Annual vaccination for your horse is an excellent opportunity for a full health MOT, including a dental check, but have you ever wondered why vaccination is so important for our equine friends?
This article will help to answer some common questions, but if you have any further queries, please feel free to contact us at the surgery 01363 772860 or email.
Why should I Vaccinate my horse?
Vaccinations protect your horse against life threatening diseases such as tetanus, and diseases that can severely affect its health and performance, such as equine influenza (flu) and herpes virus infection.
Vaccination is the only proven method of protecting against these diseases; there is no specific cure for them and treatment may be not only unsuccessful but extremely expensive.
What should I vaccinate my horse against?
The most common diseases that we vaccinate against are tetanus and equine influenza. Other vaccines exist for herpes, rotavirus, strangles and EVA (equine viral arteritis).
Tetanus
The organism which causes tetanus lives in the soil and enters tissues through wounds. Horses are particularly susceptible to tetanus and following even a minor wound in an unvaccinated horse fatal disease may occur. Only vaccination provides long term protection against this happening. All horses, even those that are retired to the field are vulnerable to tetanus and we would strongly recommend that all are vaccinated.
Equine Influenza (‘Flu)
Equine Flu is a viral disease, spread by close contact with an infected animal. Although infection is not usually fatal it can be debilitating and result in a prolonged recovery. Older animals or those with a poor immune system (such as horses suffering from Cushings disease) may be more susceptible to infection and may also be affected more severely.
Signs of flu include a high temperature, nasal discharge and loss of appetite.
Although many owners chose not to vaccinate older retired horses for flu we would advise careful consideration of the risks of infection to these more vulnerable animals.
When should I vaccinate my horse?
The exact timings for vaccinations will depend on the diseases vaccinated against, and the requirements of your horse. Please contact us at the practice to discuss your requirements with a vet 01363 772860 or email.
Many competitions require proof of flu vaccination. It is a sensible precaution to vaccinate before exposing your horse or pony to any situation where it will mix with large numbers of horses from different environments. Also, the introduction of a new horse to your stable could present a potential for exposure to infection.
Please feel free to contact one of the vets to discuss a sensible isolation procedure for new arrivals on your yard.
Are there any side effects of vaccination?
Vaccination reactions are unusual but may occur in individual cases. This may be in the form of an injection site reaction, allergic reaction or generally feeling off colour. If you think your horse is one of the few to suffer a local or generalised reaction to vaccination, please contact the surgery for advice.
It must be remembered, though, that the very small risk of a vaccine side effect is greatly outweighed by the benefit of protection against serious disease.
What about homeopathic vaccines?
Both you and your vet have the right to expect that animal medicines are produced to stringent standards of quality, safety and efficacy. This is reflected in the extremely stringent requirements for product registration in the UK.
The main concern most vets have about the use of homeopathic 'vaccines' (nosodes) is that there is no proper independent evidence to show that they are effective in protecting horses.
Indeed, the few properly designed trials that have been carried out by using homeopathic nosodes have shown no evidence of protection. Without evidence of effectiveness, homeopathic nosodes may pose far greater risk to horses and their in-contacts by leaving them susceptible to disease.