Vesicular Stomatitis Virus

Clinical signs may appear 2 to 8 days after exposure. Here's what to look for:

• Drooling or frothing at the mouth
  • The first sign of illness is often excessive salivation. If you look inside the mouth, you'll see blanched and raised blisters on the inner surfaces of the lips, gums, tongue, or dental pad.
• Lesions
  • Blister-like lesions can form around the mouth, nose, sheath, udders, ears, and coronary band (where an animal's hairline meets their hooves). If lesions develop around the coronary band, lameness may occur.
• Fever
  • You may notice a rise in body temperature before or at the same time lesions first appear.
• Reluctance to eat
  • The blisters swell and break open, which causes mouth pain, discomfort, and reluctance to eat or drink. This can cause weight loss.

Although experimental vaccines have been developed, none have been approved for use in horses. The best way to prevent the disease is by:

• Isolating new horses before introducing them to your herd.
• Controlling insects on your property with fly traps, sprays, and clean horse pens.
• Separating sick horses from healthy horses on your property.
• Handling healthy animals before sick animals.
• Washing and disinfecting your hands and boots after working with sick animals. If possible, change and wash your clothes as well.

Vesicular stomatitis is treated with supportive care. Since the lesions may be quite painful, your veterinarian may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs. If your animal is having trouble eating, softening their grain in warm water could encourage them to eat more. Softening hay cubes can also help if they're having trouble eating grass and hay. If secondary infections develop around lesions, your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics.