Blue Herron Veterinary Services

11/23/2025

Here is the most up-to-date information that we have on current cases.

https://www.equinediseasecc.org/news/article/Equine-Herpesvirus-Myeloencephalopathy-(EHM)-Outbreak?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOPRMpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeJOMSkovIg4DAsh1hDUqcwCG33KPaVp9GQ4VZ3NScSM54-EHeRfb2crRNVgg_aem_LB_rSlZwyCXrjpQ-3t4_RQ

The Equine Disease Communication Center is monitoring an outbreak of EHM that originated at the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Finals and Elite Barrel Race event Nov 5-9. To date, officially confirmed cases have been reported in the following states:

11/20/2025

I love baby hippos!! They are my spirit animal 💪🏻

11/20/2025

EQUINE HERPESVIRUS MYELOENCEPHALOPATHY (EHM) & EHV-1- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How do we handle horses returning from events where they may have been exposed to EHV-1?

• These horses should be isolated from any other horses when they return to their home facility. Isolation requires housing them away from other horses, using different equipment to feed, clean and work with them than is used with non-isolated horses, and rigorous hygiene procedures for horse handlers (hand hygiene, wearing separate clothes when coming in contact with isolated horses, etc.). Please discuss this with your veterinarian.

• We strongly advise owners to call their veterinarian to discuss how long to keep the horses isolated at home. A minimum recommended isolation period is 21 days.

• These horses should have their temperature taken twice a day, as elevated temperature is typically the first and most common sign of infection. Horses with elevated re**al temperatures (greater than 101.5 F) should have a nasal swab and blood submitted by your veterinarian for EHV-1 PCR.

• If a horse develops a fever and is found to be shedding EHV-1, then the level of risk to other horses on the premises increases significantly. Affected farms should work closely with their veterinarian to manage the situation.

• The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has an extensive set of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) Control Guidelines that veterinarians can use as a resource.

2. What do we do if we already have a potentially exposed horse on a farm?

• The exposed horse should still be isolated, even if it may have already been in contact with other horses. Start isolation procedures to stop further exposure.

• It is very important to separate horses from different groups to accomplish this. Try to isolate the suspect horse without moving other horses from one group to another. Segregation of horse groups is the key, because this will help reduce spread if an outbreak starts.

• Check temperatures of all horses on the farm twice daily (fever spikes can be missed if you check once daily). If fevers are detected, then isolate the horse and test for EHV-1.

3. What anti-viral treatments can I use against EHM on a farm?

• If EHM is present on a farm, then the risk of other horses developing EHM at that farm is greatly increased. Stringent quarantine and biosecurity procedures must be implemented immediately.

• Treatment of horses with clinical neurological disease (EHM) is largely supportive—the use of anti-viral drugs is not known to be of value at this stage, but are often administered. Use of anti-inflammatory drugs and good nursing care with sling support if necessary is recommended.

• For horses that develop fever, test EHV-1 positive, or have been exposed to an EHM horse, anti-viral drugs may decrease the chance of developing EHM.

• Speak with your veterinarian regarding all medications and their suitability for your horse. We currently recommend Valacyclovir (Valtrex™) for prophylactic therapy at a dose of 30 mg/kg q 8 hr for two days, then 20 mg/kg q 12 hr for 1–2 weeks.

• The use of valacyclovir in horses that have already developed signs of EHM is questionable at this time. In that circumstance, the use of intravenous ganciclovir is preferable as it may have greater potency against the disease. The dose of ganciclovir is 2.5 mg/kg q 8 hr IV for one day then 2.5 mg/kg q 12 hr IV for one week.

• Administration of a zinc-containing supplements may be beneficial based on one epidemiologic study that found a decreased risk of EHM associated with owner-reported dietary zinc supplementation.

4. Is there any value to using booster vaccination against EHV-1 at this time?

• Unfortunately, there is not a licensed EHV-1 vaccination product with a label claim for prevention or control of EHM.

• EHV-1 vaccines have been shown to reduce nasal shedding and, in some cases, reduce viremia. These products may therefore have some theoretical value against EHM by reducing viremia, and certainly against spread of the virus by reducing viral shedding in the environment.

• If horses on the farm are previously vaccinated against EHV-1 then booster vaccination should quickly increase immunity, and perhaps reduce spread of EHV-1, if it is present.

• Vaccination in these circumstances is controversial, as some authorities speculate that immunity to EHV-1 may play a role in the development of EHM. While this is unproven, it remains a possibility. The use of vaccination is therefore a risk-based decision.

• Vaccination has no value as a treatment in affected horses.

Check the EDCC alerts page at https://equinediseasecc.org/alerts for updates regarding reported cases of EHM.

11/19/2025

What is Equine Herpesvirus (EHV)?

You've probably heard it called Rhinopneumonitis, a respiratory tract disease that results in "snotty noses," but EHV is more than that. Depending on the strain, this virus can also cause abortion in broodmares, and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) — the often-deadly neurologic form of the disease.

Because EHV is endemic in many equine populations, most mature horses have developed some immunity through repeated natural infection. However, they remain a source of infection for other susceptible horses, like weaned foals and yearlings, who usually display symptoms of the respiratory form of the disease in autumn and winter. Performance and show horses are also more vulnerable to the disease, as they commingle with unfamiliar equines in close quarters while under stress from travel and competition.

Proper biosecurity protocols can help reduce EHV outbreaks and other disease transmission. A variety of vaccines are also available for protection against both the respiratory and abortive form of the disease, but there is no equine licensed vaccine at this time that has a label claim for protection against the neurologic form (EHM).

Consult your primary equine veterinarian to learn more about this disease and work with them to determine the optimal vaccine protocol for your horses.

You can learn more about all three forms on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website here: https://equinediseasecc.org/infectious-diseases

11/19/2025

‼️𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐚𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐇𝐕-𝟏 / 𝐄𝐇𝐌 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐥 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

Over the past few days multiple veterinary clinics and industry outlets have reported cases of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) — including neurologic cases (Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy, or EHM) — that have been traced to horses that attended major November events in Central Texas (Waco/Stephenville). If you travel to shows or have horses that attended those events (or were near horses that did), please read this and act now.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐇𝐕-𝟏 / 𝐄𝐇𝐌 (𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧)

EHV-1 is a common equine herpesvirus that most often causes respiratory disease and, in pregnant mares, abortion. A small proportion of infections progress to a neurologic form (EHM) when the virus causes damage to blood vessels in the spinal cord/brain and produces neurologic signs.

The virus spreads by respiratory secretions (direct horse-to-horse contact, shared equipment, handlers' clothing/hands) and also via contaminated surfaces and people. Because infected horses may shed virus before they show signs, outbreaks at multi-day events can seed cases across regions.

𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 (𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲)

Early detection is critical. Watch exposed horses closely for:

- Fever (often the first sign) — measure temperature twice daily for 14 days.

- Coughing, nasal discharge, lethargy, decreased appetite (common with respiratory infection).

- Neurologic signs: incoordination/ataxia, hind-limb weakness, urinary/faecal incontinence, inability to rise, stumbling, progressive paralysis. These are emergency signs — contact your vet right away.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐄𝐇𝐕-𝟏 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝

There is no single “cure.” Treatment is largely supportive and symptomatic: anti-inflammatories, nursing care, fluid support, and sometimes antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infections. For neurologic cases, intensive supportive care and strict confinement are required.

Antiviral therapy may be used in some cases, but evidence of clear benefit is mixed and such treatment must be started early and be veterinarian-directed. Discuss options with your vet if you suspect EHV-1/EHM.

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 — 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 (𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰)

If you were at the affected events or have horses that may have been exposed, implement these immediately:

Isolate any exposed horse from other horses for at least 14 days and monitor temps twice daily. A fever is often the first sign.

Notify your veterinarian and local/state animal health authority if you suspect disease — EHV-1/EHM is reportable in Texas. Early reporting helps trace and limit spread.

Limit movement. Do not travel horses to other events or farms until cleared by your vet. Restrict people traffic on/off the property.

Strict hygiene: dedicated coveralls/boots for barn staff, disinfect high-touch surfaces (buckets, tack, trailers), wash hands thoroughly between handling horses, and change clothing after visiting other barns or events. Use footbaths and disinfectants known to inactivate enveloped viruses (follow product instructions).

Clean and disinfect trailers and tack; do not share equipment between farms.

Segregate new arrivals and recent travelers for observation before mixing them with resident horses.

𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰

Vaccines do not completely prevent infection, but they reduce respiratory disease and viral shedding and may lower the risk of severe outcomes. For EHV-1, routine vaccination is an important layer of defense, especially for horses that travel.

Boost high-risk horses before travel: if your horse is showing waning immunity or it's been several months since their last EHV vaccine, talk to your vet about a booster — particularly for horses that will be on the road for the NCHA Futurity, NRHA Futurity, NFR, BFA, and other high-traffic events coming up. These events are the busiest time of year for horse movement and present higher exposure risk.

Work with your veterinarian to time boosters appropriately — many protocols recommend pre-travel boosters and ensuring maternal vaccination status in broodmares to reduce abortion risk.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 — 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

Neurologic EHV (EHM) can be severe and sometimes fatal, and affected horses may require prolonged, intensive care. EHM cases also often trigger quarantines and event cancellations, which have major economic and emotional impacts for riders, owners, and event organizers. Rapid reporting and strict biosecurity are the best defenses against larger outbreaks.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐚𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭)

If you were at suspected events (or exposed to horses that were), assume exposure and act: isolate, monitor temps twice daily for 14 days, and contact your vet immediately if fever or other signs develop.

Postpone non-essential travel for horses from exposed barns until cleared. Don’t move horses between facilities.

Check vaccination status for all horses — especially those that travel. Call your vet today to discuss boosters if travel is planned for the coming weeks (Futurities, NFR, BFA, etc.).

Implement strict on-farm biosecurity steps (isolation, footbaths, dedicated clothing, disinfect tack & trailers, temperature logs). Keep detailed records of visitors and horse movements.

Sign up for EDCC/TAHC alerts and follow updates from your state vet and trusted veterinary partners. Real-time info will help you make decisions fast.

𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧

When it comes to EHV-1 and EHM, nothing replaces the guidance of a trusted veterinarian. Every horse, facility, and travel schedule is different, and your vet can help you make the most informed decisions about quarantines, testing, vaccination timing, booster schedules, and when it’s safe to resume hauling. If you have any concern — even a mild fever, exposure risk, or changes in behavior — contact your veterinarian immediately. Early communication and proactive care are the strongest tools we have to protect our horses, our barns, and our entire competitive community.

𝐓𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬:
https://www.equinediseasecc.org/alerts

11/17/2025

We see a variety of pets every day! The fun part of mixed animal medicine is never knowing what you will see next! Happy Monday on this beautiful fall day!

11/17/2025

👀Recently, a post has been circulating about a horse owner’s horrific firsthand experience with botulism resulting in the loss of several horses. Let’s break botulism down.

🧫 What is botulism?

Botulism is a paralytic disease that is the result of a neurotoxin released by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. The toxin blocks the communication between nerves and muscles.

🧫 How?

Most commonly spores from the Clostridium botulinum are ingested or infect a wound releasing a neurotoxin. What comes to mind for most horse owners when talking about botulism is when carrion is inadvertently baled into hay and the horse ingests the contaminated hay. However, the Clostridium botulinum spores are found in the soil too.

In foals, the disease is shaker foal syndrome a form of botulism, that is the result of Clostridium botulinum spores germinating and producing toxin in foals’ intestinal tracts.

🧫 What are the clinical signs?

🏋🏻‍♀️ Weakness (May lead to recumbency.)
🏃🏻‍♀️ Exercise intolerance
💪🏼 Muscle tremors
🤤 Drooling
👅 Reduced tongue strength

🫁 More severe clinical signs of progressive paralysis are labored breathing, difficulty swallowing, or respiratory paralysis and/or heart failure leading often ending in death.

‼️ Unfortunately, the clinical signs can progress dependent on the the toxin load either rapidly over a few hours or more slowly over a couple of weeks.

🩺 How is botulism diagnosed?

Primarily based on clinical signs, the presence of contaminated feed/hay likely ingested by the horse, and excluding other neurological diseases and toxicological causes.

💊 What is the treatment for botulism?

This disease is costly to treat and can be fatal. Treatment of botulism includes the administering of an anti-toxin and supportive care including anti-microbials.

💉 Is botulism preventable?

A vaccine, BotVax® B, is a USDA-approved vaccine that helps prevent equine botulism caused by Clostridium botulinum Type B.
It should be highly considered for horses being fed large bales of hay that are not carefully inspected for contamination and endemic areas. In yearlings or naive horses, three doses of the botulism vaccine are given one month apart followed by a single-dose booster in subsequent years.

Foals are highly susceptible to the toxin. We recommend vaccination of all broodmares on an annual basis 30 days before their foaling date. Their colostrum will protect the foal.

neogencorp NEOGEN

11/07/2025

This always makes me giggle 🙈🦎🦎🦎🦎 🙈.

FALLING IGUANAS POSSIBLE! 🥶🦎 Heads up (literally) for Tuesday morning across Florida. The iguanas are not dead, just temporarily stunned and immobilized from the cold...especially if it drops below 45°. Only in Florida!

11/01/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17MvqAtvDw/?mibextid=wwXIfr

11/01/2025

10/30/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1FEx2zQn4w/?mibextid=wwXIfr

08/22/2025

I’m blessed to have great clients. We’ve been treating their horse all week for sand colic. The owner documented each sample of manure today. 😁

Now these are the kind of poo samples I appreciate getting in text message ! 💩💩💩