RECOMMENDED VACCINES

Dr. Brady Hellman, DVM

Every spring, your horse should be boostered in order to provide the best protection against the diseases we see most often in our region.

The “core” vaccines include:

Eastern and Western Encephalitis: Spread by mosquitoes, this is a neurologic disease that often results in death in unprotected horses and camelids.

West Nile Virus: Similar to above. Spread by mosquitoes, this is a neurologic disease that often results in death in unprotected horses and camelids.

Rabies: Fatal in unprotected animals. Rabies is also spread to humans and is fatal without immediate intervention. All horses and goats should be boostered yearly. Sheep should be boostered every 3rd year after two consecutive doses one year apart.

Potomac Horse Fever: This disease is very common in our region. Treatment is very effective in vaccinated animals, but less so in unprotected animals and can be fatal. Spread by snails, slugs, and aquatic insects.

Tetanus: Generally contracted through a break in the skin or a wound. The toxin responsible is found naturally in the soil. Fatal. All horses, camelids, and small ruminants should be vaccinated yearly.

Additional vaccines:

Lyme disease: Seen frequently in this region and causes a range of debilitating symptoms including lameness, lethargy, aggression, etc. This is a dog vaccine shown to be effective in horses.

Flu/Rhino: Upper respiratory and neurologic forms. Spread from horse to horse. This vaccine is recommended for horses that are boarding, showing or traveling.

Botulism: This is an often fatal disease contracted from contaminated hay. Horses fed round bales are at increased risk.