Dawn Alves

Dawn Alves, owner of All About Equine Veterinary Services, said the mare was agitated and flopped around during treatment.Though she was standing, the horse's prognosis is sketchy.

"She is far from out of the woods," she said.

The Walters are going to treat some of their horses with a West Nile plasma that will give the animals an immediate six-week-long immunity to the virus.The plasma will protect the horses until they have time to build immunity from the vaccine.

But the plasma is costly and Alves doubts that most owners who have not already vaccinated their horses will spring for $450 treatment.

Alves treated the county's first equine West Nile case.The horse, she said, is pulling through.Since then, she's treated five others.Two of the animals are dead one died and one was euthanized.All of the animals were either unvaccinated or didn't have the full series of shots.

In the three weeks since the first case, Alves has been inundated by requests for the vaccine.

In places where they've have a lot of cases of West Nile Virus, the vaccine is the only thing saving the horses," said veterinarian Dawn Alves, owner of Glenn County-based All About Equine Veterinary Services."It's very effective."

There were more than 14,000 cases of equine West Nile Virus reported in 2002 in the United States.And with a mortality rate hovering at around 30 percent, the vaccination is a lifesaver - literally.

The vaccine is first given in a two-shot series.An initial dose is followed by a booster three to four weeks later.Alves has been giving the shots on a daily basis.

She said some people were questioning its effectiveness after a high-profile show horse died of the disease despite being vaccinated.And while no vaccine is foolproof, she doesn't know of any problems with it.In fact, she estimates its effectiveness at over 95 percent.

Alves' high recommendation comes at a time when California is one of the last states the virus has not struck - yet.

"It's getting down to the wire," said Alves, who has been practicing for 19 years.
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Alves said that one of the types of mosquitos found locally is one of the best carriers of the West Nile Virus.And the Sacramento Valley is on one of the primary bird migration routes.

"Northern California is going to be a hotspot," she said.
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It is necessary then, Alves said, to vaccinate for both diseases.

NELSON Veterinarian Dawn Alves spent Tuesday morning treating what she suspects is Butte County's first case of equine West Nile virus.

The unvaccinated horse, she said, was staggering and having muscle tremors two of the most prevalent signs.

"It's a very likely suspect," said Alves, who sent blood samples to a UC Davis animal laboratory.

The horse is located about six miles south of Durham, which is where Butte County's first case of West Nile was confirmed in a dead bird less than two weeks ago.

More telling, however, are the animal's surroundings.The ranch is near rice fields and has a large mosquito population.And Alves said the horse's owners have found many dead magpies on the property recently.

"We're talking 15 to 20 dead birds in two weeks," she said."Their mosquito population must be tremendously infected."

There is no cure for the virus, so supportive care, including anti-inflammatories, is the only treatment available for the 21-year-old gelding.

"He could be as worse as he's going to get," Alves said."Or he might go down, he might have seizures ... it just depends."

Even with treatment, the mortality rate is about 30 percent, she added.

Anyone who hasn't vaccinated their horses for West Nile should do so immediately.Alves said it's especially important because it will take six weeks for the animals to build immunity.And any horses that were given the shot this year for the first time should receive a booster.

Alves, owner of All About Equine Veterinary Services, serves Butte, Glenn and southern Tehama counties.In addition to the vaccine, she recommends spraying horses and dogs with repellents that include DEET.

Though she'd normally be doing health checks and other more routine veterinary work, Alves said this year looks to be different.

"I have a feeling we're probably going to be looking at West Nile cases," she said.

Meanwhile, veterinarian Dawn Alves, owner of All About Equine Veterinary Services, took blood samples Tuesday from a 21-year-old gelding that she thought likely was Butte County's first case of equine West Nile virus.

Test results Thursday afternoon confirmed her suspicions.

"I just knew this was the one," Alves said.

The horse, located six miles south of Durham, was staggering and having muscle tremors.It's condition, she said, has remained the same.

Alves recommends that any horse owners who have hesitated to vaccinate against the virus do so immediately.

"I'm sure we're going to have more cases in unvaccinated horses," she said.

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NELSON Veterinarian Dawn Alves spent Tuesday morning treating what she suspects is Butte County's first case of equine West Nile virus.

The unvaccinated horse, she said, was staggering and having muscle tremors two of the most prevalent signs.

"It's a very likely suspect," said Alves, who sent blood samples to a UC Davis animal laboratory.

The horse is located about six miles south of Durham, which is where Butte County's first case of West Nile was confirmed in a dead bird less than two weeks ago.

More telling, however, is the animal's surroundings.The ranch is near rice fields and has a large mosquito population.And Alves said the horse's owners have found many dead magpies on the property recently.

"We're talking 15 to 20 dead birds in two weeks," she said."Their mosquito population must be tremendously infected."

There is no cure for the virus, so supportive care, including anti-inflamatories, is the only treatment available for the 21-year-old gelding.

"He could be as worse as he going to get," Alves said."Or he might go down, he might have seizures ... it just depends."

Even with treatment, the mortality rate is about 30 percent, she added.

Anyone who hasn't vaccinated their horses for West Nile should do so immediately.Alves said it's especially important because it will take six weeks for the animals to build immunity.And any horses that were given the shot this year for the first time, should receive a booster.

Alves, owner of All About Equine Veterinary Services, serves Butte, Glenn and southern Tehama counties.

In addition to the vaccine, she recommends spraying horses and dogs with repellents that include DEET.

Though she'd normally be doing health checks and other more routine veterinary work, Alves said this year looks to be different.

"I have a feeling we're probably going to be looking at West Nile cases," she said.

Veterinarian Dawn Alves, owner of All About Equine Veterinary Services, took blood samples Tuesday from a 21-year-old gelding that she thought likely was Butte County's first case of equine West Nile virus.

Test results Thursday afternoon confirmed her suspicions.

"I just knew this was the one," Alves said.

The horse, located six miles south of Durham, was staggering and having muscle tremors.It's condition, Alves said, has remained the same.

Alves recommends that any horse owners who have hesitated to vaccinate against the virus do so immediately.

"I'm sure we're going to have more cases in unvaccinated horses," she said.

Dr. Dawn Alves, DVMCorning Veterinarian Hospital