Equine vaccination is a topic regularly discussed among horse owners and trainers. Each horse’s vaccination needs differ depending on age, sex, and purpose. In this post, recommendations for adult performance horses are the focus. What are the recommended vaccines for these horses?
According to Colorado State University, the recommended vaccines for adult performance horses are:
- Tetanus
- Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis
- Equine Herpes Virus
- West Nile Virus
- Equine Influenza
- Rabies
Veterinarians give these vaccines regularly which is necessary for long-term health. However, over-vaccination of horses of all ages is not wise either. Continue below to learn more about these common equine vaccinations and their purpose.
What Are The Recommended Equine Vaccinations?
The first of the recommended equine vaccinations is for tetanus. Horses contract tetanus when their wounds are infected with the bacteria called Clostridium tetani. Tetanus causes muscle stiffness, spasms, sensitivity to touch, lockjaw, and other symptoms if not treated. This vaccine is usually given annually with a booster four weeks later if needed.
Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis are viral diseases transmitted through the blood from an insect bite. They attack the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and cause paralysis, stiffness, incoordination, and other symptoms. Vets recommend this vaccine for springtime checkups annually.
Equine Herpes comes from the Equine Herpes Virus, which spreads via horse-to-horse contact. The symptoms range from respiratory to neurological. There are two main types: 1 and 4. The first type causes equal parts respiratory and neurological symptoms, while the fourth type causes mainly respiratory symptoms with little to no neurological effect. The usual course for this vaccine is once in the spring and once in the fall. If a horse is prone to the disease, the schedule changes to every three months.
West Nile Virus is an insect—or mosquito-borne illness similar to Eastern and Western Myeloencephalitis. Although they share symptoms, West Nile virus is the weaker disease. Horses that get it have a 60% chance of survival, whereas those with either form of Encephalomyelitis undergo euthanasia once the disease reaches a point of no return. Horses receive the vaccine every spring.
Equine Influenza is the horse version of the flu. It is another viral disease that is also extremely contagious. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, swollen lymph nodes, and cough. Separate and quarantine infected horses immediately to prevent the spread of infection. Recommendations for this equine vaccination are one dose in the spring and another in the fall.
One of the lesser talked about equine vaccinations is equine rabies. It occurs from the bite of an animal carrier of the disease. Symptoms include lameness, lethargy, loss of muscle tone, convulsions, colic, and more. There is no treatment for rabies, so vaccination against it is imperative. Veterinarians recommend an annual dose of this vaccine.
Is There A Danger of Giving Too Many Vaccinations?
Horse owners want to do right by their horses by keeping them healthy. So, they may resort to giving them extra vaccines, thinking that they are helping their horse. However, this is not as effective as it seems. According to Mark DePaolo, DVM too many equine vaccinations increase the risk of an unwanted reaction and decrease the horse’s immunity. Equine vaccinations also contain mercury to preserve them. Mercury is toxic at high levels and damages the immune system. Overusing vaccines increases mercury exposure and can counteract any potential benefits of vaccination.
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