Spring Fevers

Respiratory problems are frequent health issues for horses, and are often associated with microbial infections. For horse owners preparing for spring competitions or the birth of foals, a review of respiratory diseases is timely. Owners need to

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Respiratory problems are frequent health issues for horses, and are often associated with microbial infections. For horse owners preparing for spring competitions or the birth of foals, a review of respiratory diseases is timely. Owners need to recognize early signs of respiratory infections to minimize the spread to other horses and to initiate prompt veterinary treatment. The impact of these infectious respiratory diseases can be minimized by strategic vaccination and smart management practices.


Respiratory diseases in horses are similar to those in humans, which can help owners recognize, control, and prevent these diseases. Just as in humans, some respiratory diseases are much more contagious than others and can spread rapidly. The best approach is to treat any horse with fever and nasal discharge as potentially contagious until a veterinarian can prove otherwise.


Influenza has the greatest impact on horses because it spreads rapidly due to the potential of viruses to be transmitted in respiratory aerosols (like human sneezes) as well as the very short incubation period of one to three days. Natural immunity to the virus is short-lived (several months), meaning a horse can be re-infected quickly.


A horse that develops influenza usually acts unwell, often doesn’t eat, and has a high fever, watery nasal discharge, and a cough. A few can develop secondary bacterial pneumonia or inflammation of the heart muscle, both of which can be fatal. The cough might persist for days. A rapid diagnostic test is available to identify the source of the respiratory signs

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Written by:

Julia H. Wilson, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, is an Associate Professor of Veterinary Population Medicine and Division Head of Large Animal Medicine at the University of Minnesota.

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