WCVM hospital resumes equine services
The equine ward at the WCVM's Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Photo: Debra Marshall.
Based on the results of diagnostic tests, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine has resumed all regular clinical services for equine patients at its Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
The decision, which took effect at 6:00 p.m. on April 11, ends a 29-day suspension of non-emergency equine admissions to control the risk of equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1) spread at the facility.
WCVM’s Large Animal Clinic initiated the restrictions on March 14 after the admission of two horses from a local riding stable that proved to be suffering from the neurologic form of EHV-1 infection.
During the next three weeks, WCVM veterinarians identified more affected animals at the same stable and at a second private farm. It’s believed that all cases on the second farm are linked to the initial outbreak of EHV-1 at the first farm.
As of April 11, WCVM veterinarians believe that more than 100 horses at two farms in the Saskatoon area were exposed to the equine herpes virus in the previous four weeks. About 20 per cent of those horses developed clinical signs of the neurologic form of EHV-1, and one horse was euthanized due to severe neurologic signs.
