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Conference noted::equitation

Title:Equine Notes Conference
Notice:Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151
Moderator:MTADMS::COBURNIO
Created:Tue Feb 11 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2080
Total number of notes:22383

1699.0. "Barn Virus - How long can it last?" by SEEPO::PIERCE (H a p p y N e w Y e a r) Wed Jan 13 1993 16:00

How long can a barn virus last?

2 weeks ago we went up to a barn (starlight farm in Amsbury MA) to
look at a horse to buy.  A 2yr old TB gelding straight from Washington
state.  At the time  he was being kept at there old barn down the street
in Sailsberry, MA with 4 other horses.

We were interested in him and they offered to bring him to the new barn
so we could ride him in the indoor ring and to come back next week.  We
did and we rode and my friend like him.  

We decided to get a vet check done and we went back w/ the vet on Wednesday
(3 days after we rode him)  The horse had a temp of 103.3 - the folks
at the barn told us that they had a virus at the farm back in August but
thought they got ride of it, but they couldn't be sure 100% that this is
the same virus and neither can the vet.

Do you think it possible could be the same virus?  If so, has anyone ever
experience a virus at a barn? and how long did it take to get rid of the virus?

If the horse had the virus and now is better.. can he be a carrier?  Should
I be very concerned for my horse (when this new horse come to the barn)  Should
I discourage my friend about buying this horse?  Even if's it's a 1% chance
my horse could get this.. I don't want this  new horse near my barn.. am I
being to over cautious?

Worried Mom

Louisa
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1699.1CARTUN::MISTOVICHWed Jan 13 1993 16:456
    Louise,
    
    Every virus is different.  I would find out what the virus was that the
    barn had and then discuss it with one or two vets to find out about
    that particular virus.  The timing of the virus suggests he just picked 
    something up from the stress of traveling.
1699.2DELNI::KEIRANWed Jan 13 1993 16:4926
    My horse caught a virus that showed up on Christmas Eve with
    a temp of 104.5, runny eyes and nose, and no appetite.  My
    vet started her on Tribrissin and bute (for the fever).  The
    fever was down within an hour or so, and she seemed to be 
    getting better, though her appetite wasn't better.  I called
    my vet and had him come out the following monday to give her
    a jug (iv with vitamins etc) iv antibiotics and a shot to get
    her eating.  That made all the difference for her, I followed
    it up with 5 more doses of the antibiotics.  She is much better
    now.
    
    One thing I have found, young horses are much more suseptable (SP)
    to any kind of sickness or virus than older horses.  My mare is 3,
    and we had a 2 year old and a 9 and 10 year old in the barn at the
    same time.   The two year old who is stalled the furthest from her
    got the virus while the 10 year old who he can touch noses with never
    caught it, nor did the 9 year old.
    
    This time of year is tough for sickness, horses go from one barn to
    another, some are warm, some are cold and if they are in any training
    they end getting chilled sometimes.  I would wait a couple of weeks or
    so before moving the horse to your barn, hopefully he will have it out
    of his system by then.  You could also try talking to the vet that is
    taking care of that horse, assuming he got vet care for his illness.
    
    Linda