Horses vesicle stomatitis | petmd

What is vesicle stomatitis in horses?

Vesicle mouthitis is a highly contagious viral disease found in horses in the Western hemisphere. The virus can also affect other livestock, such as cows, sheep, and goats, as well as humans.

The disease is named after the distinctive blister-like lesions, ulcers and the crust that form around the mouth, nose, genitals and coronary zones. It’s extremely painful, but it’s rarely life-threatening.

The disease is spreading in southern Mexico and Central America. It is found sporadically in the US, but most commonly in warm summer months.

Symptoms of vesicle stomatitis in horses

• Drooning

• It foams in your mouth

• I hate to eat

• heat

• Blister-like lesions around the mouth, nose, genitals, or coronary band

• Tongue and gum ulcers

• Glimenes (if lesions develop around the coronary zone)

Causes of vesicle mouth inflammation in horses

Vesicle-like incidence is caused by insects (such as black flies, sand flies, chewing buffer muscles), animal contact, and viruses that spread by contaminated surfaces or equipment. The virus has two strains. There are two strains: New Jersey (VSNJ) virus and Vesicle Stomatitis Indiana (VSI) virus. Although the two viruses have different genetic compositions, they cause the same disease processes and symptoms.

Other conditions may resemble vesicle stomatitis, including:

• Physical trauma: Chemical burns, electric shock from hot wire or fence, lightning strike

• Dietary factors: Sunburn, irritating weeds, or grains

• toxin: Blister Beetle Toxicity, Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Toxicity

• Immune-mediated disorders: Cushing’s disease

These should be ruled out if a case of vesicle incisive inflammation is suspected.

How a veterinarian diagnoses vesicle stomatitis in horses

A thorough medical history and physical examination is the first step to diagnosing vesicle stomatitis. Important information about travel or exposure to new horses is essential. Your vet will look for blister-like lesions or ulcers around the mouth and nose, near the genitals and legs.

A confirmed diagnosis of vasculitis is made by submitting a blood sample and a lesion swab to the diagnostic laboratory. The lab looks for antibodies to the virus in the blood. This indicates that the virus was present in the horse and the horse’s body produced antibodies accordingly. Swabs also identify the presence of the virus.

Vesicle incisive inflammation is a reportable disease. This means that positive cases must be reported to state and federal authorities to assist in containment and prevention.

Treatment of vesicle stomatitis in horses

Because the lesions are extremely painful, treatment for vesicle stomatitis is done through supportive care. Anti-inflammatory drugs like Phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine are used to relieve pain, swelling and inflammation.

If your horse is struggling to eat, warm water may soften the grain or hay cube. If your horse is at risk of becoming dehydrated to prevent it from drinking, additional treatment with intravenous fluid may be required.

If a secondary infection occurs at the lesion site (denoted by PUS), antibiotics may be prescribed. Rinse the lesions with a preservative solution like dilution ChlorhexidineIt helps reduce secondary bacterial infections.

Recovery and management of vesicle stomatitis in horses

The first step in managing vesicle stomatitis is to set up quarantine. This includes isolating the affected horse from other animals for 14 days after the last lesion is identified.

When caring for and dealing with sick horses, use personal protective equipment and appropriate biosecurity practices to prevent spreading of illness to other horses. This includes wearing gloves that handle affected horses and disinfecting shoes and clothing around affected horses. Do not share tacks or other equipment between horses.

Most horses diagnosed with vesicle incidence will recover completely within a few weeks. In rare cases, vesicle incidence can lead to dehydration, Coli pain, and dylitis. Horse that does not drink enough water due to the pain of the oral cavity is susceptible to dehydration and coli pain from collisions. Fatitis is seen in horses with severe lesions around the coronary zone.

Viruses are spread by insects, direct contact, and contaminated surfaces or equipment, and to eliminate the spread of disease, they must encounter infected horses and keep the horse’s residential area as clean as possible.

Other precautions include:

• Isolate new horses for 21 days before introducing them to barns or herds.

• Minimize insects by eliminating and using fertilizer and pools of standing water Fly control

• Keep your horse healthy with good nutrition, insect pests and daily vaccines

• Immediately isolate horses showing signs of infection and contact the veterinarian

• Use individual feed/water buckets and grooming equipment

Humans can also be infected with vesicle incidence. Therefore, it is very important to wear gloves when dealing with infected horses and avoid contact with the horse’s saliva and liquid from the blisters.