Potomac Horse Fever Laminitis

However with laminitis or if your horse does not respond well to treatment chances of a full recovery are decreased.

Potomac horse fever laminitis. About 40 percent develop acute laminitis a potentially crippling inflammation of the connective tissues inside the hoof. Stresses on the hooves or a single limb can damage the sensitive laminae leading to mechanical laminitis even if a horse is not otherwise at risk for the condition. Risticii also known as equine monocytic ehrlichiosis is a bacteria that causes potomac horse fever when ingested it attacks the gastrointestinal tract and causes a wide range of symptoms specifically high fever sweating projectile diarrhea acute colic colitis inflammation dehydration loss of appetite and depression. Potomac horse fever is caused by neorickettsia risticii formerly ehrlichia risticii.

Retained placenta in the mare after foaling. Toxins released within the horse s system. Laminitis usually presents itself early in the course of the disease so this can help your vet to diagnose phf but the onset of laminitis is thought of as a complication as mentioned above. Potomac horse fever phf is a disease that affects horses during warm weather months occasionally causing outbreaks of diarrheal illness in horses that are kept near rivers streams or in.

High fever or illness. Recovery of potomac horse fever in horses if your horse gets treatment within 24 36 hours of symptoms the prognosis is good providing laminitis is not involved. Originally described in 1979 as a sporadic disease affecting horses residing in the eastern united states near the potomac river the disease has since been identified in various other geographic locations in the united states and canada. Abortion in pregnant mares.

For example the concussion produced. Any illness that causes high fever or serious metabolic disturbances has the potential to cause laminitis e g potomac horse fever. The first sign of illness is high fever as much as 107 degrees fahrenheit with a lack of appetite and lethargy. Severe injury or systemic illness such as pleuropneumonia or potomac horse fever puts horses at risk of laminitis as a complication.

The infection of enterocytes of the small and large intestine results in acute colitis which is one of the principal clinical signs. Excessive concussion to the feet often referred to as road founder. The disease is seasonal occurring between late spring and early fall. Small horses little shetland ponies are very susceptible to laminitis and are most likely going to develop this while suffering from potomac fever.

Potomac horse fever is caused by neorickettsia risticii formerly known as ehrlichia risticii a gram negative obligate and intracellular bacterial pathogen that infects the small and large intestines and results in acute colitis which is one of the principle signs of phf.