Dogs and horses go together like peanut butter and jelly. Many show horse owners are also dog owners and enthusiasts, and consider their dogs to be a huge part of their family. As such, dogs often accompany their owners to horse shows. However, there are several health concerns that dog owners should be aware of when they take their dogs to horse shows and to make your experience a positive one.

Having a happy and fun horse show with your dog starts at home before the horse show. Start by making sure your dog’s vaccines are up to date, and in particular the rabies vaccine. The rabies vaccine is a legal requirement for dogs in every state. Dogs who have had a rabies vaccine but it is now expired are considered to be unvaccinated by veterinarians and the animal control authorities, so if there is a situation where your dog is bitten, or bites someone, the authorities can make you quarantine your dog from other people and dogs for a lengthy period of time. Depending on state regulations where the incident took place, this can mean your dog may be quarantined in a kennel (either commercial or at home) for up to six months. Rabies vaccines are inexpensive and effective.

Parvovirus is also a concern, particularly with a new puppy. Parvo is a serious, very highly contagious viral disease of the GI tract that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and death very, very quickly. The method of transmission is fecal to oral, so this means that puppies contract parvovirus by touching, eating or licking areas where other dogs have been. At a horse show grounds, this is everywhere! Just because a young puppy has started his vaccine series does not mean he is fully protected against those diseases. The first vaccine simply primes the immune system, but it is the second, third and possibly fourth booster vaccines that actually stimulate the immunity. I would strongly advise against taking young puppies to horse shows, but if that is not possible, then carrying them as much as possible and keeping them off the ground is key in preventing your puppy from picking up the virus.

Parvo is often deadly to puppies without treatment, and treating them requires intensive fluid and medication therapy in an isolation unit of a hospital. Even with treatment, 30 percent of puppies who contract parvo will die. Again, prevention is key and the vaccines are inexpensive compared to treating parvo, and also very effective. The majority of puppies who are vaccinated appropriately against parvo will not become ill. New puppies should receive their first vet exam and vaccines between six and eight weeks of age.

Another contagious disease to be concerned about is kennel cough. When a lot of dogs from different areas come together in one space, it is a prime place for kennel cough to be spread among many dogs, While kennel cough is not commonly deadly, it is very uncomfortable for the dog, and very annoying to owners who have to try to sleep with a loudly coughing dog. There are vaccines available – oral, injectable, and nasal – that aid in the prevention of kennel cough. While they are not perfect, they really help keep the chances of contracting the disease down.

Keep a current copy of your dog’s vaccine record, and a copy of the current rabies vaccine certificate with you at all times. You can obtain a copy by asking your veterinarian. Having a copy in the glove box of your hauling truck so you can access it in an emergency situation is simple.

Also, take a moment before the horse show to research the town where you are going. Look to see if there is a local veterinarian who takes non-client emergencies during the day, or if there is a 24 hour or after-hours/ weekends emergency practice in the area. Make a list of phone numbers in the areas where you commonly travel, and keep that with your vaccine records.

Dogs should be under the control of their owners at all times. This means keeping a dog on a leash at all times, or confining him while they are busy doing other things. At a horse show, there is going to be a large mix of dogs who are strangers to one another. Dogs who are strange to one another may get into fights with each other over things that they may not normally be protective over at home – such as their owners, the tack stall space, or food. Dogs who are running at large can tend to form packs that may also act more aggressively than a single dog – this is the “pack mentality.” Also, dogs who are loose are also able to eat and get into things that they normally would not be exposed to at home. For example, a lot of horse show food tends to be deep fried, and high fat foods can set a dog up for a very serious gastrointestinal disturbance called pancreatitis. Also, they can chew up items like fabric, tack, balls, etc which could cause an obstruction in the intestines that may require surgery.

Tanis MacDonald Walker, DVM graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College on Prince Edward Island and currently practices both small animal emergency and equine medicine in Delaware. You can email her at tanis_macdonald@hotmail.com or visit her at www.drtanis.com. You can also write to her in care of InStride Edition.