Dexter Cattle Knowledge Base

VS is a viral disease that affects mostly horses and cattle but can infect other animals. It can also be transmitted to humans , but is rare.

Clinic signs:

1. Blister-like lesions around mouth, coronary band, nose, and sheath/udders
2. Fever
3. Drooling or frothy mouth
4. Reluctance to eat ( the blisters are very painful)
5. Lameness if the lesions are on the coronary band ( The area that separates hoof from hair on leg- like your cuticle on your nails.)

Treatment: Supportive care with pain meds, antibiotics for secondary infections and nutritional adjustments ( soft food)

Prevention: Good biosecurity because can be transmitted from infected animals directly from basic contact or items that were contaminated. Also good insect control because they can carry the virus to animals in the same herd or to neighboring herds.

• Texas Animal Health article on VS
• Texas Outbreak in 2020- with Map
• USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service- Vesicular Stomatitis