Equine flu on the rise
By GEOFF JOHNSON -DN Staff Writer
What appears to be a virulent strain of horse flu is making its way through Cottonwood and Red Bluff and has claimed the lives of three horses.

Dr. Bill Gray, a Cottonwood veterinarian, said test results from University of California, Davis first confirmed equine influenza was present in a North State horse about a month ago. That horse has since recovered.

Veterinary and agriculture groups are organizing a response effort in the wake of Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince.

Christian Veterinary Mission has served in Haiti since the early 1980s and has set up a dedicated fund for earthquake relief. They currently have three long-term fieldworkers on site, all of whom have checked in as safe. They have also trained more than 1,000 village-level animal health workers.

The fieldworkers are “working with the Haitian people to assess the damage, respond to the immediate needs, and understand how to help once again,” CVM Executive Director Dr. Kit Flowers said in a statement.

Here is a map of  the final numbers for West Nile Cases in 2009.

There are many decisions to make when trying to ensure that we provide optimal healthcare for our broodmares. With the prevalence of many infectious diseases on the rise and parasite resistance becoming a serious problem, providing an appropriate wellness program is critical to ensure optimal protection and productivity.

I designed an Broodmare Wellness Package to provide my clients with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their mare is receiving the best pre and post natal care. Please contact us at 619.659.1180 for more information.

Happy New Year to all my clients and friends. May 2010 bring health and happiness to all my patients.

Equine West Nile

YTD: 15 Counties: 11
There have been 2 new WNV positive horses reported in California last week from Fresno (1) and Merced (1) counties. This is the first WNV positive horse from Fresno County this year. 15 horses from 11 counties have tested positive for WNV in 2009.

Symptoms of West Nile

These symptoms can be confused with rabies, EPM (“Possum Disease), equine encephalitis, and other serious neurological diseases. If you see these signs in your horse, see your veterinarian immediately.

Thanks very much for visiting our new blog.

Equine Veterinary Services strives to educate our clients on equine health and keep them in the know of whats going on in the horse community. The new blog is  intended to bring you equine news and horse health articles right to your desktop.

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