Helpful Hints

I have had a similar experience in the treatment of my horses. None of them had worked for 17 days before they got the flu (in fact one hadn't worked for over a year and the other ever in its life - unbroken). I knew when EI was only a few days away and uped the ante regarding monitoring. The one horse I ride (19 yo) presented with lethargy, laboured breathing and a horrible yellow nose and I immediately took his temperature (39.7) and administered Bute and antibiotic powder (reported him to the DPI) and called the vet. The vet came out and declared he was "flatter" than he would have liked so gave him a couple of injections. Both other horses were started on bute and powdered antibiotic. On Day 7 the air temp was close to 40 and my horse looked very unwell despite twice daily treatment. The vet came back out and listened to his chest and put him straight on bronchiodilator. Five days later he came out again and started the horse on multivitamin injections to help him on the uphill road. He was by far the sickest of the three, one of the other two spiked a temp once, had a runny nose for two days and then wondered what all the fuss was about!

I was very lucky that my vet had gained unprecedented experience with EI in the weeks before my horses got sick (if the red zone in Qld has a ripple effect, we are right next to where the stone hit the water!) and thinks the welfare of a sick horse is of paramount importance. We followed strict biosecurity measures and watched the horses like hawks.

My advice is don't wait - a temperature of 39.5 needs bute; a snotty nose (not clear) needs antibiotic; very laboured breathing needs a vet.
Best wishes to those waiting to get it and to those of us who have had it - sleep well.
Beth