Updates On sick horses

Loading

The RVHR Facility is CLOSED for all visits.
Management has placed the facility under Quarantine as of July 5th. 5 horses on site have broken out with Equine Strangles.
Horses effective – Lamont, Grady, Chantilly, Sheldon and one of our assistant care horses. These 5 have been removed from general population.  Click updates for new information.
   
For the safety of horses in our community no one will be permitted on the property other than our normal volunteers.
All 33 horses onsite are having temperatures taken 2 times a day and are being monitored closely.
 
(We are in need of Digital Thermometers 4 have broken so far they seem not to be made to take 66 temps a day)
 
Horses will be tested and vaccinated once signs of this are no longer present.
 
We will Re-Open once we have an all clear by Management. (Possibley Mid August)
If you like to help we are in great need of the following items. If you would like to donate these items feel free to drop them off at our gate at the facility or call 540-721-1910 to make arrangement to have them picked up.

Bleach, Lysol Cleaner, Lysol Spray, Pine Sol, Germ-X Hand Sanitizer, Scrubbing brushes, scrubbing sponges, paper towels, large heavy trash bags, large soaking trays for human feet bleach soaks.

July 19th – new items needed – Vaseline, betadine surgical scrub, betadine solution and swat 

As of July 18th – The horses which are getting sick are having a difficult time swallowing which is keeping them from eating and they are dropping weight.  We are finding that soaking of their feed (Sentinel LS) and alfalfa cubes is helping to keep them eating.  If you like to donate these need two items you can contact Holdren’s Country Store in Vinton.  540-344-6053 you can ask for Keller he will be happy to help you.

We really need everyone’s help with the funds to have horses tested and vaccinated. The cost of one test is $60.00+. Horses will need at least 3 test then their vaccine at $15.00-$19.00. A Price of $197.00 to $217.00 per horse.

Please help if you can!

 

 

Each day I will do my best to let our supporters, volunteers and donors know how the horses here are doing during this outbreak. It is important to me keep the truth out there and keep the horse community informed of our situation.  So if you have any questions please feel free to post them here.

Quick Background – After returning from horse classes in Montana on July 3rd to get my EPA certification and checking out each horse during my normal feeding routine.  The first 5 were found to be sick.

For the last 8 years we have been taking in sick and abused horses without a case of strangles.  I believe it is because of our new intake quarantine practices.  Every horse is kept away from the herd for up to 30 days.  The only thing we can think of is the week prior to leaving for Montana we had 4 visitors who came out to see the horses for possible adoption who could have been exposed prior to coming out here.   This is so easy to spread we may never know.  One of our rescued horses could be a carrier who has never shown any signs.

July 9th – Since July 5th only the first 5 horse are showing signs of strangles.  All of the five have been placed in our main barn which is where any of the horses that begin to run a fever will be placed.  Each horse has it temperature done 2 times a day.

3 areas have been set up

1)      Infected horses – In the Main Barn

2)      Horses that have been exposed to or contacted infected horses – In the Hill Barn

3)      Clean horses with no exposure – Pals Barn to the Donkey Pen

No horse will be kept in the front field which connects to the front gate to keep anyone from coming into contact with any horse here on the property.

Myself (Pat Muncy) and with the help of the following people (Thank you guys) Jason, Raymond, Susan, Cindy, Greg and Vickie we are working to get each and every barn, water trough and horse item used at the facility cleaned and sanitized.  This is turning out to be a time consuming and back breaking project.  Each barn is being pulled apart and cleaned along with the normal day to day tasks which still need to done.  We can’t do it alone if you would like to help here at the facility let me know.  The only thing that i ask is that you have no contact with any other horses.  It is very important to me that this outbreak not leave this facility.

Please read updates below.

23 comments found

  1. We have begun testing of horse that did not get sick. They now have been vaccinated and have a negative strangles test result. They are as follows:
    Permanent Residents: 3
    Nestle – Sparky – Blair
    My Personal Horses: 3
    Montana – Mr. Scott – Thunder
    Assistant Care Horses: 2
    Rouge – Lilly
    RVHR Herd: 12
    Daisy – Lady Freckles – Freckie – Taffy – Sandford – Boxer – Diamond – Kotori – Annie – Happy – Diva – Fonzi

    The RVHR 12 are now available once again for placement with conditions.

  2. We have now lost a horse due to the outbreak.
    Cisco was euthanized 9/22/11 due to extreme complications from the strangles at the age of 21.

  3. You were full of personality and so beautiful, but I was still a little bit afraid, but not because of you. I was just a little nervous, is all. “Gettin’ older ain’t for sissies, is it, Baby?” I told you that day as I went in to get you. I was determined to overcome my lack of confidence. You made it so easy as you let me lead you out of the barn. As we walked together I looked at you and marveled at just how good looking you were. You looked ahead, but then at me as if to say, “No worries, ma’am. I’ll go with you. You’re doin’ just fine.” So we walked to the next barn where I took off the lead rope. I was helping you to your destination, but what you didn’t know was that you were really helping me. When we got there, I removed the rope, patted your neck and thanked you. You casually turned away and stepped out into the sunshine. Rest in peace now, dear Cisco. We’re heartbroken that you left us so soon, but we’ll see you in the sunshine one day. Love, Bonnie and Bill Wells.

  4. Since August 20th none of the horse have had a fever. We had hoped this was over. We have started to schedule testing which will begin on Sept 23rd for those horses which did not get sick. We will do our best to keep everyone posted of the results.

    We have one major problem due to the outbreak we now have 2 horses having very bad immune reactions from having had the strangles.

    Cisco and My Girl (Serenity) both were seen by Dr. Sumner today. My Girl has 3 large swollen clear fluid filled abscesses (similar to a blister) on her which have started to break open and drain.

    Cisco in a less than 24 hours had swollen all over his body with fluid from nose to tail. Very scary to see his nose was bleeding from both nostrils, he could not move his legs or neck; his legs were oozing clear liquid from his skin. He began to run a fever of 103 we had to keep an ice pack on his head to bring the swelling down on his sinuses then began to hosing him down from head to hoof every 2 hours to slow down the swelling throughout the rest of his body. Blood work was done his immune system could not be any lower or scarier. After Dr. Sumner gave him a dose of anti-inflammatory today all of the swelling in his legs, neck and body have begun to come down. He will now need to stay on the anti-inflammatory and 2 shots of penicillin along with Red-Cell and Barley Green until he is better. (4-5 weeks of treatment)

    Sorry about the nasty descriptions but I had no other way to describe it. Everyone was so upset no one took photos.

  5. Great News it has been almost 2 weeks now with no fevers. The last 2 horses Dutchess and Cisco are not showing any signs of being sick. We will soon begin testing of the horses which did not show any signs of being sick in the next few weeks. We hope to have the Quarantine lifted soon. We look forward to having our volunteers return. We have missed seeing everyone.

  6. Another 6 days and no fevers. Yah maybe the end is near. Cisco and Dutchess both still have a little bit of a runny nose and that is it. Strawberry and Noah are now starting to put weight back on thank goodness. Everyone else looks great and are doing well.

    The plan is once we see the last 2 showing no signs the testing of horses which did not get this will begin. If everyone else is all clear we will begin vaccinating those guys. Then the main barn, everything in it that the sick horse have come in contact with and outside areas will be cleaned, bleached and will sit with no horses in it for 30+ days before being used again.

    Thank you everyone for your support and prayers. You have no idea how much it has ment to us.

  7. Another 2 days and still holding at 14. Cisco is starting to feel better his fever is down now to 102. It just breaks my heart to see my own horses sick also. But they to have a job here with the rescue horses helping them adjust to a new life here.

    Cisco has been the guy around here to help the new arrivals settle in the best. Once the new arrivals have been here 30 day and are ready to go out with the herd he is the first one they go in with he never gives them a hard time and tends to take good care of them until they are ready to stand up for themselves.

    Dutchess is my blind appy and she helps me when we get any other new blind intakes. She is great with them tends to settle them down into there new lives here with us.

    They both still amaze me with the amount of love they have for me. It seem sometimes they know when i can use the extra support.

  8. I now have 2 more horses to add to the sick list.

    Strawberry – (4th assistant care) Started today with a drainage from his nose

    Cisco – (my horse) has now been running a fever of 102.7 for 3 readings.

    Noah has begun to heal with very little draining of one abscess left.

    Both of these two were in the paddock with Noah. Which leaves me Dutchess who starting to show signs – she is not eating normal.

    So we are now up to 12 horses

    August 10th – Nothing new to update we are still holding at 12 horses.

    August 15th – As of Today Cisco is the last one that is still sick with runny nose.

    August 18th – New to add to the list of sick horses is Dutchess. That now bring our total of horse who have gotten this to 14 of 33. Strawberry and Noah have been getting better as Cisco is still running a fever and still has a runny nose. We can only hope that this will end soon.

  9. Pat and Jason – I’m so sorry to hear about this! Do you still need digital thermometers, Lyson spray, PineSol, and paper towels? I have a friend who lives in Bedford, and I might be able to get her to pick these things up and get them to you. Is there a BJ’s in Bedford, Roanoke, or Lynchburg? If so, I might be able to do something via phone and credit card. Let me know.

    Marcia House
    Vice President
    Northern VA Coalition of Equestrian Organizations
    Secretary, Technical Animal Rescue of VA

  10. Pat,

    Send me an list of needed supplies and we will send out a email here at work for the employees to bring stuff in for you.

    Stafford County Utility Dept, VA

  11. Things are looking up after 3 days not 1 of the 33 horses have a fever. Maybe just maybe the end of this is near.

    Noah still has draining abscesses so we are keeping a close eye on the 2 horses that are with him and keep our figures crossed that they stay healthy. Just so you understand why we haven’t moved him away from the other 2 Noah is blind along with the other 2 and they do not do well with the sighted horses.

    Because we don’t know the backgrounds on these guys when they are sent to us we have no clue as to if they ever had strangles before or were vaccinated at one time or not. We can only hope to see the end of this outbreak soon.

    The 6 in the Q Barn are ready to move on out with the first 3. All of the abscesses have stopped draining, along with noses no fevers now for over 5 days, everyone is eating again really well and back to their normal horsey selves. I am looking forward to moving them out today to a larger area and see them stretch their legs.

    1. Katie, Yes i could use some help if you guys want to start coming back to help. Give me a Call 540-721-1910. Hope to see you soon.

  13. Things are coming along just fine. NO new horses to report. We are in our 4th week now with very little change to talk about. Being this is our first time dealing with strangles I wanted to share something with you that we have observed in the horses whom have gotten sick. They say the signs are loss of appetite, fever, thick yellow runny noses and abscesses. Well what we have also noticed is a significant loss of mass in the Loin Area. The horses that have gotten sick so far have NOT had all of the signs. Some have had no fever at all but have draining abscesses, while other ran very high fevers with no other signs. But each and every one that has gotten this has had significant loss in there loin areas which has been very noticeable.

    D. T. (Assistant Care) – small abscesse still draining

    Lamont – small abscesse still draining

    Selene – draining nose, NO abscesses

    My Girl (my horse) draining nose, abscesses draining

    Fury – Fever gone – No other signs as of yet

    P. Boy N. (2nd Assistant Care) Fever gone, draining nose

    Noah – (3rd Assistant Care) Abscesse draining

  14. We have 1 more horse to add to the list above

    Noah – (3rd Assistant Care) 7/23 abscesses

    Total so far whom have gotten sick is now 10 of 33 horses on site.

  15. At this time we now have 6 horses’ sick, showing signs and are in the main barn quarantined from the herd. I was thinking it would be easier to follow by listing each of them and their progress.

    Original cases 7/5:
    Chantilly, Grady, Sheldon- 7/18 – have been moved to a paddock they no longer have fevers, discharge and the abscesses have stopped draining, have closed and healed

    D. T. (Assistant Care) – 7/22 – Still in Q. Barn abscesses still draining

    Lamont – 7/22 – Still in Q. Barn abscesses still draining

    Selene – 7/22 Fever 102.8-104.5since 7/11, draining nose, NO abscesses

    My Girl (my horse) – 7/22 Fever 102.6-104.5since 7/11, draining nose, abscesses not draining

    Fury – 7/22 Fever 102.6-104.5since 7/10 No other signs

    P. Boy N. (2nd Assistant Care) – 7/22 Fever 102.6-104.5since 7/10 No other signs

    We are still in need of cleaning supplies and other items listed above. Going on 4 weeks of taking temps 2x a day we are now down to 4 thermometers working out of 12. We have used up all of our swat and Betadine Solution and scrub on those horses which are having their abscesses cleaned every night. We have 5 gallons of bleach left along with a few bottles of Lysol cleaner. We have been pressure washing and cleaning the barn down every night with those that are being donated.

    Thank you to everyone who has been by and dropped off supplies.

  16. new items needed – Vaseline, betadine surgical scrub, betadine solution and swat

  17. The horses which are getting sick are having a difficult time swallowing which is keeping them from eating and they are dropping weight. We are finding that soaking of their feed (Sentinel LS) and alfalfa cubes is helping to keep them eating. If you like to donate these need two items you can contact Holdren’s Country Store in Vinton. 540-344-6053 you can ask for Keller he will be happy to help you.

  18. All is going well. Chantilly, Sheldon and Grady have been moved to a paddock they no longer have fevers, discharge and the abscesses have stopped draining and have closed and healed with very little signs they were even sick.

    Lamont and assisted care horse still have a little draining yet of the abscesses but are doing well. Selene and one of my horses which started showing signs on the 14th are progressing with all the signs and being kept as comfortable as we can.

    Happy and another of my horses which we thought were running high fevers are not showing any other signs of being sick we believe the high temps were due to the high heat index last week. They were very low (99.5) in the am reading and high (102.1) in the evenings.

    Fury has now be moved into the quarantine area with the others he is now running a fever of 103.1+ for 3 readings.

    How wonderful it would have been to have the Medical barn already built to house the sick horses in during this outbreak. A area that would have been so much easier for us to clean and sterilize in between each horse as they got sick. Each evening our main barn where we are housing the sick horses is being pressured wash down sterilized the best we can. With dirt flooring with mats and wood walls it has been a messy job. With the help of Bonnie and Bill Wells two of our regular volunteers here Pals barn and its contents have been cleaned and sterilized also. Thank you so much you guys.

    Most every horse that has been affected are the younger horses that are here in our care.

    1. You are very welcome, Pat. We were most happy to disinfect Pal’s Barn. With your vigilance & hard work, and the help of everyone else who loves these babies, we are confident everything will be back to normal in no time at all. Keep up the good work!

  19. Well it didn’t last long Selene, Fury and two of my horses are now running fevers above 102.2. Selene has discharge and one of my horses has abscesses. We continue to move them into different areas as they begin to show signs. The first 5 are now with temps under 100.8 and abscesses have begun to heal closed with no more drainage. Those who have gotten over it will continue to stay separated from the general herd. Dr. Christopher Sumner with Pell Animal Clinic here in Franklin County has verified that the horses do have Strangles. He will be assisting the staff and management with the care of the sick horses. Since the new 4 have begun to show signs we will be under quarantine for an additional 30 days from July 14th. This unfortunately means no horses can come into the rescue or any horse can be adopted out. We are scheduled to start testing those horses that have not shown any signs of strangles along with the first 5 that are almost over it on or about August 5th. The horses which test negative will be given their first strangles vaccine. We are working on adding the Strangles Vaccine into our normal yearly vaccine program.

  20. July 13th, 9am – Wonderful News to share Temp readings this morning not one horse at the facility has a temp over 101.3. Normal Temp Range is 99.8 to 101.3. The first 5 horses are doing well they are back to their normal acting like the baby’s they are. All 5 Horses are 4 and under.

  21. July 12th, first 5 horse’s temps have come down to under 102. Each of them are still draining abbesses. We now have 4 more horse’s moved to an area which are running a fever of 102+. (2 of my personal horses and Rescue horses Selene and Happy) We will continue to check everyone 2 times a day and move them accordingly.

Comments are closed.