Vesicular Stomatitis
By Kathryn Beers, DVM
Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) is a viral disease that can affect horses, cattle, sheep, goats and camelids. It is seen in Central America, Mexico and the Southwestern United States (AZ, UT, NM, CO). Additionally, the clinical signs of VS are nearly identical to Foot and Mouth Disease, the virus which devastated the United Kingdom’s cattle industry in 2001. This has prompted the Office International De Epizooties (OIE), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) to put strict regulations on disease reporting by Veterinarians and interstate equine travel whenever a VS outbreak occurs.
Common signs of VS include ulcers on the tongue, gums, lips or coronary bands. Other areas that may develop lesions are the mammary glands, external genitalia and the ears/face. Horses may also have a fever for several days. Most animals are able to overcome a VS infection, however secondary complications such as bacterial infection, laminitis, dehydration and weight loss can hinder recovery.
Treatment of VS consists of supportive care – painkillers, antibiotics if there is a secondary infection; IV fluids if there is dehydration, feeding tubes if the animal is anorexic, corrective trimming and shoeing if there are painful coronary band lesions and antiseptic care of the vesicular lesions.
Any new horses at your home or facility should be kept separate (quarantined) for at least a week. Animals showing signs should be seen by a veterinarian ASAP. VS can affect humans typically causing flu-like symptoms, so proper precautions are a must! Insect control is also of utmost importance. Repellants, avoidance of standing water (breeding grounds for mosquitoes) and manure removal all aid in decreased VS transmission and spread.
Additional information regarding VS and foot and mouth disease may be found @ the University of Arizona’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory’s website which is:
