Equine Herpes Virus & URT Disease

Equine herpes virus is an upper respiratory tract (URT) disease in horses. The other type of URT disease often affecting horses is influenza. Quick treatment is recommended because the illnesses are highly contagious. The diseases are not a threat to humans.

Symptoms

• Loss of appetite may be a symptom.

  The first indications that a horse may have a URT disease such as the herpes virus or influenza are loss of appetite and clear discharge from the nose. Those symptoms are often accompanied by fever. After a few days, the animal may start coughing. If the main symptom is coughing, then usually the horse suffers from influenza. If the main symptom is a runny nose, then it probably has the herpes virus. Sometimes the symptoms overlap so much that it might be impossible for anyone other than an expert to diagnose the problem.

Diagnostic Tests

• Influenza tests are simple to perform.

  Tests are available to determine whether or not a horse has a URT illness. Each test to check if a horse has influenza takes about 15 minutes to complete. It's important, however, that a horse is tested within two days of the appearance of symptoms. Beyond that time period, test results are not as likely to be accurate.

Treatment

• Pharmaceuticals that reduce fever and a lot of rest are the basic recommendations for treatment of equine URT diseases. One effective fever-reducer is butazolidine, also known simply as "bute." Once a horse's body temperature decreases, it is more likely to begin eating and drinking water again, and that tends to speed recovery. Although the virus is centered on the respiratory system, it also affects a horse's heart and muscles. That's why rest is so important; as long as three weeks of rest may be required.

Prevention

• Vaccines are available to prevent the onset of URT diseases in horse. The basic recommendation is start with two shots and then continue with a series of booster shots every three or four months. Young horses may require booster shots more often. Because transportation implies contact with other horses and because the diseases are so contagious, booster shots also are recommended prior to transporting horses. Animals that do not come into contact with other animals might not require booster shots. Foals should be vaccinated at 6, 7, 12 and 18 months of age.