06/25/ 07 West Nile Outbreak and Horses

Like most horse owners I know I take better care of my animals than I do myself meaning that all our horses are up to date on vaccinations, worming and shoeing, and you sure can't say that about me, especially in the shoe category! There is one exception; Spider Monkey our buckskin missed his West Nile vaccination. Now I haven't been too concerned with this oversight because his chances of encountering a mosquito carrying the virus in our region have been slim to none. After reading the warning issued by scientists with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention you can bet Spider will be getting his West Nile Vaccination in the next few days. Scientist fear warmer than normal weather this summer could make conditions ripe for a West Nile outbreak in horses and humans. As the disease marches further west each year the states at the Western edge of the virus spread are hit the hardest. Last year it was Idaho with 338 equine cases so Oregon with 35 and Washington with 6 sit primed for an outbreak! In the words of my vet Dr. Funk why risk loosing a good horse for a $20 shot. Call WSU's Veterinary Teaching Hospital at 509-335-0711 for more information regarding the spread of West Nile.