Vesicular Stomatitis In Horses In Texas Counties

If you haven't heard, there has been an outbreak of Vesicular Stomatitis in several Texas Counties. VS can affect horses, livestock, wildlife and even humans. This acute disease causes lesions to develop on the tongue, mouth lining, nose and lips. Some lesions may occur on the coronary bands, sheath or udder. One of the more obvious signs is drooling or frothing of the mouth post rupture of the lesion and weight-loss as eating may be excessively painful. VS usually persists for a near of two weeks but it may take as long as two months for the lesions to completely heal. Until the are no visual signs, the horse or animal will remain infected and contagious until gone. Treatment for VS is fairly simple. Feeding a soft feed will help with ease of mastication. An anti-inflammatory medication will reduce swelling and pain to help feed and water intake. If bacterial infections occur in the lesions, an antibiotic will help to reduce fever, swelling, pus and pain. Other than that, it will take time to allow the lesions to heal. Remember, good biosecurity habits help reduce risk of contamination. In the link below, The Horse has a great article of the counties of whom have been quarantined and released. https://www.thehorse.com/articles/34281/eight-additional-texas-premises-quarantined-for-vs