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Re: Coggins



I've been there too... I watched EIA wipe out most of a boarding stable in
the early-70s in central Arkansas - I lived just down the street (and was
just a
teenager at the time - I'm dating myself here!).  Although I kept my horse
at a different stable, the epidemic was rampant and about a year later my
(older) horse was diagnosed with EIA (after displaying the "not so horrible"
symptons described in the article Howard copied to ridecamp - mostly just
lethargic - I suspect he'd carried the disease for years).  But I'd seen
what the disease had done to younger "healthy" horses & did not want to be
responsible for exposing other horses to this disease: I chose to euthanize
rather than try to isolate the horse.  Unfortunately, the next horse I
bought was also diagnosed with EIA within the year (like I said, the
epidemic was rampant in my area back then...).  Another painful
euthanization.  During all this, I had a friend whose horse was also
diagnosed with EIA... because putting the horse down would be "just too
painful", he was sold to a "nice person" who promised to keep him
quaranteened... 6 months later, we went to visit him & he had been sold... I
pity the stable he ended up at!

Hopefully, there have been some advances in treating the disease since the
mid-70s... and I don't think the coggins test is the answer to "treating"
this disease: obviously, a horse can be tested negative & 2 weeks later it
may be infected with a "paper" that declares it's "clean" for the next 6 to
12 months.  But it is not a disease to be taken lightly.


Susie Jones
AERC# 7997
(with fond memories of Sailor (the dachsund-shaped pinto "mutt") & Chispa
(the beautiful little chestnut mare), who - in a somewhat round-about-way -
taught me to truly respect life)

-----Original Message-----
From: guest@endurance.net <guest@endurance.net>
To: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Tuesday, November 28, 2000 6:18 PM
Subject: RC: Coggins


>someone who's been there klondikekatemule@cs.com
>Howard -
>As a chronic lurker on ridecamp, I usually enjoy your entertaining
articles/comments, but this time I must respond as your blatant ignorance of
this subject has got me running around the room screaming and pulling my
hair out.
>EIA does exist. It is real and it kills.  Those lucky enough to survive
become a source of infection and therefore propagate the killing.  I have
seen what EIA does.  I have seen entire barns come down with EIA - many have
died (not via euthanasia solution or guns) but rather have suffered a long,
slow, miserable, and very ugly death.  The liklihood of a carrier being the
source of infection for others is very probable in this state as there are
multiple biting insects here.  The liklihood of a bug having it's blood meal
disrupted, and thus moving on to another "victim" to finish it's meal is
high - isn't that why horses have tails????
>I have no idea where the author of that slanted article got their
(mis)information.  The numbers are readily available if you know where to
look.  How can the vet make $10 and the lab make $10 and someone has to pay
for the needle, the vacutainer tube, the paperwork, postage, and lab
materials when I only pay $18 for a coggins.  Seems to me like you guys are
using some kind of new math.
>The disease has not been eradicated because testing is not required in all
states.  It is only required under certain conditions which involve
transport or congregating.  It has not been listed as a disease for
eradication as it does not have significant economic impact.  It would if we
as a country raised horses for meat - I guarantee you this disease would
have long been eradicated by now.  So what is so money driven?????
>A positive coggins does NOT mean instant death - anyone with a clue knows
that further testing with other tests are performed (often by the goverment
for no charge  - is that money driven?)
>before any actions are taken.  Most states allow for quarantine of postive
animals that are not that difficult to follow.  No one can be forced to
euthanize their positive horse, but I don't want them near my horses.  My
horses are tested annually (and it doesn't even hurt!) and I will only take
my horses to places where all other equines are also negative.  Oh my, it
costs money to test! - If you don't want to spend the money - don't have the
horses!  Be responsible - keep your horses healthy and happy - vaccinate for
diseases we can control and keep them away from the diseases we can't.
>I was always taught that it is better to look at both sides of a subject,
become informed about said subject and make an educated decision rather that
spouting off in an irresponsible and emptyheaded manner about something you
know nothing about.
>I am under the assumption that the readers of ridecamp are caring enough
about their horses to seek complete and accurate information when it comes
to the healthcare of their animals.  The internet has provided a wealth of
information to our society, but one has to remember to read all with a grain
of salt as the nuts ar allowed to place their opinions online too.
>Last I checked, there was no intelligence requirement for posting.
>What are my credentials?  I make my living in the horse industry, have a
few assorted letters after my name, and know a number of you personally -
Look around - it may be me.  See you in camp.
>
>
>
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