Equine Salmonellosis

Allan · 11-12-07, 07:19 AM

We should know the signs of this kind of sickness in order to take immediate care of the horse when we have seen the signs already.

Quote:

Horses infected with Salmonella Infantum may develop oral ulcers, limb swelling, weight loss, limb lameness, liver disease, and general weakness. The prognosis is poor.

This kind of disease is so fatal that it can only take 6-12 hours to take the life of a foal after the appearance of abdominal pains.

Quote:

Acute diarrhea can occur at any age but is most prevalent in young performance horses. Signs include fever, depression, abdominal pain and dark red mucous membranes. Diarrhea, which may not appear for 2 to 4 days, is watery, foul-smelling, and may persist for up to 4 weeks despite therapy. The shock-like syndrome is more likely to occur in adult horses. Death can follow 6 to 12 hours after the first appearance of abdominal signs. Very young foals may develop an acute generalized infection (septicemia). Older foals may have severe enteritis followed by spreading of the bacteria to joints, the growth region of bones, the lungs, kidneys or central nervous system. Chronic diarrhea is rarely attributed to Salmonella infection but can represent the recovery phase after an acute episode.

To understand better about Equine Salmonellosis, you can visit Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory or Go Pets America.

BornintheSaddle · 11-13-07, 02:21 PM

Gosh, given how quickly it can take down a foal, how frequently is it treated successfully? It would seem that if it started at night then there would be almost no chance of the animal surviving.

Buckskin · 11-13-07, 04:12 PM

I'm not sure how often it's treated successfully, because drug resistance is very common. If it's only causeing diarrhoea, then it's usually not treated, because it's so difficult to find the right antibiotic, and using the wrong antibiotic will make it worse.

Salmonella is transmitted in faeces, so prevention is better than cure. Using raised troughs for feed, or hanging hay baskets off the ground reduce contamination. Lower stocking rates also help, as there's less stress on the horse or foal, and less poop.

Incidentally, the bacteria is closely related to the cause of typhoid in humans, but the Salmonella bacteria in horses (and other species) can infect humans. I think there is a live attenuated vaccine available, but I'm not sure if it's registered for use in horses.

11-13-07, 04:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Buckskin Member Join Date: 11-05-07 Location: Australia Posts: 125	I'm not sure how often it's treated successfully, because drug resistance is very common. If it's only causeing diarrhoea, then it's usually not treated, because it's so difficult to find the right antibiotic, and using the wrong antibiotic will make it worse. Salmonella is transmitted in faeces, so prevention is better than cure. Using raised troughs for feed, or hanging hay baskets off the ground reduce contamination. Lower stocking rates also help, as there's less stress on the horse or foal, and less poop. Incidentally, the bacteria is closely related to the cause of typhoid in humans, but the Salmonella bacteria in horses (and other species) can infect humans. I think there is a live attenuated vaccine available, but I'm not sure if it's registered for use in horses. __________________ Got carrots?

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11-13-07, 02:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
BornintheSaddle Member Join Date: 11-01-07 Posts: 25	Gosh, given how quickly it can take down a foal, how frequently is it treated successfully? It would seem that if it started at night then there would be almost no chance of the animal surviving.