Stacie Wells-Kiefer, DVM PC

02/03/2021

Mule Diagnosed with Rabies in Eagle County

The Colorado Departments of Agriculture and Public Health and Environment have confirmed that a mule residing in Eagle County has tested positive for bat variant rabies. This is the first case of rabies in domestic livestock in Colorado this year and the first case of rabies in an equine in Colorado since 2013.

The spillover of bat variant rabies into domestic animals and wildlife is less common than skunk variant rabies in Colorado but is still possible. This case illustrates the importance of vaccination for all domestic animals statewide and not only in areas where skunk variant rabies is established.

Case Summary:

The seven-year-old mule became acutely neurologic on Friday 01/15/2021 with clinical signs including weakness and ataxia. A veterinarian examined the mule on Monday 01/18/2021 and the animal continued to display signs including ataxia, inability to rise, cranial nerve deficits, and was borderline febrile. The mule did not have a history of receiving a rabies vaccine.

The veterinarian reported the case to the State Veterinarian’s Office, concerned about the potential for rabies, herpes, or any of the other equine neurologic reportable conditions. The mule’s condition continued to decline and it was euthanized on Thursday 01/21/2021. The veterinarian collected and submitted samples to the CSU VDL where it tested positive for rabies. The sample was forwarded to the CDC Rabies Laboratory where it was identified as bat variant rabies; additional sequencing is

07/09/2020

Western Equine Encephalitis in Cache County, UT: Confirmed

06/14/2020

Thanks to for this PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT on Plants that are posionous to horses in the US!

DID YOU KNOW?
While the majority of poisonous plants pose little threat to horses because they are unpalatable, owners can unintentionally feed toxins to their horses through contaminated hay and grain, or by offering certain tree, shrub or grass clippings.
A 1,000-pound animal has to consume significantly higher quantities of a toxic plant than a smaller animal to be affected clinically, however some plants are cause for concern and all poisonous plants are worth recognizing so they can be removed from your horse-keeping areas. Another commonly overlooked reason a horse may become poisoned is allowing horses to graze a pasture after it has been sprayed with herbicide, but before the weeds have died and disappeared.
If you suspect your horse has ingested a poisonous plant:
• Remove the horse from the source.
• Contact your veterinarian immediately.
• Attempt to determine how much of the toxic plant was eaten and when it was eaten (small amounts of some toxins can be fatal in a short period of time while other require large amounts to be eaten over several weeks or months).
Prevent your horse from ingesting poisonous plants by learning the most common poisonous plants in your region, including the time of the year they are most palatable or toxic. As always, contact your veterinarian for more information and guidance!

06/27/2019

Vesicular Stomatitis Confirmed in Texas

The Texas Animal Health Commission has announced confirmed cases of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) in two counties. The first case in Kinney County, Texas was confirmed through the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa on June 21, 2019. This is the 2019 VSV index case for the United States.

The second case, in Tom Green County, Texas, was confirmed by NVSL on June 24, 2019. Please see the USDA APHIS Veterinary Services website to read the current situation report.

While there have been no cases of VSV in Colorado, these cases are concerning to livestock owners and veterinarians in Colorado due to the potential of a northward movement of the virus throughout the summer.

Colorado most recently experienced VSV outbreaks in 2014 and 2015 resulting in several hundred quarantines and movement restrictions involving horses and cattle. The goal in the management of the disease is to accomplish effective control while minimizing the negative economic impacts to livestock owners.

What Veterinarians Need to Know:

At this time in Colorado all suspect VSV cases in horses and livestock must be investigated by state or federal animal health officials.

Any vesicular disease of livestock is reportable to the State Veterinarian’s Office in Colorado. Report any cases that have clinical signs suggestive of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) immediately by calling 303-869-9130. If it is after hours, the office voice message will indicate which staff veterinarian is on call.

Veterinarians may also contact the state or federal field veterinarian in your area.

Vesicular Stomatitis Background:

Vesicular Stomatitis is a viral disease that primarily affects horses and cattle and occasionally swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and alpacas. The transmission of VSV is not completely understood, but includes insect vectors such as black flies, sand flies, and biting midges.

The incubation period ranges from 2-8 days. Clinical signs include vesicles, erosions, and sloughing of the skin on the muzzle, tongue, teats, and coronary bands. Often excessive salivation is the first sign of disease, along with a reluctance to eat or drink. Lameness and weight loss may follow.

Humans may become infected when handling affected animals, but this is a rare event. To avoid human exposure, individuals should use personal protective measures when handling affected animals.

Tips for Livestock Owners:

Strict fly control is an important factor to inhibit the transmission of the disease.
Avoid transferring feeding equipment, cleaning tools or health care equipment from other herds.

Colorado fairs, livestock exhibitions, and rodeos may institute new entry requirements based on the extent and severity of the VSV outbreak. A certificate of veterinary inspection (health certificate) issued within 2-5 days prior to an event can be beneficial in reducing risks. Be sure to stay informed of any new developments of VSV in Texas and potentially other states.

If moving livestock internationally, contact the USDA APHIS VS Colorado office at 303-231-5385 to determine if there are any movement restrictions or testing requirements for VSV.

03/29/2019

TO: All PRCA Membership
FROM: Jed Pugsley, PRCA Livestock Program Administrator
DATE: March 29, 2019

All membership should be made aware of the following information regarding recent outbreaks of Equine Herpes Virus and take necessary precautions.

The following states have confirmed cases of EHV-1 with ties back to rodeo industry events. More Information on each of the cases can be found here.
Nevada
Arizona
Idaho

In addition to the cases above, the following states have had horses test positive for EHV. It should be noted that these cases do not have ties to the rodeo industry.
California
Iowa
New York
Washington

The most current information on any of the cases noted above can be obtained from the Equine Disease Communication Center. www.equinediseasecc.org

MORE INFORMATION ON EHV-1 CAN BE FOUND HERE.

LIVESTOCK DISEASE PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS

The PRCA urges horse owners to follow these steps for preventing the spread of livestock diseases such as Equine Herpes Virus.
Do not share water buckets, hay nets or any other feeding/drinking equipment.
Do not submerge the water hose in your bucket when filling.
Do not share tack including halters, head stalls, bits, brushes, etc.
Avoid nose to nose contact with your horse and others.
Avoid unnecessary contact with other horses.
Do not tie your horse to fences and rails where other horses are tied.
Take your horse's temperature in the morning and at night. If you horse is running a temperature above 101.5˚F, contact a veterinarian immediately. A temperature tracking log can be found here.
Clean and disinfect trailers, stabling, barns, and other equine contact surfaces thoroughly. (It is important to remember that organic materials decrease the effectiveness of the disinfectant. All organic materials should be removed prior to disinfection.)
Toughly wash hands, footwear, and clothing after handling horses.

CONTACT THE STATE VETERINARIAN FOR EACH STATE YOU WILL BE TRAVELING THROUGH OR TO FOR THE LATEST IN LIVESTOCK IMPORT REQUIREMENTS.

Contact information for State Animal Health Officials

The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) is an industry-driven initiative which works to protect horses and the horse industry from the threat of infectious diseases in North America. The communication system is designed to seek and report real time information about disease outbreaks similar....

12/18/2018

Effective Dec. 1, horses granted a therapeutic use exemption can remain on pergolide with no drug withdrawal prior to competition and no need to file a medication report form each time they compete.

08/29/2018

The affected horse has been isolated from the remaining horses on the Weld County facility. The exposed horses will be observed and retested in 60 days.