What Does the Coggins Test?
Every spring, along with regular vaccinations, we all have a Coggins test performed on our horse. Many of us know this is a mandatory test, a negative result is desired, and we must carry the results sheet with us to attend many horse functions. But many of us don´t actually know what the Coggins test is testing for. The Coggins test is looking for the presence of a virus in the blood that causes Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), also called Swamp Fever. Signs of acute EIA are sudden fever (105 deg. F or higher), rapid weight loss, anemia, and nose bleeds. However, some horses will never show symptoms, but they can be a source of the disease for other horses. EIA is spread by biting flies and mosquitoes taking blood from an infected horse and then biting and passing on some of this infected blood to another horse. EIA is under control in the United States through annual testing of horses with the Coggins test. A good fly control system in your stable will eliminate the carriers of the vi
