Equine nervous Flashcards
Equine viral encephalitis is and spread by
”Sleeping sickness”
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE)
West Nile Virus (WNV)
Core vaccines
Viruses spread by mosquitos
Profound depression/lethargy secondary to brain inflammation
Rare because of vaccination
Prognosis poor to grave
Equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1) causes
Mild resp disease
Abortion storms
Equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1) signs
Severe neurologic signs
Lethargy
Marked fever
Decreased anal and tail tone
Urine dribbling
Ataxia
Dog-sitting
Recumbency
Quarantine!
Equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1) treatment
Quarantine!
General nursing care
Sling
Anti-inflammatories
Corticosteroids
Rabies in equines is gotten by
Transmission through saliva of infected animals
Foxes, skunks, bats
Bites on muzzle, distal limb
Often missed
Signs of rabies in horses and what to do
Vague neurologic symptoms
Generally bizarre behaviour
Aggression
Altered vocalization
Hypersalivation
Any horse with hypersalivation has rabies until proven otherwise!
Always fatal
Vaccination in endemic areas
Tetanus in equines is caused by
Clostridium tetani infection
Endemic in soil
Horses particularly vulnerable
Infection occurs when there is a break in the skin
Wounds
Surgery
Signs of tetanus in horses
Agitation
Stiff “saw-horse” stance
”pump handle” tail
Prolapses third eyelid
Spasms when startled
Stiff muscles
Hypersalivation
DDX–Rabies!
Treatment and prevention of tetanus in equines
Treatment
Supportive nursing care
High doses penicillin
High doses tetanus anti-toxin
Muscle relaxants
Prevention
Vaccination
Cervical vertebral malformation (“Wobblers”) is caused by and seen in
Malformation of the cervical vertebrae
Compression of spinal cord
Primary or secondary to arthritis
Young and rapidly growing
Middle-aged to geriatric
Signs of wobblers in equines
Usually present for a non-specific lameness
Stepping on own feet
Stumbling/falling
Progressive ataxia
How to diagnose wobblers and treat
Radiographs, myelogram
Areas of spinal cord compression
Stabilization surgery
Usually progressive
Severely affected horses should NOT be ridden
Facial paralysis in horses can be caused by
Muzzle pulled to side opposite the injury.
Secondary to injury e.g. post-surgery if halter left on
Suprascapular paralysis can be caused by
Suprascapular nerve at point of shoulder- “Sweeny”
Atrophy of infra and suprascapular nerves
Unstable shoulder when walking
Seen in harness horses with poor fitting collar, horse hits shoulder against fence post/tree.
The neurological exam includes
Always pay close attention! Very ataxic horses can easily fall over and hurt you!
Cranial Nerves
Walk on the straight
Walk in tight circles
Tail pull
Walk over poles/curb
Straight line with head elevated
Backing up
Blind folded
