Anthrax is an acute, often fatal infectious disease that mainly affects cattle and sheep, but horses are also highly susceptible. The disease gets its name from the "burnt" appearance of the spleen in infected animals. Anthrax is found worldwide and is considered a zoonosis, as it is also dangerous to humans. It is a notifiable animal disease, but is now rarely observed in Germany. The anthrax bacterium is considered one of the most dangerous pathogens and could also be used by terrorists as a biological weapon.
The pathogen that causes anthrax is the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The actual infectious form is the spores produced by the pathogen, which are a permanent form of the bacterium. These spores are very resistant and can survive in the soil for many years. They are considered the most resistant permanent forms in the bacterial kingdom. Even decay, dryness, the tanning process, and leather preservation do not kill them.
For a long time, pasture soils were contaminated for years or decades by the excrement of animals infected with anthrax or by carcasses. Transmission occurs through feed or water contaminated with anthrax spores; there is no infection from animal to animal. In the animal or human organism, the spores transform back into reproducible pathogens, where they secrete highly potent toxins that destroy tissue through bleeding, severe inflammatory reactions, and edema (water retention).
Thanks to comprehensive official control measures and modern animal carcass disposal facilities, the disease has been virtually eradicated, at least in Germany. However, the disease still occurs regularly in the Middle East, so there is still a risk that the pathogen could be introduced through imports of animal raw materials such as hides, skins, hair, or wool.
After an incubation period (the time between infection and the onset of symptoms) of only one to two days, the first symptoms appear. Different courses of the disease have been described.
In horses, peracute forms of the disease can occur, in which the animals suddenly collapse and die before clinical symptoms appear, while working, in the stable, or even in the pasture.
The acute form is characterized by high fever, increased heart rate, labored breathing, pale blue mucous membranes, and colic with bloody diarrhea. The animals are initially highly agitated, then show depressive behavior, increasing weakness, unsteady gait, and muscle cramps. Death occurs within a few hours to several days due to suffocation.
During the subacute course, symptoms similar to those in the acute form occur, but there is intermittent improvement in the symptoms. Recurrent colic, only slightly elevated body temperature, and lower jaw edema (= water retention) may occur. The subacute course can last for months, and the affected horses may recover or ultimately die from colic.
Horses can also develop a local form of anthrax called cutaneous anthrax. This usually occurs after infection with the pathogen through blood-sucking insects, causing pus-filled boils and fluid accumulation in the skin and subcutaneous tissue. These so-called carbuncles are commonly found on the neck, chest, abdomen, and limbs.
The veterinarian can and may only make a suspected diagnosis on a live animal, as taking samples is too dangerous due to the potential spread of the pathogen. The disease is a notifiable animal disease, which means that even a suspected infection must be reported immediately to the competent veterinary authority.
Since the blood of dead animals contains large quantities of the pathogen, which would immediately form spores on contact with the outside air, the carcasses must not be cut open on site under any circumstances. Due to the high risk of infection, tests to detect the pathogen are carried out exclusively in special high-security laboratories.
As this is a notifiable animal disease, independent treatment attempts are prohibited. Once a suspected case of anthrax has been reported, the competent authority will initiate the control measures prescribed by the state. These may include the killing and safe disposal of sick and suspect animals.
With the exception of cutaneous anthrax, the prognosis for anthrax infection is poor. Due to reporting requirements and legal regulations, sick or suspected animals must usually be killed anyway.
Thanks to legal regulations for combating anthrax, the disease has already been virtually eradicated in Germany. There is currently no approved vaccine for animals.
If an outbreak of anthrax occurs in a herd, the following preventive measures can help to prevent the pathogen from spreading further:
Lens dislocation, medically known as luxatio lentis, is an eye condition in which the lens becomes detached and displaced from its natural position. By obstructing the flow of aqueous humor, this condition can quickly lead to a dangerous increase in intraocular pressure. If not treated in time, it can result in blindness.
The weather is beautiful this weekend and you are going for a long ride on your horse. But right at the start of the first gallop, the horse suddenly becomes very stiff and starts sweating unusually heavily. It hardly wants to move and is pressing its back down. However, these signs seem too severe for simple muscle soreness, especially since you haven't done anything with the horse in the last few days. Avoid any further movement of the horse and always contact a veterinarian immediately in such cases, as the symptoms described above are very painful and may be the first signs of a cross-ties. As this muscle disease occurs frequently after horses have not been worked for one or more days with the same feed ration, it is also known as "holiday sickness" or "Monday morning disease." However, horses that are worked regularly can also fall ill. Young horses of heavy breeds are particularly at risk. This disease was greatly feared in the days when carriage and work horses were heavily used. Today, it only occurs sporadically, mostly in easy-to-feed horses with good nutritional status.
This condition, which has been known since the Middle Ages, is a movement disorder that affects only the horse’s hind legs. When the horse is being led, one or both hind legs are bent excessively and jerkily, so that the pastern almost touches the belly, and then are set down just as abruptly. The strutting gait resembles a rooster’s strut—hence the name.
Tooth fractures are relatively common in dogs and are usually caused by playing with stones or sticks, biting, or accidents. This can result in small, sharp chips in the enamel or larger defects that expose the pulp (nerve and blood vessels). If the pulp cavity is exposed, the tooth should be treated as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infection and preserve the tooth. The incisors, canines, and fangs are primarily affected. Young dogs are particularly at risk because their teeth are still developing and are therefore much more unstable than those of adult dogs.
Just like us humans, our pets may also require surgical or diagnostic procedures that cannot be performed on an awake animal. Most operations and some diagnostic procedures, such as endoscopies or dental treatment, require anesthesia (a medically induced state of sleep), which carries certain risks even in healthy animals and during routine procedures. We will explain what you need to bear in mind before and after such a procedure in order to minimize these risks and what complications can arise during anesthesia.
Leukosis is a tumorous disease of the hematopoietic system and, unlike in dogs or cattle, is relatively rare in horses. Lymphatic leukosis is the most common form in horses and develops as a result of the degeneration of cells in the immune system.
A must-have in every horse stable: a box containing the most important items for providing first aid or minor treatment to your horse yourself.
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. Since horses have a significantly higher seizure threshold than small animals or humans, for example, seizure disorders are relatively rare in horses. Seizures only occur in horses with severe brain damage. Foals, on the other hand, have a significantly lower seizure threshold and are more susceptible to seizure-triggering factors.
Feline panleukopenia, also known as parvovirus or panleukopenia, is an acute, serious infectious disease that is particularly dangerous and even life-threatening for young, unvaccinated cats. Thanks to an effective vaccine, this disease can now be easily prevented.
Lush green meadows, a small herd of horses galloping towards someone calling from afar, the sun shining from a cloudless sky... how beautiful are the images of summer! And what a time for our horses, when they can live as close to their natural state as possible. Nevertheless, grazing time also requires appropriate management, regardless of whether the horses are only out to pasture for a few hours or live on permanent pasture for months at a time.
Mycoplasmosis is the most common respiratory disease in rats. Also known as murine respiratory mycoplasmosis (MRM), this disease is caused by a bacterium that is very common in pet rats and is chronic and progressive.
Skin fungal infections are also common in chinchillas. The most common are ringworm and bald patch, which cause changes to the fur and skin of chinchillas. Skin fungal infections are not life-threatening, but can lead to persistent problems due to their contagious nature. Skin fungi can also be transmitted to or from humans to animals, which is referred to as a zoonosis.
