Heart Infections

We wanted to share this article from thehorse.com since one of our residents was very recently treated for endocarditis. Fitz' heart infection is believed to be a complication of badly infected teeth and long-standing periodontal disease.

Important points to note:

"Relatively rare in horses, endocarditis develops from bacteria circulating in the blood secondary to a primary infection elsewhere in the body."

"Early detection is key in treating endocarditis, which requires high doses of antibiotics for four to six weeks. However, prevention is the best plan, according to Porter. "The only way to protect your horse from endocarditis is to treat primary infections quickly and with the appropriate treatment," she said."

The Horse: Heart Infections More Common Among Young Horses

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