Equine Pre-Purchase Examinations: 24 Hour Temperature Monitoring

Epona in Taupo

Posted on October 10, 2020

Epona Biotec was delighted to sponsor the CCN3* Horse Trials at the National Equestrian Centre in Taupo, New Zealand.  Epona Biotec CEO Dr Michael Hurley Congratulations to Olympian Matthew Grayling and Henton Ambassador for winning the event. 16 horses competed, including Apsley Backchat Kid ridden by Brittany Fowler in her first three-star event. Well done Brittany!  Brittany Fowler riding Apsley Backchat Kid Epona Biotec would like to thank organiser Denise Rushbrook, FEI Course Designer Philippa Howells, and Jan Sutherland from Take The Moment photography, for their superb organisation, hospitality and professionalism. Click here for the full Taupo Trial Results.

Strategic use of the VetTrue™ System in the field

Posted on May 12, 2021

Equine veterinarians commonly treat sick patients ‘in the field’ rather than have them transported to veterinary hospitals for follow-up care and monitoring. If the location of the horse is remote, logistics may dictate it can only be seen once every day or two. Monitoring the patient’s vital signs is of critical importance in assessing the state of health and response to treatment. The VetTrue™ System developed by Epona Biotec is state-of-the-art technology that allows veterinarians access to real-time core body temperature data from their patients in the field. By placing a disposable TailTab sensor beneath the tail, the horse’s body temperature is continually monitored and the data stored. When the veterinarian next visits the patient and opens the VetTrue™ App on their phone, the Tail Tab connects instantly via Bluetooth and downloads all temperature data since the last visit. The veterinarian can now see exactly how the horse is responding to treatment, and adjust antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medications precisely. These point-of-care sensors takes patient care and monitoring to an entirely new level. For further information on how your veterinary practice can improve equine care and monitoring with the applied use of technology visit www.eponabiotec.com.

High-Tech Temperature Monitoring in the Management of Infectious Disease Outbreaks

Posted on October 20, 2021

In a worldwide first, the VetTrue™ System from Epona Biotec has been successfully used in the management of an equine infectious disease outbreak. A pregnant mare on a Thoroughbred stud farm developed the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1). The mare was immediately isolated, but rapidly deterioration over several days, and was euthanised on humane grounds. EHV-1 is a highly contagious virus and easily spread by direct horse-to-horse contact or by indirect contact with contaminated objects. The stud farm immediately instigated biosecurity measures to contain the spread of the disease. These included segregation of staff and horses, and the mandatory use of PPE by all staff members.  Temperature monitoring during disease outbreaks is important for identifying other infected individuals. In a novel approach by the stud farm, three stallions and seventeen close contact mares had their temperatures remotely monitored using the VetTrue™ System. As the incubation period for EHV-1 is very short, further cases would be expected in the week following the first case if the disease were spreading on the farm. A fever is usually the first clinical sign seen with this viral infection, so by screening temperatures closely with the VetTrue™ System the farm could easily identify other infected horses and further isolate and treat them. Normal temperature charts from four of the horses monitored on the farm After monitoring the horses for seven days, no fevers were identified and no further horses became ill with EHV-1. The VetTrue™ System gave staff additional assurance in the early days following the first clinical case that the disease was not spreading on the farm.Fortunately, this was a single isolated case of EHV-1, with the virus most likely contained from spread by the strict biosecurity measures immediately implemented by the farm.The VetTrue™ System proved time-saving by avoiding the need to take rectal temperatures twice daily, as well as providing a complete record of temperatures for each horse during the monitoring period. Remote monitoring was also of benefit in reducing contact with horses, potentially limiting opportunities for disease transmission and improving biosecurity.This is the first known report of a remote temperature monitoring system being used in the face of a potential disease outbreak.

The Equine Healthcare Market Is Growing Due To Rising Awareness And Increasing Investment

Posted on February 15, 2022