HORSE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND PAIN

The modern uses and common diseases of the horses predispose them to conditions of pain and inflammation. Pain is the basic response to injured body tissues. Inflammation is the primary cellular response to an insult or injury from bacteria or other infectious organisms, or chemical and physical agents. Inflammation is a natural defense mechanism against tissue injury and usually leads to successful tissue healing. There are several categories of drugs that control pain and inflammation in horses. The demands of pleasure and competitive riding and racing result in many inflammatory conditions of the muscoskeletal system. The nature of the work that horses perform causes pain and strains. In some cases, this can cause even more serious injuries which lead to temporary or permanent disability.

Allivet carries several different medications that treat the pain and inflammation associated with injuries and

arthritis. We carry products such as Bute Paste and Banamine Paste which have an analgesic (pain relieving), anti-inflammatory and antipyretic (fever reducing) activity from inhibition of cyclooxygenase.  

We also carry Ketoprofen which comes in the form of an injectable (starting at $115.99 for a 50ml vial). Is is an NSAID which assists with the inflammation and pain. Our most popular product that we carry today is the Adequan I.M. (starting at $199.99) which has proven to be extremely effective on horse inflammation and pain. Adequan is “polysulfated glycosaminoglycan” which in short is known as PSGAG. The PSGAG binds to the cartilage components and many studies have shown this drug to be beneficial on damaged joints. It is thought to decrease enzymes, act as an anti-inflammatory agent and stimulate the normal production of hyaluronan and glycosaminoglycan which eases pain and supports joint movement and function. Save big on horse anti inflammatory medications. 100% product and money back guarantee.

Horse Antibiotics

Antibiotics belong to the class of drugs called antimicrobials, which also includes agents that can kill viruses, protozoa, and fungi. Antibiotics either directly kill bacteria or they inhibit their growth and multiplication. There are about 4 million bacteria sitting on 1 square inch of a horse’s skin.  The respiratory tract and digestive tract also are teeming with bacteria. Most bacteria are not harmful and will not invade healthy tissue. The bacteria that cause disease normally are crowded out by the huge numbers of harmless bacteria.

            Antibiotics for horses are indicated in two general situations. The first is if your horse is directly infected by a disease-causing bacterium (such as a strangles infection that gets into the bloodstream). The other is if the protective barrier of skin, intestinal lining, or the respiratory tract has been damaged, allowing normally harmless bacteria to get in. Examples of this would be an infected wound or a bacterial pneumonia that develops after a viral infection. 

Allivet offers many different types of antibiotics treating respiratory, urinary, skin, uterus, gastrointestinal infections and more. Among these products are SMZ SulfaTrimethoprim Liquid, Tucoprim Powder, Ketoconazole, Cephalexin, Amoxicillin and  Doxycycline. Allivet carries horse antibiotics at the best price. Your order ships quickly to your house. 

Equine Cushing's Disease

Cushing's disease is caused by a tumor of the pituitary gland, which is the small gland at the base of the brain which regulates the rest of the horse's endocrine systems. Horses with Cushing's disease can be easily recognized by their coarse, wavy coat that often fails to shed out in the summer. Other symptoms are excessive thirst, combined with excessive urination. A normal horse will drink in the region of 5 - 8 gallons per day, whereas a horse suffering from Cushing's disease will drink as much as 20 gallons per day. Affected horses often have a pot-bellied appearance, combined with a loss of muscle on the top line. In addition, horses with Cushing's disease are often more susceptible to other diseases because their immune system has been compromised. The good news is that once Cushing’s disease has been diagnosed, treatment is simple, if long term, and in many cases allowing the horse to return to normal health.

Prascend is the first and only medicine available in the US that is fully approved by the FDA to treat Cushing's disease in horses. As part of the FDA approval process, Prascend was rigorously tested to prove its safety and effectiveness in reducing signs of Cushing’s disease in horses. Allivet  carries Prascend medication for cushing's disease at the best cost.

Horse Respiratory Disease

Horses can develop allergies to environmental contaminants that can lead to asthma-like symptoms. When some horses are exposed to dust and molds, they develop allergies. Why some horses do and others do not develop allergies is unknown.

There is some evidence that this disease may be genetic. Horses born to effected parents are three times more likely to develop RAO than horses born to non-affected parents. Respiratory allergies are the second most common reason why horses have to drop out of competition, behind only musculoskeletal problems such as leg injuries. 

Medication used depends on what type of allergic respiratory disease the horse has developed.  Your vet may recommend an antihistamine like Anihist or Hydroxyzine which are both oral Antihistamine/Expectorants. Speak with your veterinarian regarding the course of treatment for equine respiratory disease. 

Equimune Viral Disease Protection

Viral diseases are a common problem when it comes horses. Most commonly these are respiratory tract viruses that can cause severe inflammation and damage to the upper and lower respiratory tracts. However there are many other viral diseases that horses are exposed to and that can cause a wide range of clinical signs and outcomes. At best there may be slight decrease in performance or in more severe cases expensive veterinary treatment or even death.

There are limited treatments available that can be used to prevent or minimize clinical signs of viral disease. One product that may be useful is Equimune® I.V. This is a purified extract of a portion of the cell wall of bacteria which has been processed to reduce any toxic or allergic side effects but which still retains the ability to produce an immune response. Following injection of Equimune® intravenously the hoses body will recognize a foreign protein is present and mounts an immune response, primarily through activation of cytokine interleukin. This immune response is similar to that which would occur following a natural viral or bacterial infection and effectively prepares the immune system for when a real viral infection occurs.

 

The immune response obtained works both by cell mediated immunity and humoral antibody immunity. CMI involves the activation of cells such as macrophages, natural killer cells and T-lymphocytes in the body defense system that directly attack foreign antigens, in particular viruses. The HA response results in production of antibodies which can attach to the virus to assist in its destruction.

 

To minimize the risk of infection is to prevent mosquito bites in horses by applying insect repellants and rugs and keeping the horse indoors as much as possible. It may also be prudent to administer Equimune® I.V. in high risk areas to boost the immune system, which may enhance the ability of the horse to resist infection, by reducing or possibly eliminating the clinical signs and duration of disease. Research data suggests that a single Equimune® I.V. injection provides a stimulated immune response and can be repeated every 3 to 4 weeks safely in horses.

Allivet carries Equimune® I.V. at the lowest prices with the added convenience of having your horse vaccines delivered to your door. Shop Allivet and save more. 

 

HORSE RABIES

Rabies  is a neurological disease of horses. While the incidence of rabies in horses is low, the disease is serious and has considerable public health significance. It is recommended that rabies vaccine be a regular vaccine for all horses.

Exposure occurs through the bite of an infected animal, typically a wildlife source such as raccoon, fox, skunk, or bat. Bites to horses occur most often on the muzzle, face, and lower limbs. The virus migrates via nerves to the brain where it initiates and progresses rapidly.

Fortunately, rabies in horses is relatively rare. Less than 100 cases per year are recorded out of the estimated 7.5 million horses in this country. However, given the seriousness of this disease, and the risk to owners if their horses do become infected, vaccination is often recommended-particularly if a horse spends a considerable amount of time outside and you live in an area with high rabies activity.

Physical signs of rabies can include:

·         Fever

·         Anorexia

·         Blindness

·         Dysphagia

·         Hyperesthesia (manifested as self-mutilation)

·         Muscle Twitching

·         Lameness

·         Paresis and/or ataxia

·         Incontinence

·         Ascending paralysis

·         Sudden death

Equine herpesvirus type 1 and equine herpesvirus type 4 can each infect the respiratory tract, causing disease that usually characterized by fever, lethargy, anorexia, nasal discharge, and cough. Infection of the respiratory tract typically first occurs in foals in the first weeks or months of life, but recurrent or recrudescent clinically apparent infections are seen in weanlings, yearlings, and young horses entering training, especially when horses from different sources are commingled. 

Equine herpesvirus type 1 causes epidemic abortion in mares, the birth of weak nonviable foals, or a sporadic paralytic neurologic disease secondary to vasculitis of the spinal cord and brain. Both EHV-1 and EHV-4 spread via aerosolized secretions from infected coughing horses, by direct and indirect (fomite) contact with nasal secretions, and, in the case of EHV-1, contact with aborted fetuses, fetal fluids, and placentae associated with abortions. Like herpesviruses in other species, these viruses establish latent infection in the majority of horses, which do not show clinical signs but may experience reactivation of infection and shedding of the virus when stressed. Those epidemiologic factors seriously compromise efforts to control these diseases and explain why outbreaks of EHV-1 or EHV-4 can occur in closed populations of horses.

Tetanus Toxoid is used to prevent tetanus, it is a serious illness that causes seizures and severe muscle spasms that can be strong enough to cause bone fractures of the spine. Tetanus causes death in 30 to 40% of cases. Tetanus is a potentially life threatening disease because the bacteria attacks the neural system which can lead to muscle spasms resulting in broken bones or torn muscles. Furthermore, tetanus can lead to airway obstruction, respiratory arrest, heart failure, pneumonia, fractures, and brain damage. Vaccines help to reduce the risk of contracting tetanus which is why it is encouraged to receive the tetanus vaccine and booster shots.

Fluvac innovator 5 vaccine is used for healthy horses to prevent equine encephalomyelitis due to type 1 and 4 viruses, equine influenza due to type A2 viruses and tetanus.