Veterinary student intern from Spain

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Leyre is a veterinary student intern from Pamplona, Spain studying at the University Alfonso X El Sabio, in Madrid. She is about to begin her second year of vet school. . and is looking to pursue a career working with large animals. She is staying in Hood River for a month at her relative’s house. She has horses and likes sports such as: show jumping, endurance, western and horseball. For those who don’t know what horseball is; is a team sport similar to basketball but on horseback, she says is fun!!
She recently went white water rafting in the White Salmon river!Leyre says that she has realized that vet medicine is an unpredictable job and sometimes hard. She has dealt with “grenade” cats and some naughty dogs but she expects to be a good doctor like Dr. Foss.

Equine Herpes Virus infections

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Update; From the Oregon State Veterinarian; May 19,2011

 We now have two confirmed cases of EHM in Oregon. The second case
 occurred in a horse from Umatilla County that was not at the show in
 Ogden but travelled some hours in the same trailer with two horses
 that were returning from the show. As of latest report, the EHM
 positive horse only exhibited a high temperature and not any
 neurological signs.

EHV-1 Infection Risk in Alpacas and Llamas ColoradoState Univ. Veterinary Teaching Hospital News Release

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–General note to Alpaca owners in my area; For the next 3 weeks I suggest you ask visitors to your farm, “Have you visited horses in the last couple of days? If so please do not visit my alpacas.”

Mike Foss DVM
May 19, 2011


EHV-1 Infection Risk in Alpacas and Llamas
Colorado State Univ. Veterinary Teaching Hospital News Release
May 17, 2011

An outbreak of neurologic disease in horses caused by Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infections has developed during the past week in the Western US and Canada. This outbreak is linked to horses that participated in a cutting horse show in Utah form April 29 to May 8. Most horses returned to their originating farms before clinical signs developed. It has since spread to most (if not all) of the Western states where there are reports of severely affected horses with neurlogic disease. This EHV-1 outbreak has spread beyond primary cases (those attending the Utah horse show) and is now being reported among in-contact horses from the home premises.

EHV-1 can also affect alpacas and llamas; however, at the time of this writing, there have been no reported alpaca or llama cases associated with the current horse outbreak.

Alpacas and llamas can become infected with EHV-1 following close contact with an infected equine, most likely through exposure to virus that is shed in nasal secretions or through indirect contact (hands, clothing, feeders, waterers, or other equipment). Disease due to Equine herpesvirus-1 infection is uncommon in camelids. Previous reports indicate that infected alpacas develop signs including blindness, changes in mentation and behavior, and other neurological signs. Clinically affected animals often developed severe disease that may result in death or euthanasia of the animal. Confirmation of a diagnosis in alpacas and llamas can be difficult since they do not seem to shed as much virus in nasal secretions or have
virus in the blood like horses. Thus, virus detection in nasal swabs and blood may be negative in infected camelids. Acute and convalescent serology is recommended to help confirm a suspected infection or exposure in an alpaca or llama.

Summary:

· Currently, there is a highly virulent form of EHV-1 virus circulating in horses.
· Alpacas and llamas that have contact with horses or other equids are at risk of EHV-1 infection.
· EHV-1 infection can result in severe and potentially fatal neurological disease in alpacas and llamas.
· The risk of transmission from camelid to camelid is unknown but is likely low since infectious virus has not been detected in nasal secretions of camelids.

Recommendations:

· Minimize contact between alpacas and llamas with horses, donkeys, mules, or other equids. This is particularly important if the horses have recently traveled and were exposed to other horses.
· Minimize movement of camelids and horses on or off home facilities.
· If your alpacas or llamas have had recent exposure to horses, consider isolating them for a period of at least 3 weeks and not participating in any shows or sales.
· Institute a quarantine program for animals entering your herd or returning from show, sale or breeding. A minimum of 3 weeks at a distance of at least 100 feet is recommended. Utilize separate boots, clothing, feed, and equipment for the quarantine area.
· Utilize a thorough biosecurity program in your herd to minimize introduction of infectious diseases to your herd.

Proposed New Horse Tax

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The state of Oregon has proposed a Senate Bill requiring horse owners to pay a $100 annual tax on their horses. If you would like to learn more and read the proposal, follow the link below.

http://www.leg.state.or.us/11reg/measures/sb0200.dir/sb0262.intro.html

Here is a copy of the letter Dr. Michael Foss wrote to our state senator:

Dear Senator,

I would like to bring to your attention to SB 262. I believe this is a detrimental proposal and needs to be eliminated for the following reasons;

1. It does not address the issue it states as its impetus, horse abandonment. Nothing in the bill suggests a solution to the horse abandonment issue. The only way abandonment will be curtailed is by increasing a demand for the unwanted horse. The main channel for unwanted horses has been through slaughter markets and those markets have been effectively closed by intense lobbying by special interest groups.

2. The Department of Agriculture has historically had poor enforcement of its policies. The Brand Inspection Department has been grossly ineffective for many years and expanding the department is unlikely to make it more effective. Improving enforcement, especially to cover the proposed scale of this bill, would require the addition of many more state employees and training of many other departments (i.e. DOT, State Police, and County Sheriffs). The government grows bigger, not better!

3. This is simply a TAX! The money collected goes into the general fund! Nothing is allocated to help abandoned horses. Voters are telling state and federal governments to quit spending money, not raise taxes.

4. This TAX adds substantial cost to an industry that is already suffering from tough economics and bad politics. One hundred dollars per horse per year is a substantial cost to the livestock owner. This TAX could remove any profit from raising horses. This TAX is high enough to send many people out of the horse business.

5. This TAX will simply shrink the horse industry in Oregon. Serious horse breeders will simply move out of state. Taking jobs, therefore tax revenue, out of Oregon.

6. This is simply a TAX on owning livestock. I think this is a very dangerous direction.

7. The section on equine transport is arbitrary. I have extensive experience in the science of equine transport and feel most of this section is simply someone’s opinion and not based on sound science.

8. This TAX will be a burden on the struggling cattle industry. Horses are often a necessary part of a cattle operation and this will add a substantial financial burden on a marginally profitable industry.

9. Finally, part of this bill will basically give the Department of Agriculture the power to enter a horse property without a search warrant. I think this is a significant loss of a basic American right.

For the listed reasons, I strongly believe this proposed legislation should be killed.

If you have any questions about my interpretation of this bill, please contact me. In addition, if you ever need help with animal issues please contact me. I have talked to several local groups about the Unwanted Horse issue and feel I have some useful information as well as national perspective.

Thank you for your time,

Mike Foss DVM
Alpine Veterinary Hospital
Hood River, OR