Post by tonkasmum on Jun 20, 2011 20:23:47 GMT -5
Vaccinations are a choice completely up to the horse's owner: what they want to give.
There is a lot of debate about vaccinating - whether it is worth the expense or not - it just comes down to the owner.
There is no guarantee of 100% protection from any given vaccine, but in most cases a vaccine may lesson the duration and/or symptoms of the disease. Below are some of the more common vaccines and the diseases they are used to help prevent.
Vaccines can be purchased from the following sites:
KV Vet: www.kvsupply.com/HorseVaccines
ValleyVet: www.valleyvet.com
Allivet: www.allivet.com
Tractor Supply: www.tractorsupply.com
Agri-Med: www.agri-med.com
Some vaccines come in a combo form - covering several diseases with one injection. It's so much easier for us owners, and much easier on the poor horses!
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Rabies
This vaccine was recently approved for horses. It contains a killed virus to protect against this disease, which affects the central nervous system and results in death. This disease has been on the rise lately and is transmissible from horse to human, thereby posing a severe public health problem. This is an annual vaccine only.
Note: Some places will not ship to Pa. unless you're a vet or have a prescription. This is supposed to be administered by a vet - otherwise the state may not recognize it was given (though this seems to be more of an issue with small pets than with horses). I know Allivet and KV Vet do, and I believe Agri-Med does.
Tetanus
An acute, infectious disease that is the result of a toxin produced by the bacterium clostridium tetani, which enters wounds of any nature. The vaccination is a modified toxin that stimulates an immune response. The initial vaccination is followed by a second dose in four to six weeks. It is given annually thereafter. If you fail to re-vaccinate on a yearly basis, you must administer two doses as if you are initially vaccinating the horse.
Eastern and western encephalomyelitis
This acute viral disease of rodents, birds, horses and man, is transmitted by the mosquito. The vaccine is a combination of killed viruses. Initial vaccination is followed by a second dose in two to three weeks or four to six weeks, depending on vaccine used. An annual re-vaccination is given thereafter. If vaccinated properly and at the correct time of year, the vaccine will protect your horse for the season.
Rhinopneumonitis
This is a viral disease with three faces: respiratory disease, abortion, and a disease of the nervous system that can cause paralysis. It was once thought all of these problems were caused by the same rhino virus, but there are two rhino viruses involved in this disease: equine herpesvirus-1 and equine herpesvirus-4. EHV-1 protects horses against abortion and possibly the paralysis form. EHV-4 protects horses against the respiratory form, which accounts for more than 46 percent of respiratory disease in the horse, according to recent research.
Pneumabort K-1B {for pregnant mares}
The vaccine is given at the fifth, seventh, and ninth months of pregnancy. In regard to abortion, Pneumabort K-1B is the only rhinopneumonitis vaccine with federal approval for the prevention of abortion in mares due to equine herpsevirus-1 {EHV-1}. The EHV-4 initial vaccination is followed by a second dose in four to six weeks, boostered every three to four months for horses that are showing heavily. The vaccine provides protection for up to three months.
This has also been seen to be somewhat protective against the variant form of Rhinovirus EHV-1.
Influenza
An acute, highly contagious viral disease affecting the upper respiratory tract of the horse. The vaccine is a combination of the two most common strains of influenza as a killed virus. Initial vaccination is followed by a second dose in three to four weeks. For horses who are actively showing and/or in contact with many horses in a high traffic situation, this should be given every three to four months, according to the manufacturer. The vaccine provides protection for three to four months.
Rhino/flu combination vaccine
This is a vaccine containing influenza strains and rhinopneumonitis EHV-4. This combination vaccine is excellent for show horses, race horses, or horses in a high-exposure situation {such as medium to large boarding stables} who need rhino/flu vaccines every three to four months.
Potomac horse fever
This is a seasonal disease seen generally in the summer months. It had been reported in 33-plus states as of summer 1998. The disease is characterized by high fever, severe diarrhea, malaise, depression, anorexia and very often a severe founder that can effect all four feet. It has a high mortality rate. There is now an annual vaccine for the prevention of this disease. It is best to give one in early spring. Initial vaccination is followed by a booster in three to four weeks and annual re-vaccination thereafter.
Horses can pick this disease up when they ingest mayflies (which are common near the river).
West Nile Virus
West Nile encephalitis describes an inflammation of the central nervous system, which is caused by infection with West Nile Virus. Mosquitoes may pick up the virus when they bite, or take a blood meal, from wild birds that are infected with West Nile Virus. Those mosquitoes may then transmit the virus to people and other animals when biting to take a blood meal. Infection occurs primarily in the late summer or early fall in the northeast and Mid Atlantic regions.
Clinical signs of encephalitis in horses may include a general loss of appetite and depression, in addition to any combination of the following signs:
fever
weakness of hind limbs
paralysis of hind limbs
impaired vision
ataxia (weakness)
head pressing
aimless wandering
convulsions (seizures)
inability to swallow
walking in circles
hyperexcitability
coma
Because it is impossible to distinguish between vaccinated and naturally infected horses with current testing methods, it is important that vaccination records be kept updated for each horse that receives the vaccine. Horses vaccinated against Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis are not protected against infection with West Nile Virus.