Protect Your Horse With Vaccinations

Every spring questions arise regarding equine vaccination. What does my horse need? When should it be given? And others. Let me share some thoughts that may help you vaccinate your horse appropriately:

Many horses carry the Tetanus organism in their intestinal tract where it does no harm. However, their manure then serves as a source of this bacteria, which is dangerous if it enters the body through a wound. Thus, horses are especially prone to exposure to tetanus and all should receive an annual Tetanus toxoid vaccine. It makes no difference if your horse has exposure to other horses.

In like manner, there is a group of three diseases that are carried by birds and then spread from the bird to your horse via mosquitoes. Your horse can be infected by these agents even if it is totally isolated, simply because there are birds and mosquitoes everywhere.

These three agents/viruses are:

1) Eastern Encephalomyelitis (“Sleeping Sickness”)
2) Western Encephalomyelitis
3) West Nile

I recommend that all horses be vaccinated for these three agents, as well as Tetanus.

All the other vaccines out there are not quite so simple and require some decision-making. One question that I ask is, “Will your horse be exposed to other horses?” If you plan to travel to the fair, horse shows, etc. you should protect your horse against the diseases that spread from horse to horse. These include Rhinopneumonitis and Influenza. Immunity to these agents may not be long-lasting, so plan to vaccinate a month before exposure and/or consider a mid-season booster if your show season is long. Young horses (less than 6 years old) are also susceptible to “Strangles” (Streptococcus Equi). Rabies vaccine is also given to a very small percentage of horses in this area, despite our very low risk.

Beyond that, there are a number of other vaccines available (i.e. Equine Arteritis, Anthrax, Botulism, and Potomac Horse Fever) that are not routine at all for local horses, but may be helpful in special situations involving travel.

Dr. Steve Meyer, Willow Animal Hospital (photo courtesy of: www.thehorse.com