Equine Herpesvirus Welfare Management

Equine herpesvirus infections cause respiratory disease, abortion, and neurological syndrome, with welfare and biosecurity implications across horse populations.

Key Facts

EHV-1 and EHV-4 are endemic in horse populations globally — most horses are exposed in early life
EHV-1 can cause equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy, a neurological syndrome with significant welfare and mortality implications
Outbreaks of EHV-1 neuropathic strain have caused significant welfare crises at equestrian events globally
Vaccination reduces respiratory disease severity but does not reliably prevent neurological or abortion cases
Biosecurity measures including temperature monitoring, movement restrictions, and disinfection are critical outbreak management tools
Horses with neurological EHV-1 experience ataxia, weakness, and urinary incontinence that significantly impairs welfare
Recovery from mild neurological EHV-1 is possible with intensive nursing care — welfare decisions during recovery are complex
Silent shedders — horses without clinical signs — drive transmission, making biosecurity essential even in apparently healthy herds

Welfare Considerations

Equine herpesvirus welfare management requires balancing the acute welfare needs of affected horses against the biosecurity imperative of preventing spread to other animals. Horses experiencing neurological EHV-1 syndrome may require intensive nursing care including bladder management, prevention of recumbency complications, and pain management that represents a significant welfare investment. Decisions about euthanasia in severely affected horses require careful quality-of-life assessment — some horses recover substantially while others experience prolonged suffering without improvement. The welfare obligation is to provide excellent supportive care while making timely euthanasia decisions when recovery to acceptable welfare is not achievable.

What You Can Do

Maintain current EHV vaccination schedules for all horses — vaccination reduces severity if not prevent infection
Implement temperature monitoring protocols for horses at events and on return from mixing with other horses
Follow movement restriction guidance during confirmed EHV outbreaks in your region
Report suspected EHV cases to your veterinarian immediately — early diagnosis enables faster biosecurity response
Support research into more effective EHV vaccines that prevent neurological and abortion cases
Learn outbreak biosecurity procedures so you can implement them quickly if required