknown toxin causes damage to red blood cells and kidney to those who eat them. Signs that may not appear for days include: discolored urine, lethargy, and unusual color in gums/eyes. Prevention is obvious: remove red maple trees from your land, if your neighbor has these trees, isolate your horses in an area far away from the trees, and check for any fallen branches and leaves post storms in your pasture. Remember: these leaves from this tree can remain toxic for about 30 days!

Small Creatures

Cold weather causes vermins to take refuge in your barn. They not only eat your horses feed, nest in their bedding or hay, but they carry serious pathogens such as leptospirosis and salmonellosis. Thing you can do to is to keep all of your feed in closed containers, always check for holes, inspect for droppings and holes around baseboards by pulling everything away from the walls, repeat this procedure around stall walls, cabinets, and around the bedding. Nonpoisonous snakes such as black snakes have been proven predators of rodents such as mice and rats. BE CAREFUL if you see mouse saliva, urine, and droppings because they can contain hanatvirus which can be fatal to people if it becomes airborne with dust and it is inhaled. Open windows/doors and wear gloves, do NOT vaccum, dust, or sweep; DO spray down the area with bleach solution.