<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=37a0bk_0wFMEpH700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=37a0bk_0wFMEpH700" width="1280" height="854" ><figcaption>Ticks locate their next meal using a behavior called questing, waiting at the edge of a leaf or blade of grass for a creature to brush against the vegetation and then clinging to its feathers, fur or skin. Submitted</figcaption></figure>The Mid-Atlantic region is one of the areas of the country where tick-borne diseases are extremely prevalent.Horses, humans, dogs and now cats can be infected. Most of us who live in rural areas of this region know to be cautious about tick bites on ourselves, but what about our horses? It has been estimated that approximately 80% of horses living on the East Coast have been exposed to Borriela Burgdorferi, the organism carried by the Ixodid tick, which causes Lyme disease.So, what does that mean? Exposure to Lyme disease is not the same as having clinical disease or symptoms of the disease. The percentage of horses that get symptoms is much lower, although numbers have been hard to nail down.An important point to consider is that a positive Lyme test does not mean your horse is suffering from the disease, but only that it has been exposed via a tick bite.A tick must be attached to his host for a minimum of 18 hours to transfer the disease to your horse.The Ixodid tick is also called the deer tick because it uses the deer as an intermediate host; deer do not get infected with Lyme disease.So let’s talk about testing: Most Lyme testing is sent to Cornell University for a Multiplex test. Three antibodies are tested in the blood of your horse, one that indicates a vaccination exposure; another which indicates recent infection, usually within the past two to five months, and the third which indicates chronic infection.At this time, there is no approved Lyme disease vaccine for horses, and it is unlikely there will be one in the future.If a horse has the disease, it is much easier to treat in the acute phase versus a chronic infection.Experts at Cornell do not recommend routine testing of horses without clinical symptoms because the chances your horse will have a positive test is very high — remember 80% exposure.Only horses with antibodies and clinical symptoms consistent with Lyme disease should be treated. Treating a horse based on tests alone can expose them to weeks of antibiotics unnecessarily with potential secondary problems.Symptoms of Lyme disease are many. Horses may exhibit lameness and sore muscles and, like us, behavioral changes related to nerve irritation and uveitis, which can lead to blindness. Neurological disease with muscle atrophy, weight loss, palsy of the facial nerves and neck stiffness have been documented.Treatment consists of either IV or oral antibiotics for at least 30 days.While there is a lot of controversy and questions about Lyme disease in horses, one thing is certain: Preventing ticks from getting on your horse is a solid recommendation.Unfortunately, tick preventatives in horses are limited compared to dog products. Permethrins are recommended but can be short acting. Fly masks and sheets are a non-toxic way to limit exposure to ticks. Daily brushing and grooming your horse could limit the time a tick is embedded in his skin. Keeping pastures clipped and brush minimized is also beneficial.And keep in mind, when tick exposure is most likely is in early spring and fall. Ticks tend to hide in the heat of the summer months. If we have a mild winter, you can see ticks even in January or February in our area. While Lyme disease is very prevalent, knowing how to prevent it and understand the disease in horses is crucial for horse owners.To recap:• 80% of horses in our area have had Lyme disease exposure• Positive horses often do not show any symptoms of disease• Random testing is not recommended• Early infection is easier to treat than chronic ones• Prevention of tick exposure is highly recommended and warranted in our area.Annemarie Yoder, DVM, is a native of Somerville, Mass. She completed her Bachelor of Animal Sciences at UMass Amherst and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University. She opened a mixed animal practice in Kutztown, Pa., with her husband, Sam Yoder, VMD, upon graduation. At Silver Maple Veterinary Clinic she saw mostly equine patients for 22 years in Berks and Lehigh counties. The small animal-practice employs seven veterinarians presently. She lives on a certified organic, fully sustainable farm with her 4 Haflingers, dogs, cattle and assorted other creatures. She shows her Haflinger, Hany, in dressage competitions and has extensive experience working draft teams on the farm. Her professional interests include mixing Eastern and Western medicine and preventative measures to reduce illness and injuries.<h2>Newsletter </h2></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Lyme Disease and Your Horse: What You Need to Know

The Mid-Atlantic region is one of the areas of the country where tick-borne diseases are extremely prevalent. Horses, humans, dogs and now cats can be infected. Most of us who live in rural areas of this region know to be cautious about tick bites on ourselves, but what about our horses? It has been estimated that approximately 80% of horses living on the East Coast have been exposed to Borriela Burgdorferi, the organism carried by the Ixodid tick, which causes Lyme disease.