3 Hours of CE Credit
This course module provides the foundational information needed to recognize clinical signs of contagious and zoonotic diseases as they relate to the animal chiropractic practitioner. Detailed definitions and examples of infection, contagious, zoonotic, and reportable diseases in Colorado are introduced. The clinical signs indicative of acute respiratory and neurologic disease in horses is presented with recommendations for biosecurity precautions to help recognized and limit the spread of equine herpes virus, West Nile virus and rabies.
Section 1 – Introduction to Infectious, Contagious Zoonotic, and Reportable Diseases
Upon completion of this course content, the student will be able to…
- Define what is meant by an infectious disease and provide a few examples
- Describe common routes of disease transmission
- Identify clinical signs during routine chiropractic presentations that may be indicative of infectious disease processes
- List common infectious diseases in horses, dogs, and cats in Colorado
- Discuss the risks of contagious diseases
- Describe the importance of zoonotic diseases
- Explain the need for reporting infectious or zoonotic diseases
- Implement biosecurity measures to limit the spread of infectious disease agents
- Discuss the importance of a safe work environment for both people and pets
Clips
- Introduction
- Infectious disease
- Contagious disease
- Zoonotic disease
- Reportable disease
- Biosecurity and prevention
Section 2 – Infectious, Contagious, Zoonotic and Reportable Diseases in Horses (Part 1)
Upon completion of this course content, the student will be able to…
- List infectious diseases that produce acute neurologic disease in horses
- Describe the pathogenesis of rabies, equine herpesvirus, and West Nile virus
- Recognize early indicators and clinical signs of infectious diseases in horses
- Describe the three disease processes associated with equine herpesvirus
- Identify clinical signs indicative of acute respiratory or neurologic disease in horses
- Describe the route of infection for West Nile virus in horses and humans
- Implement biosecurity procedures needed to keep animals and people safe from infections
- Effectively clean and disinfect your equipment and office to reduce the spread of infectious diseases
- Provide indications for reporting infectious diseases to the attending veterinarian or State veterinarian
Clips
- Introduction
- Equine herpesvirus
- West Nile virus
- Rabies
Section 3 – Infectious, Contagious, Zoonotic and Reportable Diseases in Horses (Part 2)
Upon completion of this course content, the student will be able to…
- Describe the clinical signs associated with acute respiratory disease in horses
- Initiate reporting of infectious respiratory diseases to the attending veterinarian or State Veterinarian
- Implement biosecurity measures needed to limit the spread of equine influenza to other horses
- Identify clinical signs associated with strangles (Streptococcus equi)
- Recognize the importance of evaluating horses for lymph node enlargement
- Discuss the role of fly control as it pertains to infectious diseases
- Exercise caution when doing oral examinations in horses
- Prevent other animal infections during or after a chiropractic evaluation
- Identify oral lesions associated with vesicular stomatitis in horses
- Recognize the importance of doing a full-body examination
- Observe changes at the coronary band in horses presented for lameness
- List common reportable diseases in horses living in Colorado
- Identify infectious diseases that present as acute neurologic disorders and acute respiratory infections in horses
- Describe disease risk factors associated with age, seasons of the year, and the presence of insect vectors
- Know what personal protective equipment is advisable to prevent the spread of infectious diseases
Clips
- Introduction
- Equine influenza
- Strangles
- Vesicular stomatitis
Kevin K. Haussler, DVM, DC, PhD
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
Dr. Haussler obtained a Bachelor of Science in agriculture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1984. He graduated in 1988 from The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, followed by a small animal internship at the Sacramento Animal Medical Group in 1989. Dr. Haussler was a relief veterinarian for multiple small animal practices, emergency clinics, and humane societies from 1989 to 1994, when he became interested in pursuing further specialized training in the diagnosis and management of pain and musculoskeletal disorders in animals.
He enrolled in Palmer College of Chiropractic-West, a human chiropractic program, to learn how to apply human chiropractic techniques and principles to the treatment of animals with musculoskeletal-related disorders and graduated with a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree in 1993. Dr. Haussler started a veterinary chiropractic clinical practice treating horses and small animal patients in 1992.
Dr. Haussler went on to obtain a PhD in Comparative Pathology from the University of California-Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. The focus of his PhD research was the evaluation of the anatomy, pathology, and biomechanics of the lower back and pelvis of Thoroughbred racehorses.
He then went on to complete postdoctoral training investigating equine spinal kinematics in 1999 at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University and was invited to be a Lecturer at Cornell University until 2005. During this time, he was responsible for teaching equine anatomy, conducting biomechanical research, and initiation of a clinical Integrative Medicine Service for both the large and small animal clinics that provided chiropractic, acupuncture, and physical therapy services. Dr. Haussler’s research studies have included the evaluation of in vivo equine spinal kinematics, paraspinal muscle morphometry and histochemistry, and the initiation of equine chiropractic research assessing pain and spinal flexibility.
In 2010, Dr. Haussler was invited to be a founding member of the new specialty college, The American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, where he has served as the Examination Committee chair, and on the Board of Director’s as secretary and president.
Currently, Dr. Haussler is an Associate Professor at the Orthopaedic Research Center in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University where he has continued his research interests in objective measures of musculoskeletal pain, spinal pathology, and rehabilitation.