Northwest Horse Owners Reminded To Vaccinate Against West Nile

With the summer heat comes the risk of West Nile, a very dangerous virus for horses. Dr. Amber Itle, Washington State veterinarian, said West Nile is transmitted by mosquitoes, so it’s important that horse owners try to minimize the places mosquitoes live and breed. And that means looking around for standing water.

“Just looking for maybe tires, or buckets or, you know other things that are around that might be holding on to larva," Itle said. "So, getting rid of that. And then thinking about fly control for your horses, for sure."

She noted standing water is a good first step, and the next step is vaccination.

“We have a very good vaccine. It's been around for a lot of years and so this disease is completely preventable with vaccination. So, work with your veterinarian. Make sure your horse is up to date," Itle said. "It's worth the money. It really is. Because when horses get West Nile, they don't have a good recovery. It causes neurologic disease, and it's really a sad and devastating disease.”