VACCINES

By Michelle Beagle, RVT, Redwings board member

Horse vaccines are commonly given in the spring and fall. This is especially true for horses that go to shows or places that may have incoming horses from areas that may be carrying viruses and bacteria from their home turf. Some veterinarians advise different vaccine schedules according to where the horse lives.

The best and most trusted sources for vaccinations would be through your veterinarian.  Veterinarians are trained to know what to do if your horse has an allergic, possibly life-threatening, reaction to the vaccine given. Sometimes the vaccine company may help pay for vaccine related problems that occur, but only if administered by a veterinarian.

If you are someone who chooses to vaccinate your horse yourself, make sure of a few things. Vaccines are to be kept cool. This means that you want to make sure the vaccines are shipped on ice, arrive on ice, and kept refrigerated at the correct temperature until you administer them. Make sure the packaging or vial has not been broken open, and return it if it has. Make sure a veterinarian has instructed you how to properly use a syringe and how to vaccinate the horse. I have seen some interesting and frightening “professional” techniques out there! Most importantly, vaccinate when your veterinarian is available! The last thing you want is a vaccine reaction causing your Sunday evening to suddenly run into emergency vet calls with the accompanying fees.

There is much debate about vaccinating versus not vaccinating your horse. In my humble opinion, a horse that gets a virus is much more expensive to care for and in most cases the virus is much more dangerous or deadly than the vaccines are. I always vaccinate my horses and have not had any problems. I have had two horses live into their thirties. To help your horse, make sure the horse gets a day or so off after the vaccination has been given. You also want to make sure that the horse has not had any health problems prior to vaccines. If so, make sure the horse is well recovered before vaccinating it. If your horse has any swelling from the vaccine over the next day or so, check with your veterinarian.It never hurts to be safe and protect your steed’s health.

Vaccines commonly given to horses:

Equine Encephalomyelitis vaccines (EEE, WEE, VEE): This would include Eastern, Western and Venezuelan types, the first two being the primary ones in most vaccines. The Venezuelan type has been reported in the United States, so ask your veterinarian about it. This disease is spread by mosquitoes and causes serious disease and deaths.

West Nile Virus vaccine in blow dart form

West Nile Virus: This is a newly-emerging threat to our horses. Talk to your veterinarian about the threat level to your horse and this virus. You can’t catch this virus from your horse, but humans can get it. The virus has a complicated life cycle and is transmitted to the horse by mosquitoes (Have you seen any lately? I sure have!). Luckily, horses have a vaccine to prevent or lower the incidence of getting WNV. There are still many varied opinions about the need to vaccinate for WNV, but my horses are vaccinated. I certainly could not afford thousands of dollars of treatment if my horses caught the virus.

More information can be found at the Center for Disease Control web site.

Tetanus: This organism tends to be present in any horse environment. Best vaccinated for rather than getting the disease.

Rhinopneumonitis (Equine Herpesvirus): A nasty and very contagious virus easily prevented with a vaccine!

More information about Equine Herpesvirus can be found here.

Equine Influenza (Flu): Very contagious and debilitating, again prevented with vaccines.

Streptococcus Equi (Strangles): A potentially fatal and extremely contagious disease. Vaccinating for this disease is somewhat controversial, talk to your veterinarian about it.

More information about Strangles can be found here and here.

Equine Monocytic Erlichiosis (Potomac Horse Fever): Check with your veterinarian about the prevalence of this virus in your area.

More information about Potomac Horse Fever can be found here.

Rabies: A vaccine that you should consider if there are many rabid animals in your area (bats, skunks and other animals).

More information about equine rabies be found here.

I could go on for days talking about each virus, I encourage you to go to web sites that inform you about these diseases, but confirm their validity through a veterinarian.  There are many sites that are not accurate! Again, the best source of information would be your veterinarian.

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