ORDER NOW! Contact your preferred animal health distributor, or KindredBio Equine Customer Care at 1-888-608-2542 option 1.
About Fever in Horses
Reasons why horses may experience elevated body temperature
In horses, elevated core body temperature (greater than 101.5°F) is the result of either hyperthermia or pyrexia (fever). Hyperthermia conditions include exercise-related hyperthermia, heat stroke, and reactions to certain toxins or drugs. In general, these conditions do not respond to antipyretic drugs.1
In a true fever, the set point for the physiologic core body temperature increases as a response to infection or inflammation. Although there are documented benefits of fever in many disease processes, managing fever also has benefits, particularly in the horse.1
Fever takes valuable energy
Nutrition is an important part of managing and treating sick horses. Fever increases caloric needs of horses, and inadequate nutrition may result in impaired immune system function, delayed wound or fracture healing, and/or muscle wasting.2
Fever can have serious secondary effects
Managing fever in a sick horse is important to help offset potential negative sequelae, including weakness, muscle wasting, and weight loss.1
Well-documented secondary effects of fever can include anorexia and decreased water intake, which may be associated with gastrointestinal impactions.1,3,4,5
Common causes of fever in horses
Fever is a clinical sign commonly associated with various underlying infectious and non-infectious diseases in the horse. Transportation of horses often results in fever, with incidence increasing with greater travel time and distances. One study showed fever occurred in 47.2% of clinically normal horses with no prior history of respiratory disease following transport.6
Diseases that may present with fever as a clinical sign include:
• Pneumonia/Pleuropneumonia7
• Acute diarrhea8
• Duodenitis/Proximal jejunitis8
• Internal infections10
These diseases are often associated with endotoxemia, a risk factor for sequelae including alminitis.11

“I’m really happy to have Zimeta and feel secure in using an FDA-approved product. In my experience, dipyrone is terrific for treating pyrexia. Fever is often a ‘handle’ to evaluate progression or improvement over time. With dipyrone, we can see if the fever is persistent or resolved over a short period of time. I can more accurately adjust targeted or supportive treatment.”
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For more information:
Contact KindredBio Equine Customer Care
at 1-888-608-2542 option 1
To place an order now:
Contact your preferred animal health distributor, your KindredBio Equine Sales Specialist, or KindredBio Equine Customer Care at 1-888-608-2542 option 1.
Zimeta is indicated for the control of pyrexia in horses
Important Safety Information:
References
1. Hines M. Clinical Approach to Commonly Encountered Problems. In: Reed SM, Bayly WM, Sellon DC, eds. Equine Internal Medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2018: 232-310.
2. Ralston SL. Feeding Sick Horses. In: Merck Veterinary Manual (Merck and the Merck Manuals. Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA). Available from: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-horses/feeding-the-sick-horse?query=Feeding%20the%20Sick%20Horse. [Access Date: March 10, 2020].
3. Collatos C, Romano S. Cecal impaction in horses: causes, diagnosis, and medical treatment. Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet. 1993;15:976–982.
4. Dabareiner RM, White NA. Large colon impaction in horses: 147 cases (1985–1991). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1995;206: 679–685.
5. Plummer AE, Rakestraw PC, Hardy J, et al. Outcome of medical and surgical treatment of cecal impaction in horses: 114 cases (1994-2004). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2007;231(9):1378-1385.
6. Maeda Y, Oikawa MA. Patterns of Rectal Temperature and Shipping Fever Incidence in Horses Transported Over Long-Distances. Front Vet Sci. 2019;6:27.
7. Arroyo MG, Slovis NM, Moore GE, et al. Factors associated with survival in 97 horses with septic pleuropneumonia. J Vet Intern Med. 2017;31:894-900.
8. Cohen ND, Woods AM. Characteristics and risk factors for failure of horses with acute diarrhea to survive:122 cases (1990-1996). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1999;214:382-390.
9. Cohen ND, Parson EM, Seahorn TL, et al. Prevalence and factors associated with development of laminitis in horses with duodenitis/proximal jejunitis: 33 cases (1985-1991). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1994;204:250-254.
10. Pratt SM, Spier SJ, Carroll SP, et al. Evaluation of clinical characteristics, diagnostic test results, and outcome in horses with internal infection caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis: 30 cases (1995–2003). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2005;227(3):441-448.
11. Parsons CS, Orsini JA, Krafty R, et al. Risk factors for development of acute laminitis in horses during hospitalization: 73 cases (1997-2004). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2007;230(6):885-889.
12. Data on file. REF-0155. Kindred Biosciences, Inc.
Zimeta™ is a trademark of Kindred Biosciences, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
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