Those who import/export horses by air...

Firewell

Firewell

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 May 2008
Messages
7,817
Visit site
Is it normal when moving horses countries for them to pick up sickness bugs in their new destination?
My horse has been in the states now for about 5 weeks (flew from UK) and the past few days he has picked up a nasty cough and it's not the hay.
I have a feeling it's a virus although he is fine in himself and looks amazing.
Any experiences from people who have flown horses appreciated :).
 
I would guess they are like people, and are more susceptible to germs in new surroundings as they won't have the right anti bodies to fight off the germs.

Didnt the common cold wipe out a load of red Indians?
 
Not imported by air, but one of mine imported from Ireland by ferry developed a terrible cough, was fine in himself in all other ways. Told the vet and he just said they often pick things up travelling as the stress lowers their immune system, despite the fact he didn't look stressed at all ! 2 weeks later he was absolutely fine.
 
Thanks I was thinking similar thing. I know first couple of times I came to America I picked up a flu bug.
I didn't want to panic and call the vet unnecessarily, I'll see how he is over thenext few days :)
 
"Shipping fever" is very common and part of the reason transporters take vitals regularly and hold horses if they have elevated temperatures.

Aside from that, yes, it's very common for horses that move to very different environments to react baldly to all sorts of things, from bacteria and fungi in the soil, to allergens to common varieties of viruses. It's common for big barns to import horses to the Florida shows as it's easy to get a shipment together and the horses routinely get everything going, even though they come from very dense populations. Even horses from the norther States and Canada react to environmental triggers, like fungi in the sand.

I hate to say it but the horse that came to me from Canada took over year to adjust completely, although he has always been prone to immune issues.

I don't think there is reason to panic, especially for a horse out of racing, that would have more exposure than most, but I wouldn't let it go either as he really may just not have the antibodies he needs to fight it off, especially considering the stress of recent travel.
 
wench said:
I would guess they are like people, and are more susceptible to germs in new surroundings as they won't have the right anti bodies to fight off the germs.

Didnt the common cold wipe out a load of red Indians?
Click to expand...

More along the lines of smallpox, influenza, plague, tb, measles etc, so all known fatal diseases. (Not "red Indians" either, please, that is quite a pejorative term! :))
 
Last edited:
Thanks, he's never had a cough before. He looks and feels fantastic, fat, shiney with bright eyes and tons of energy. If he's still coughing in 2 days or he gets atemp i'll call the vet. Hope he's ok!
 
I would take temperature twice day to give you an idea if anything is happening. I notice a lot of trainers shipping horses for big races don't give them long before the event.
 
In my experience transit fever would have come on a lot sooner and is something quite frightening in its extreme.I am sure he has just been challenged by something he has not encountered before.
 
popsdosh said:
In my experience transit fever would have come on a lot sooner and is something quite frightening in its extreme.I am sure he has just been challenged by something he has not encountered before.
Click to expand...

Exactly this. It is usually a bacterial pleuropneumonia and occurs in the few days after shipping.
 
Someone I worked with regularly imported eventers from New Zealand and he believed it took them a whole year to adapt to the climate and environment over here in England...sure he will be fine especially with super vigilant owner like yourself...:)
 
almostthere said:
Someone I worked with regularly imported eventers from New Zealand and he believed it took them a whole year to adapt to the climate and environment over here in England...sure he will be fine especially with super vigilant owner like yourself...:)
Click to expand...
That is partly also the summer / winter thing plus a lot of NZ horses may not have encountered chlorinated water, or so I have been told.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top