10/07/2024
Important note to our equine clients:
In light of recent events, we want to discuss the risk of EEE to horses in NS.
EEE is a very serious neurologic disease that carries a high mortality rate to infected horses, with death occurring 3-5 days after onset of symptoms for most infected horses. The disease is transmitted to horses through the bite of infected mosquitoes, which means that all horses in NS are at risk, even if they live alone or do not travel. Infected horses can not pass the disease on to other horses. Once a horse is infected there is no cure. Infected horses receive supportive treatments to try to help them fight off the virus, but unfortunately this often fails.
The best way to protect your horse against EEE is vaccination. We routinely vaccinate horses for EEE in the spring as part of our core vaccine protocol and usually only recommend an annual booster, but experts recommend that horses in high-risk settings have boosters every 6 months to ensure adequate protection. At this time we are recommending horses that were last vaccinated for EEE more than 6 months ago receive a booster to protect them from this devastating disease.
If you are unsure of your horse's vaccine dates or wish to discuss further please phone.
