Vaccinations

We recommend that all horses are vaccinated against Tetanus and Equine Influenza. A vaccine is also available against Equine Herpes Virus which we recommend is used in all brood mares and competing horses.

Tetanus

Tetanus is caused by a bacterium which lives in soil and gains access to the body via wounds and foot abscesses.

It is usually fatal.

Vaccination is achieved by administering a Primary Course of two injections 1 month apart, followed by a third injection 12 months later. After this, booster injections every 2 years are required to ensure adequate immunity.

It is often combined with the Equine Influenza vaccine.

Equine Influenza is caused by a virus that is readily spread by the respiratory route.

Several outbreaks have been seen in Cheshire over the past 2 years.

Vaccination is achieved by the following regime:

• A primary course of two injections 21-92 days apart (‘one month’).
• A third injection 150-215 days after the second injection (‘six months’).
• Annual boosters no more than 365 days after the previous injection (beware of ‘leap years’ if you plan to leave it until the last day!!)

Some horses competing under FEI rules are required to have 6-monthly boosters.

EHV is caused by a virus which is endemic in the horse population of the UK i.e. it cannot be eliminated.

Most horses will have come into contact with EHV at some point in their lives, often as youngstock.

The virus often remains latent in their body but is reactivated at times of stress, e.g. competition, pregnancy, concurrent illness, travel and moving yards.

There are several types of EHV, but the most common are Types 1 and 4. They cause 3 distinct diseases:

• Respiratory disease: cough, nasal discharge, fever.
• Neurological disease: ataxia / ‘wobbliness’, paraplegia, loss of bladder function.
• Abortion in pregnant mares, sometimes manifesting as ‘abortion storms’ on stud farms.

The virus may be spread by the respiratory route or by direct contact with the products of abortion e.g. the foetus, the placenta and the foetal fluids.

In competing horses, vaccination is achieved by a primary course of two injections 1 month apart followed by 6-monthly boosters.

In pregnant mares, vaccination is recommended at months 5, 7 and 9 of gestation.