The Horse:Your Guide To Equine Health Care provides monthly equine health care information to horse owners, breeders, veterinarians, barn/farm managers, trainer/riding instructors, and others involved in the hands-on care of the horse.
Issue link: https://thehorse.epubxp.com/i/714009
TheHorse.com THE HORSE September 2016 12 LEPTOSPIROSIS VACCINE It was through your wonder- ful newsletters that I receive in my e-mail that I was first alert- ed to a vaccine finally being developed and approved for use in horses against Leptospi- ra pomona (one of the organ- isms that causes leptospirosis). This article reminded me of all the heartache and suffer- ing when my beloved Morgan horse Chance came down with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) in 1992. That year Dr. Barton Rohrbach (VMD, MPH) at the University of Tennessee (UT) and his students did a study on possible causes of so many cases in our area and found a correlation between ERU and the strain of L. pomona. We advocated for a vaccine, and I remember Dr. Rohrbach telling me how difficult it would be to develop a vaccine because of the many types of lepto. My current veterinarian did a follow-up on Dr. Rohrbach's study when she was student at UT, so when I asked her about the vaccine for our small herd of four trail horses, she called the research department at Zoetis and was told that the vaccine was extensively tested and found to be safe and effective. They also sent her some literature on it, which she passed on to me. We will be vaccinating our horses soon and will include the vaccine in our annual schedule. Our thanks to Zoetis for developing it and our thanks to The Horse magazine and newsletters for keeping us horse lovers every- where so well-informed. Nancy Vanderlan Clinton, Tennessee TICK-BORNE DISEASES In response to "Tick-Borne Disease" in the May 2016 issue, I'd like to give some advice for buyers looking for their future riding partner. Recently, we had three horses come down with Lyme disease, costing us a fortune in treatment. If you are search- ing for a horse to buy, get it tested for tick-borne diseases! Lyme disease is a serious issue that can cause a lot of time, heartache, and money to treat. There are various tests that the article points out, start- ing from less formal in-house antibody checks to in-depth antibody counts at a specialty lab. Get the blood test, count the antibodies, and go from there based on your veterinar- ian's recommendations. Our area is infested with disease-carrying deer ticks. As prevention, we implement guinea hens, spray with cedar- based natural spray, and check our horses' jawlines, muzzles, hips, legs, and tails every day. Our vet vaccinates our horses with the canine Lyme vaccine, as well. Also check yourselves! Rachel Whitney Central Maine LETTERS Letters@TheHorse.com E-mail us at Letters@TheHorse.com, or write us at The Horse, 3101 Beaumont Centre Circle, Suite 100, Lexington, KY 40513. Letters may be edited for space limitations and must include the author's name and contact information. L t ey had been together for years, since he was just a colt. When he got stubborn she would gently coax him on. When he got scared she would reassure him and stroke him gently on the neck. She spent hours building his confi dence, his strength, his balance, teaching him to dance. Pirouette, passage, piaff e, the fi nal salute. e crowd jumped to its feet and cheered. It was the moment they had spent a lifetime training for, but all she could think about was how special he was and how she loved him. TH 2016-09 Satisfaction guaranteed. Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com to order today. is love story is brought to you by: Neigh-Lox ® Advanced Recommended for horses that are prone to colic or have a history of colic. Maintains a healthy digestive tract, reducing the risk of digestive imbalances. The horse that matters to you matters to us¨ Recommended for horses that are prone to colic or have a history of colic. Maintains a healthy digestive tract, reducing the risk of Myke Ramsey This publication and website are incredibly informative and helpful. I have had a subscription for years, and there is always something relevant.