Vet Call

Horse owners joke about rolling bubble wrap by the yard over their steeds, but believe me, they are half-serious. I’ve had my share of calls over the years from cuts to colic. Last Sunday was just one more.

The day started pleasant; sunny but cool. Taking care of some barn chores, I tossed hay to the horses as is expected by their grunts and attention every time I go to the barn. Mae took a couple of bites and then wandered outside and just stood, one back leg dropped. Well, that’s not good. Mae never-ever-never turns down hay. My first panicked thought was colic, but as I listened to an active, gurgling gut, I felt reasonably sure it was not the dreaded condition. I checked her out for other possible problems. No cuts, no obvious hoof issues, she walked fine, and then I noticed her droopy lip. She is known for a droopy bottom lip when she relaxes, but this time it looked puffy. I looked closer and pulled at it a bit and she bobbed her head to let me know she didn’t like that much. The inside of her mouth was white and swollen. What the heck? I watched her a while and debated. What could be going on? Is it worth a vet call on a Sunday? I googled “mouth swollen in horses” and yuck. Several posts about fox tail grasses with pictures of open ulcers in horses’ mouths popped up. I picked through my hay and saw something that looked a bit like fox tail. Well, crap. (I didn’t say crap.)

So, I called my vet, Dr. Lincoln. By the way, I love my vet: owner of Agrarian Veterinary Services in Cumberland, Virginia. He is no-nonsense and compassionate, and it never matters what time I call, he and his staff are professional and caring. As we spoke, I heard the echoey rush of being in a moving vehicle. He is on a call of some sort. But he takes me through “what’s up?” In the end, we decided it is likely a reaction to something, maybe in the hay, or maybe from the debris and wood shavings that the timber company shot all over my pastures the week before. (Power lines cross my property and every so many years they come in and clean up. I understand the need to keep the lines clear of limbs and brush, but they make a mess.) Since I noticed the swelling over an hour before I called and it was not getting worse, and she still nibbled hay, we agreed it was not an emergency. “Watch her and if any swelling increases or neurological signs show up, call me right away. We will check in tomorrow and schedule a farm call.”

The swelling reduced over night and she seemed normal in every other way, but I scheduled the farm call. Dr. Lincoln arrived in the afternoon, examined her mouth, checked Star and Mr. Horse for any similar signs, and picked through my hay. It did not appear to be fox tail (whew), but something was irritating her mouth, and likely, not serious. Then, he said, “But now I’m going to make your life more interesting.” I mentally braced. “There is something called Vesicular Stomatitis, a viral disease which causes blisters on the mouth.” I leaned against Mae and waited for the rest. He held up his hands and said he did not believe this was causing the swelling, but because he could see little “vesicles” on her gums, he needed to report it to the state USDA office. The USDA would probably send a vet out to check her and take blood. Images of hazmat suited vets with trucks to take her away flitted through my mind, but he assured me it would be quarantine for a couple weeks, if positive.

So, Mae got a shot of anti-inflammatory and as I handed my check to Dr Lincoln, he said “Don’t go googling it and get scared.” Of course, that is exactly what I did. I found it at the APHIS USDA site. Vesicular Stomatitis is a viral disease causing blisters in the mouth, coronary band and teats in horses, cattle and pigs. The blisters erupt into painful lesions often causing the animal to go off eating and drinking. It is not fatal and is believed to be transmitted through insect bites and saliva contact of an infected horse. Humans can get it so clean practices are important.

So far, this disease is not found in Virginia; in fact, not east of the Mississippi. In 2019, only Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming have confirmed cases.

Diagnosis is done with a blood serum test and swaps of the blister. Two days after Dr. Lincoln’s visit, a pair of very pleasant, courteous USDA vets came by to check her out. Mae was a lady for the blood draw and upper lip swab. By this time, they could not see any blistering and felt, as did Dr. Lincoln, that Mae was healthy and had some sort of contact reaction, not Vesicular Stomatitis. A few days later, I got the call from the USDA vet and Dr Lincoln. Preliminary results were negative.

Treatment protocol for Vesicular Stomatitis, according to AAEP is mostly supportive. First, be sure the horse is separated from any other animal on the farm. Quarantine may be as long as 21 days. Anti-inflammatories will help with swelling. Since eating and drinking may be painful, provide soft food and watch for dehydration. Secondary infections of the erupted blisters can occur so anti-bacterial meds may be needed and flushing the mouth with a diluted antiseptic may help. Of course, always follow your veterinary’s instructions.

Mae is now fine. While she did not have Vesicular Stomatitis, this reminded me, as horse owners, we share a responsibility to keep the equine population at large healthy. Practice good preventative cross-contamination chores, especially if your horse is in contact with new horses. If further testing by the USDA is needed, be cooperative. Stay educated on the latest news of horse health and disease prevention. Happy Thanksgiving to All!