We have the equipment and capability to do diagnostic health work-ups and pre-anaesthetic bloods, when a physical examination of the animal is insufficient to get to a diagnosis.
We are aware of the costs of diagnostic tests, and we only run the tests that we deem are absolutely necessary.
Cnr Van Wijk & Giraffe Street
013 744 1836
African horse sickness is a highly infectious and deadly disease caused by the African horse sickness virus. It commonly affects horses (mortality rate 70-90%), mules, and donkeys. Zebras and donkeys rarely develop serious symptoms.
How do horses contract the disease?
AHS does not spread directly from one horse to another but is transmitted by the Culicoides midge ( also called “punkies” or “no-see-ums” ), which becomes infected when feeding on other infected Equidae. Mosquitoes and biting flies may also be able to transfer the virus.
It occurs mostly in the warm, rainy season when midges are plentiful, and disappears after frost when the midges die. Most animals become infected in the period associated with sunset and sunrise when the midges are most active.
Symptoms:
The disease manifests in three ways, namely the lung form, the heart form and the mixed form. The lung (dunkop) form is characterised in the following manner:
This form of the disease has the highest mortality rate. (90%)
The heart (dikkop) form is characterised in the following manner:
Mortality rate is between 50 and 70%, and survivors recover in 7 days
The mixed form is characterised by symptoms of both the dunkop and dikkop forms of the disease.
Diagnosis and Notification
The symptoms described above may assist with an initial diagnosis of AHS. This diagnosis can only be confirmed by identifying the virus in a laboratory. It is, therefore, essential that blood samples be taken from the horse during the fever stage of the disease for analysis. As AHS is a controlled disease, horse owners are obliged by law to notify the local State Veterinarian of suspected cases.
There is no specific treatment for animals with AHS apart from rest and good husbandry. Complicating and secondary infections should be treated appropriately during recovery.
Control of African Horse Sickness
African Horse Sickness (AHS) is one of a number of diseases known to be potentially damaging to the livestock economy. By way of the Animal Diseases Act (Act No. 35 of 1984), AHS has been declared a state-controlled disease, thereby empowering the state to implement measures to control the disease. Horse owners are also required by this law to notify their local state veterinarian of any cases of AHS. The Act also requires that all equines (horses, donkeys and mules) must be vaccinated at least once a year with an approved AHS vaccine.
How can I protect my animals from African horse sickness?
The best way to protect animals from African horse sickness is to make sure they get their annual vaccinations, as well as to decrease their exposure to biting midges and other insects (e.g., mosquitoes and biting flies). Stabling horses in insect-proof housing, particularly between dusk and dawn when the insects are most active, can help prevent exposure. Insect repellents and insecticides may also be useful. Monitor your horse’s temperature. Horses with fevers should be examined by your veterinarian.
African Horse Sickness Vaccination Programme
All horses and all foals should be vaccinated against African Horse Sickness by a veterinary surgeon, using a registered, non-expired vaccine supplied by the Veterinarian administering the vaccine.
Foals between the ages of 6 and 18 months should get two sets of vaccines not less than 30 days apart, where possible, between 1 June and 31 October; and thereafter every year between 1 June and 31 October.
Contact us if you have any questions and any of our friendly vets will assist.
A variety of agricultural insecticide products are utilised daily to control insects in crops as well as in our homes and gardens. Various products are also registered for the control of external parasites on dogs, cats, horses and livestock. A range of chemical active ingredients, including organophosphates and carbamates, are included in products for agricultural and household as well as in flea collars and other topical tick and flea control products.
Misuse and overexposure result in animals and humans being poisoned. Many pet animals are targeted annually and die as a result of toxin misuse for criminal intent such as house breaking and theft.
Carbamates and organophosphates are related toxins that affect the nervous systems of animals and humans, interfering with conduction of impulses to the heart, muscle and intestinal tract.
Read more here on what these toxins look like, precautions, signs of poisoning, how should a poisoned animal be handled, what treatment is required, how should contaminated material be disposed of and how poisoning can be prevented.
Useful contacts:
| Bayer CropScience | 0119215252 |
| Bayer Animal Health | 0119215740 |
| Nashua Pesticide Helpline | 0828206223 |
| EMS (Emergency Medical Services) | 08001119900 |
| Tygerberg Poison & Drug Information Centre | 0219316129 |
| Griffon Poison Information Centre | 0824468946 |
| South African Poison Information Centre | 0861555777 |
| SAP CrimeStop | 0860010111 |
| Rapid Spill Response 24h | 0861113467 |
| Idexx Laboratory | 011803001 |
| Bossies Community Justice | 0825675212 |
Reference: Bayer HealthCare
Listen to Dr Christo talk to Radio Laeveld:
What is parvovirus?
Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their faeces. Dogs become infected through oral contact with canine parvovirus in faeces, infected soil or fomites (object / substance capable of carrying infectious organisms). The virus attacks rapidly dividing cells such as those in the lymph nodes, intestinal lining and the bone marrow. This results in depletion of the white blood cells necessary for the immune system to function, delaying the recovery of infected puppies. The rapid death of the intestinal cells results in the sloughing (breaking away) of the intestinal lining, vomiting, diarrhoea and severe intestinal bleeding. This may eventually lead to the death of your puppy if left untreated.
What are the signs of parvovirus?
What is the treatment for a dog with parvovirus?
A diagnosis of parvovirus can be made with snap-combo tests, available at most veterinarians. There is NO CURE for parvoviral gastroenteritis as it is caused by a virus. Veterinarians can only treat the symptoms and try to keep your dog or puppy alive by preventing dehydration and loss of proteins.
Puppies infected with parvovirus need to be treated intensively and may spend a week or more at your veterinarian. Fluid and electrolyte treatment is essential and this is often combined with antibiotics. Infected puppies vomit excessively and will need to be treated with anti-emetics. These puppies are unable to absorb any nutrients from what little food they may keep down, hence it is vital to monitor their glucose, albumin (blood protein) and potassium levels and correct these as necessary.
Some puppies will require plasma transfusions to treat the low protein levels in their blood. Affected animals are normally very nauseous and are not inclined to eat on their own. Some puppies will accept force feeding while others require the placement of a feeding tube. Good nursing care is essential for puppies affected by parvovirus.
How do you prevent your dog / puppy from contracting parvovirus?
The only way to prevent parvovirus is through vaccination.
Puppies should receive their first vaccination at six weeks of age with two more vaccinations thereafter at 9 and 12 weeks of age. Your veterinarian will assess your puppy on its first visit and will provide you with the dates for the follow-up vaccinations.
Dogs are usually vaccinated on an annual basis thereafter. The parvovirus is included in this combination vaccine.
Should you have a puppy that has parvovirus, care should be taken when introducing new puppies into your environment as the parvovirus persists in the environment for long periods of time.
Dilute bleach is one of the readily available disinfectants that kills parvovirus but may take up to ten minutes to achieve full effectiveness.
With parvovirus, as with many other viruses that affect dogs, prevention is better than cure.
Reference: Bayer HealthCare
Pyotraumatic dermatitis commonly known as “Hot Spots” are bacterial infections of the skin associated with inflammation. It can be extremely uncomfortable for the animal.
What are the main causes of “Hot Spots”?
Read more on the risk factors, treatment, preventative measures etc here