CHA CHA Horse Health & Veterinary Care 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which internal parasite control strategy is currently recommended by equine veterinarians instead of routine calendar-based deworming?
- Targeted selective treatment based on fecal egg counts (Correct answer)
- Deworming every 6 weeks regardless of egg counts
- Deworming only when visible symptoms appear
- Rotating all available dewormers monthly
Correct answer: Targeted selective treatment based on fecal egg counts
Targeted selective treatment using fecal egg count testing is the modern approach to reduce anthelmintic resistance and only treat horses with significant parasite burdens.
Question 2: What is the Coggins test used to detect in horses?
- Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) (Correct answer)
- Equine Influenza
- Potomac Horse Fever
- Equine Herpesvirus
Correct answer: Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)
The Coggins test (agar gel immunodiffusion) detects antibodies to the Equine Infectious Anemia virus, and a negative test is required for most interstate travel and competitions.
Question 3: What are the early signs of colic that a CHA instructor should recognize and report immediately?
- Pawing, looking at flank, rolling, lack of gut sounds (Correct answer)
- Increased appetite, bright eyes, energetic behavior
- Nasal discharge, coughing, and fever
- Excessive sweating during cool weather at rest
Correct answer: Pawing, looking at flank, rolling, lack of gut sounds
Early colic signs include pawing, flank-watching, rolling, sweating, and reduced or absent gut sounds, all requiring immediate veterinary contact.
Question 4: Which of the following is a core vaccine recommended by the AAEP for all horses in the United States?
- Tetanus (Correct answer)
- Strangles
- Botulism
- Equine Viral Arteritis
Correct answer: Tetanus
Tetanus is classified as a core vaccine by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) because it is fatal and universally recommended for all horses.
Question 5: What is heaves (Equine Asthma/RAO), and what environmental trigger is most commonly associated with it?
- A chronic respiratory condition most often triggered by dusty hay or bedding (Correct answer)
- A hoof disease triggered by wet pastures
- A skin allergy triggered by insect bites
- A digestive condition triggered by grain overload
Correct answer: A chronic respiratory condition most often triggered by dusty hay or bedding
Heaves (Recurrent Airway Obstruction) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease most commonly triggered by dust and mold spores in hay and barn environments.
Question 6: What is the purpose of taking a horse's digital pulse, and where is it typically felt?
- To assess foot inflammation; felt at the pastern above the hoof (Correct answer)
- To measure cardiac health; felt at the jugular groove
- To check hydration; felt at the gum line
- To detect respiratory issues; felt at the nostril
Correct answer: To assess foot inflammation; felt at the pastern above the hoof
A bounding digital pulse felt at the pastern indicates increased blood flow and inflammation in the hoof, which is a key early sign of laminitis.
CHA CHA Horse Health & Veterinary Care 2
Which internal parasite control strategy is currently recommended by equine veterinarians instead of routine calendar-based deworming?