Vaccinations
Equine Vaccination Guidelines
There are certain diseases that all horses should be vaccinated to protect against. These are called “core” vaccines. In addition, there are “risk based” vaccinations that can be added into the vaccination program based upon that particular animal’s expected level of exposure to those specific pathogens.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has put out recommended adult vaccination guidelines and recommended foal vaccination guidelines that are where any vaccination program should start. You can view these guidelines here:
Adult equine vaccination chart here:
Foal equine vaccination chart here:
Ultimately, what and when to vaccinate with should be a conversation between owner and veterinarian, taking into account these recommendations, horse, farm/facility, travel exposure risk factors, owner risk tolerance and the relative benefit of protection provided by vaccination vs. risk of negative vaccination reactions and cost.
Foals and animals being vaccinated with killed vaccines for the first time require a SERIES of vaccinations (3 vaccines, each 4 weeks apart) to establish primary immunity. For those not under higher levels of exposure, an annual booster vaccination is generally adequate protection, following the initial series. Timing of the first dose of vaccine for the foal is based on the pre-foaling vaccination history of the mare. If the mare was not given booster vaccinations 6-8 weeks prior to foaling, then the foal should be vaccinated at 3-4 months of age. If the dam received booster vaccine prior to foaling, then first vaccination of the baby should be delayed until 6 months old to prevent maternal antibody interference with the foal vaccine. Of note, colts must have at least one tetanus toxoid (vaccination) administered at least 3 weeks prior to the scheduled castration/gelding surgery, so that the second tetanus toxoid can be administered at the time of castration to protect against tetanus following gelding the colt.
A typical approach for most foals is a SERIES of vaccinations (3 vaccines, each 4 weeks apart) to establish primary immunity beginning at 6 months old using at a minimum a 5 way with tetanus (Prestige 5 or Fluvac Innovator 5 with or without WNV depending on likelihood of exposure/travel east of mountains). An annual booster vaccination following this series is then given as the horse ages. For horses with higher anticipated levels of exposure and/or certain travel plans, other vaccines or increased frequency of vaccinations may be recommended by your veterinarian.
Rabies:
Rabies is one of the AAEP-recommended “core” vaccines. That being said, I rarely administer it to horses and don’t believe that use of Rabies vaccine in horses in Washington State is critical. Especially if finances are limited, I believe you are better off spending the money that you would spend to get the horse vaccinated for rabies instead on dental care. The reason for my stance on rabies vaccination in our state is because the rabies vector (animal population where the virus is maintained and that transmits the virus to other animals) is the bat. Washington State does have rabies in bats! While not impossible, it is unlikely that your horse is going to be exposed to a rabid bat. It is much more likely that your cat is going to be exposed to a rabid bat that has fallen to the ground. Since 1988 in Washington State there have been only 2 cases of rabies in cats. In the same period, only a single equine rabies case has been seen in Washington State. Other parts of the U.S. have skunks, raccoons, or foxes as the primary rabies vector. In these areas, exposure of livestock, including horses, is much more likely and common. If I practiced in one of those areas, I would definitely be a proponent of equine rabies vaccination, as the relative risk in those areas is much higher. For those that want to cover all their bases to minimize risk of preventable illness in their horse, we certainly can provide rabies vaccination.
Frequently asked questions:
Can you administer your own vaccine?
YES!
Where do you get the vaccines?
We have them available at our office.
What is the difference between buying vaccines from the Veterinary Clinic vs the farm store?
We can guarantee the proper handling, getting shipments unpacked and in the refrigerator immediately upon arrival. We will have your purchase of the vaccine documented in your horses’ medical record for future reference. We are available for your questions regarding what vaccines to use and how to administer.
Will my horse have a negative reaction?
There is a possibility that your horse can get a sore neck, feel a little down in the dumps and run a fever. We recommend taking your horses temperature the day of and a couple days after the vaccine is administered. Call your veterinarian immediately if there are any negative reactions and they will get you set up with a proper treatment plan.
What does Dr. Holt use to vaccinate his 5 horses?
We vaccinate our horse’s yearly with Prestige 5 including the WNV. Dr. Holt travels to Eastern Washington and Montana with his horses, there for the WNV is necessary.