If you’re one of the many veterinarians who’ve been awaiting the return of the only equine-specific monovalent rabies vaccine, you’ll be glad to hear Prestige EquiRab is once again widely available.
It’s unfortunate that horses continue to contract rabies, given how easy it is to prevent. So far in 2024, at least two cases of equine rabies have been confirmed, one in Tennessee and one in Georgia,1 and the virus is endemic in all U.S. states except Hawaii. 2 While rare, the disease is always fatal, which means neither veterinarians nor owners can relax their vigilance in prevention.
Besides the risk to horses and other equids, there’s always the significant and serious potential for any infected animal to transmit the disease to humans. That’s why rabies vaccination is a core vaccine recommended by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP)— every horse should be vaccinated every year. 2
Today the fight against equine rabies is stronger than ever. After a temporary absence from the equine market, the Prestige EquiRab rabies vaccine is back, providing veterinarians and horse owners with unmatched protection against the threat of rabies in horses.
Prestige EquiRab is the only monovalent rabies vaccine developed specifically for horses, and one low-volume dose elicits a long-lasting 14-month duration of immunity. Here’s a refresher on why it’s the top pick for equine practitioners:3
• Effective in horses and foals age 4 months and older
• 97.7% reaction-free as shown in field safety trials
• Convenient, with just one dose needed for primary vaccination
• Species-specific, featuring a killed virus equine rabies vaccine in a low-volume, 1-mL dose
• Produced via an advanced filtration process through the Antigen Purification System (APS™)
• Exceptional safety profile with the exclusive Havlogen® Adjuvant
With wildlife activity increasing with warmer weather, the threat of rabies is rising also. Now’s the perfect time to remind owners of the need to keep their horses current on rabies vaccination. After all, horses are curious creatures, and a nip on the muzzle or limb could be disastrous. Many exposures go unnoticed, making vaccination not just a precaution but a necessity.
Since wildlife may enter barns (especially at night), both stalled horses and horses on pasture have the potential to be exposed. The good news is that the rabies vaccine is 100% effective, plus it’s an economical piece of a horse’s annual health plan.
With Prestige EquiRab back in the veterinary arsenal, veterinarians and owners have the power to shield horses and maintain uninterrupted protection against the threat of rabies. For more details, and to equip your clients with knowledge, visit the Merck Animal Health Prestige EquiRab page.
Few diseases are more feared than rabies, and for good reason. Unvaccinated horses that get rabies will die. All horses should be vaccinated annually. 2
• Rabies is a virus that causes a neurological disease and can affect all mammals.
• While the incidence of equine rabies is low, the fatality rate is 100%. At least two horses have fallen victim so far this year.1
• Rabies is zoonotic, meaning it can be passed from horses to people.
• The symptoms of rabies can vary, looking like colic, lameness, incoordination, paralysis, muscle tremors, fever, depression or abnormal behavior.
• Be extremely careful and call your veterinarian immediately if your horse has any of these signs.
• Vaccination is the only way to prevent your horse from contracting rabies—it is considered a “core” vaccine by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP).
• Prestige® EquiRab® is the only monovalent rabies vaccine developed and labeled specifically for horses.
• For more information on rabies, download the Rabies Quick Facts guide.
When Amanda Compton, BS, CVT, an equine sales representative with Merck Animal Health, got an urgent call from a practitioner who was concerned about a 27-year-old patient with confirmed equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), she sprang into action.
The veterinarian, Holly Wendell, DVM, of Carlisle Equine Clinic in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was in search of the antiprotozoal drug PROTAZIL® (1.56% diclazuril) Antiprotozoal Pellets at a reduced or no price, since the owners were hesitant to purchase due to the horse’s age. Compton immediately agreed to help, reaching out to another veterinary customer who happened to have a sample bucket on hand.
Compton delivered the medication to Dr. Wendell the very next morning, driving several hours out of her way to ensure that the horse could start treatment without delay. When Compton followed up two weeks later, she learned that the horse was much improved.
“What goes around comes around! The horse improved significantly on the medication, and as a result, the owners ordered more at full price,” Dr. Wendell says. “It’s a testament to the effectiveness of the treatment and the trust we have in Amanda’s recommendations.”
This act of going the extra mile—quite literally—underscores Compton’s commitment to equine health and an ability to make a tangible difference in the lives of horses and their owners. While Compton does all this now in her current role with Merck Animal Health, it’s a commitment that has marked her remarkably diverse career.
Compton has had a deep-rooted connection to horses from a young age, fostered mostly through riding and caring for Arabians. Naturally, she pursued studies in animal and veterinary science when she went to college. But when she told her adviser she wanted to become an equine veterinarian, he told her to choose a different career.
“As a student who was very shy and lacked confidence, and
the first in my family to pursue a college degree, it really affected me,” Compton says.
Despite this discouragement, she continued to be drawn to equine medicine, finding jobs after graduation that allowed her to work alongside veterinarians and be hands-on with horses. When she was working at Virginia Tech’s Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center, a veterinarian there encouraged her to consider becoming a credentialed technician.
“It was a pivotal point in my career,” Compton says. “It eventually opened up so many opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
Those opportunities have ranged from moving to Qatar to help launch the country’s first equine veterinary medical center (and connect with fellow Arabian lovers) to building her own equine dental consulting business in the MidAtlantic region of the U.S.
“Patient care and supporting the doctors has always been very rewarding to me, and I’m able to continue that passion in my role now as an equine rep [with Merck Animal Health],” Compton says. One key difference? She’s now able to be a resource for many veterinarians in her territory, which in turn plays a part on the lives of numerous horses.
“Even though I’m called a sales rep, I really am a resource who connects veterinary customers with solutions,” she
says. “I want to help them solve not only their day-to-day problems but be emotionally supportive of them through the programs that we have.”
In her various roles over the years, Compton has experienced and also witnessed firsthand the effects of burnout, compassion fatigue and toxic work environments. In navigating these challenges, she’s developed not only her own personal resilience and coping strategies, but also a passion for making equine medicine a healthy, sustainable career choice.
Open communication is key, she says, even in the face of difficult conversations or situations. So is an unshakeable commitment to being an advocate for patients and teammates. Sometimes this also means being an advocate for oneself.
“I’ve learned how important it is to take a break when I’ve needed it,” Compton says. “Sometimes that was simply walking outside of the hospital for a few minutes. Sometimes it was not feeling guilty for taking a sick day. I’ve even taken a month off between jobs! Setting boundaries is important, but just as important is not losing your empathy for others and acting with kindness.”
When Compton’s father—the person who initially instilled her deep love of horses—became ill, it was the busy spring breeding and colic season, and not a good time to take off work. She did it anyway. “My dad was very ill and ended up passing,” she says. “I look back, and I don’t think anyone remembers that extra emergency I wasn’t there for. But I remember every day with my dad.”
When Compton came on board with Merck Animal Health, she was delighted to join its Unconditional commitment not just to horses but also to a healthy future for the equine profession. “Quite simply, I’m a horse owner,” she says. “I want to be able to connect and consult with knowledgeable veterinarians who are emotionally well and have open communication so we can provide better care for my horses, but also for everyone else’s horses too.”
If Compton’s veterinary customers have anything to say about it, she’s well on her way to doing just that. Lindsay
Baltrusch is office manager for Bessemer Equine in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, which just opened in 2023. She says having Compton in her corner as the new practice got off the ground eased her mind.
“I would call Amanda with all kinds of questions,” Baltrusch says. “If she knew the answer, she’d tell us, and if she didn’t know, she checked and got back to us. She was always willing to answer our questions, no matter how small or large.”
Dr. Wendell, whose EPM patient improved thanks to a clutch bucket of PROTAZIL, also has nothing but praise for Compton. “Amanda is an exceptional representative and an asset to Merck Animal Health,” she says. “She’s not only knowledgeable about the products but also understands the practical aspects of horse care because she has horses of her own. She goes above and beyond, making her someone I’d want to be friends with outside of work.”
Earlier this year, Merck Animal Health and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) released the results of the fourth comprehensive Veterinary Wellbeing Study, revealing encouraging trends in the profession’s approach to mental health.
This first post-pandemic study, which for the first time included veterinary technicians and practice managers, shows that many veterinary practices are becoming more proactive about mental health.
“There are many positives coming out of the study, including high levels of job satisfaction and pride in work across veterinary teams. This must be balanced with the understanding that there are also challenges within the veterinary profession, including a shortage of qualified veterinary team members as well as burdensome student debt that causes stress,” said Christine Royal, DVM, vice president of the companion animal and equine business for Merck Animal Health. “It is encouraging to see an increase in practices and professionals that are addressing team culture, wellbeing, and mental health. We remain committed to advocating for and providing resources to veterinary professionals no matter the individual’s role or title.”
The collaboration between Merck Animal Health and the AVMA has led to a notable increase in veterinary clinics offering Employee Assistance Programs, rising from 27% in 2019 to 38% in the current study. Despite high levels of trust and communication within clinics, there’s room for improvement in openly discussing wellbeing, as only 36% of veterinary teams regularly engage in this conversation.
Pride in their profession is evident, with the vast majority of veterinarians and team members finding satisfaction in their work and its positive impact on society. However, less than half believe their colleagues share this sentiment, indicating a need for continued dialogue about mental health.
To support veterinary professionals, Merck Animal Health has invested in initiatives like MentorVet, which has provided scholarships to more than 350 professionals for programs
aimed at reducing burnout and enhancing wellbeing. Merck’s commitment also extends to educational partnerships, such as MentorVet Connect, which offers free evidence-based mentor programs to new AVMA members.
The study was conducted by Brakke Consulting and included a diverse sample of veterinary positions, to benchmark mental health against other professions and the general employed population. For more information on the wellbeing resources available to veterinary professionals, visit Merck Animal Health’s dedicated website, www.vetwellbeing.com, and the AVMA’s Workplace Wellbeing program, www.avma.org/ resources-tools/wellbeing.
The AAEP has formed the Commission on Equine Veterinary Sustainability to develop strategies to retain and recruit more veterinarians to equine practice.
5 Focuses:
The LegUp Program, a new initiative created and facilitated by Merck Animal Health, is designed to empower veterinary support staff specializing in equine practice. While the program does not emphasize technical skills specific to equine medicine, it will equip participants with the knowledge and strategies needed to foster a healthy practice culture and maximize their utility in practice.
Merck Animal Health is dedicated to enhancing the personal and professional qualities that contribute to the sustainability and well-being of the equine team.
• Each cohort of the LegUp Program is comprised of small groups who come together for a transformative learning experience.
• Throughout the program, participants engage in a comprehensive curriculum consisting of four 90-minute online modules and three 60-minute Cohort Connect meetings.
• The program’s small group format ensures that participants receive personalized attention and ample opportunities for interaction with peers and mentors.
Participants will have the opportunity to explore their personal strengths, values, and goals.
The program equips participants with the knowledge and strategies needed to foster a healthy practice culture and maintain high standards of patient care.
The LegUp Program acknowledges the emotional demands of equine practice and offers guidance on managing stress, building resilience, and maintaining a work-life balance.
The Cohort Connect meetings provide a platform for participants to build meaningful connections with fellow veterinary team members, share experiences, and offer mutual support.
The
LegUp Program is scheduled to run from June to September 2024 If you are interested in signing up, please contact LegUp@merck.com or scan the code.
Overland Park, Kansas
christopher.sourk@merck.com
How long have you been working for Merck Animal Health?
I’ve been working for Merck Animal Health since December 2020. I started on the companion animal team at that time and then moved over to the equine team in October 2022.
Tell us a little bit about your horse background. My background in horses and the equine industry as a whole could best be described as “green.” I didn’t own a horse growing up but have always admired their power and grace.
If you were a horse, what type would you be? A Clydesdale!
What do you love most about the equine industry? What I admire most is that I feel a real sense of community and connection in the industry. As a relative newcomer, this has allowed for a great transition for me.
What do you love most about the Merck Animal Health equine team?
I love the culture of togetherness on our team. We have a great team.
If there was one thing you would want customers to know about you, what would it be?
That I’m committed to their practice’s success.