Page 504 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

toxin and help to prevent constipation

• Botulism antitoxin given early in the course of the disease greatly increases the horse’s
VetBooks.ir chance of survival. This is given as a slow, intravenous infusion. It binds with toxin in the

circulation and prevents the disease progressing. However, it does not affect the toxin
already bound to the neuromuscular junctions or change the existing clinical signs. The

antitoxin is very expensive and not readily available. Administration is essential for any
horse with severe signs, but it does not guarantee its survival. Mildly affected animals
that have only been exposed to a small dose of toxin may survive without it.

• Good nursing is vital for these patients. If they are unable to stand, they must be provided

with thick, comfortable beds and turned regularly to prevent pressure sores. Bandaging
the legs with thick padding will afford some protection. They may need urinary
catheterisation to prevent cystitis and frequent application of ocular lubricant as the

reduced eyelid tone can lead to drying and ulceration of the cornea.

• Regular turning also helps to reduce congestion of the lungs of recumbent horses.
Wherever possible, they should be propped up onto their sternums.

• A nasogastric tube can be sutured in place or passed several times a day to ensure the
horse has enough food and water. An appropriate gruel or soaked complete diet and

fluid/electrolyte mixture will be recommended by the vet.
• Horses that are dysphagic (have difficulty swallowing) may be at risk from inhalation

pneumonia. Those horses that cough while attempting to eat should be muzzled to reduce

this risk and fed by stomach tube.
• Antibiotics are used if wound infection is thought to be the source of the problem, if the

horse is unable to get up or if the horse is considered to be at risk of developing
aspiration pneumonia.

Prevention

In certain parts of the United States, a vaccine is successful in preventing the disease in areas
where it commonly occurs. This is not available or necessary in the UK where the outbreaks

are infrequent, but the following precautions apply.
• Every attempt should be made to minimize the inclusion of soil and dead animals when

silage or haylage is made.
• Bales of silage should be stored in such a way that they are unlikely to be spoiled or

damaged. If they are accidentally split open or spoiled by rodents, they should be

discarded.
• The risk of botulism is reduced by not feeding silage to horses.