FEELING BLUE!!!

Horsy conversation!!! feeling blue. A little bit under the weather? cold and chills??, fever??? Can you help???

RECURRENT AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION.(RAO)

This is one of the common respiratory diseases in horses.Recurrent airway obstruction is usually as a result of blockage to airway as a result of allergy caused by spores from moldy hay. The inhalation of these spores set up an inflammatory reaction in the respiratory tract resulting in breathing difficulties.The signs include wheezing ,shortness of breath, and exercise intolerance. RAO can also develop after other respiratory infections such as strangles,equine rhino and influenza. PREVENTION. 1) Do not feed moldy hay. 2) stable horses in properly ventilated closures. 3) vaccinate horses for all respiratory diseases in horses. TREATMENT. There is no treatment,but condition can be managed. 1) Allow enough fresh air for horses. 2)use wood shavings instead of straw. 3) soak hay. 4)do not clean out stables when horses are within.

STRANGLES IN HORSES.

Strangles in horses caused by streptococcus equi,is a very contagious respiratory disease.All horse ages can be affected but foals and travel horses are very susceptible.The incubation period is 2 weeks but the affected horses still shed bacteria for longer periods,thus their can be new incidence on farm after index case.The form of infection is direct or indirect route, the direct route usually through water buckets where bacteria can survive for long periods of time.10% of affected horses become carriers. The common signs are fever,nasal discharge,cough,depression,lack of appetite,enlarged lymph nodes that form abscess that eventually ruptures.The affected horses may or may not show classical signs aside from fever,hence the conditions can go un diagnosed on the farm. There are certain complications in strangles infection which makes condition fatal; 1) Abscesses can be formed in other body organs referred to as "bastard strangles".2) Purpura haemorrhagia ;where the blood vessels are damaged and can be identified by swollen limbs,blood blisters around eyes and lips.This can lead to death because of circulatory failure. Prevention. 1) vaccination. 2) separate/isolate horses by ages and susceptibility status. 3) strict bio security protocol. 4) limit number of horses/ stable/barn in the farm. Treatment. 1) isolate affected horses. 2) use dedicated feed/water bowl. 3) restrict movement, do not turn on pasture. 4) proper manure management/disposal. 5)antibiotics. 6) wound treatment to prevent fly strikes. 6) vitamin supplement .

TUBERCULOSIS ; A KILLER DISEASE.

Tuberculosis kills more people than you know,posing an economic threat. Anew data shows trend; http://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/respiratory-infections/news/online/%7Bbc474ce1-23b6-4223-9bea-1bceec64f815%7D/tb-kills-more-people-annually-than-any-other-infectious-disease?utm_

EARLY DETECTION OF TUBERCULOSIS..

Tuberculosis a zoonotic disease and debilitating disease characterized by cough,muscle wasting,immuno suppression e.t.c.The prognosis of case is based on early detection,availability of drugs and frequency of use. The early detection of tuberculosis is vital to the success of treatment. A new study has shown a new method for early detection,read more; http://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/respiratory-infections/news/online/%7Bc3837a71-6a73-437d-8175-993ccd395e5a%7D/novel-assay-detects-tb-in-early-stages-of-disease?utm_source=maestro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=infectious%20disease%20news

AVIAN INFLUENZA IN HUMANS.

The bird flu in humans normally starts with cold,nasal secretions that could easily be overlooked as common flu,especially in this harmattan period.The flu signs continues with rapid increase in body temperature, severe headaches coupled with muscle pain. This progresses to gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting,diarrhoea and stomach cramps. The patient will also have a tightening of the chest muscle resulting in chest pain, then there will be bleeding in nose and gums. The signs do vary per individuals, but if you have flu symptoms that does not abate even with medication after 3 days, and you have been in contact lately with game birds, or poultry, or you have handled dead birds,or processed poultry birds,or consumed chicken ,or you just returned from a country battling the bird flu, please visit the hospital. The way to nib the virus is early diagnosis: so is it cold?,periodic flu attack? or bird flu? check it out.BE PROACTIVE.KEEP CLEANING WITH DISINFECTANTS,WASH HANDS AND COOK POULTRY PRODUCTS PROPERLY BEFORE CONSUMPTION. DO NOT TOUCH DEAD BIRDS. WHEN YOU TOUCH OR HANDLE BIRDS,WASH HANDS IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU HAVE INCREASED CASES OF MORTALITY ON THE FARM; CALL YOUR VET. DONT BUY PROCESSED POULTRY PRODUCTS OF UNKNOWN SOURCE. IF YOU OBSERVE INCREASED MORTALITY OF BIRDS IN POULTRY FARM AROUND YOU, REPORT TO THE VET AUTHORITY IN YOUR AREA. DISPOSE DEAD BIRDS PROPERLY.