Equine diseases can harm horses and their owners. This article provides important information on the most common horse diseases in the UK. The diseases on this list should be handled by a reputable equine veterinarian.
Equine Influenza
Equine influenza has frequent outbreaks in the UK and is the same as the flu. It is an infectious disease that affects the upper respiratory tract of the horse. The signs of influenza usually appear within 1 to 5 days of exposure to the flu and can last for up to 6 weeks. Signs to look out for is high temperature, nasal discharge, enlarged glands, and conjunctivitis.
Equine influenza can be prevented by vaccinating each year.
EHV
The EHV virus can be found in horses all over the world. The virus has four types with EHV-1 and EHV-4 being the most common types in the UK.
EHV-1 can cause signs of respiratory disease in young horses and signs usually include runny nose and temperature. Paralysis can also be found in horses with EHV-1. EHV-4 is usually only having mild symptoms of breathing and can cause abortion.
The virus can be spread from horse to horse through droplets of coughing and snorting. When a vet has confirmed the virus, they will give guidelines on how to handle the virus and how to get it out of the stables.
Strangles
Strangles is a highly contagious disease of the upper respiratory tract of a horse. It’s caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi. The disease occurs worldwide as the most common infectious disease in a horse who is between 6 and 10 years of age.
A veterinarian should be contacted if signs of any of the mentioned diseases are showing and guidelines by the vet should be followed accurately.