Equine Herpesviruses (EHV) or Rhinopneumonitis are very common viruses in horses worldwide. The two most significant strains, EHV-1 and EHV-4 cause the most serious disease, including respiratory disease, abortion, and rarely neurologic disease.
EHV-1 is a serious condition and the one that has been traced to several recent outbreaks. There can be respiratory signs or no signs at all. With broodmares, abortion is possible. In the case of the neurological disease, there may or may not be respiratory symptoms. It is contagious, and it is a reportable disease. Reportable diseases are those that are considered to be a disease of great importance and concern for the entire horse community because they are dangerous and transmissible and can severely impact animal health. You must work closely with your veterinarian who will consult with your state veterinarian if you have a suspected or confirmed case of EHV-1.
Because of the serious nature of the disease and because it is a reportable disease, any animals, barns and/or show grounds that have been in contact with an EHV-1 positive horse must be under quarantine to avoid spreading it further.
Symptoms may include fever, cough, clear nasal discharge, lack of coordination, wobbly gaits, difficulty urinating and/or defecating, lying down and being unable to get back up, and abortion in broodmares.
EHV-1 has been in the news lately because of outbreaks at show facilities in Europe and the U.S.
You should take your horse’s temperature at home while the horse is healthy, at multiple points in the day over two weeks so that you know the normal baseline temperature. Be sure to record the temperature each time.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners suggests that in addition to maintaining biosecurity measures, you should take your horse’s temperature twice per day for at least 21 days if there is any potential exposure to EHV, even if they don’t have any symptoms. Contact your veterinarian if the horse develops a rectal temperature greater than 101.5 F or 38.6 C (or more than 1.5 F higher than their normal baseline temperature) or if they develop any other symptoms.
Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) are very common in horses worldwide. The two most significant strains, EHV-1 and EHV-4 cause the most serious disease, including respiratory disease, abortion, and neurologic disease. EHV-1 has been in the news lately with cases being confirmed worldwide, and spreading events happening at horse shows.
While these viruses can be very scary, fever is usually the first symptom. If you aren’t taking temperatures regularly, you may miss it.
Farm Jenny wants to help by making it quick and easy for you to take and record your horse’s temperature. We’ve created a temperature log in the Farm Jenny for you to track each horse’s temperature separately on their own health page.
We’ve integrated the Farm Jenny app with the Kinsa QuickCare digital thermometer. It’s as easy as syncing the thermometer with the app on your phone, clicking on your horse’s page in the app, and a few clicks later, the temperature will automatically be recorded in the Farm Jenny app on the page for that horse. It’s quick (~5-8 seconds), easy, and we’re giving away the app so that everyone can afford it.
If you don’t have a Kinsa QuickCare digital thermometer, you can still use the free Farm Jenny app to record and keep a temperature log for each horse in your barn by taking and entering the temperatures manually.
Record your first temperature.
Select the Thermometer icon and follow the on-screen instructions.
For more information see Tracking Temperatures in Farm Jenny
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