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Why Equine Vaccinations Matter

Horses are strong, hardy animals, but, like all animals, they’re still susceptible to disease. Whether your horses are working animals, show horses, livestock, or simply companions, you can protect them from some of the most common contagious and dangerous diseases with a regular schedule of vaccinations.

Core and Risk-Based Equine Vaccine

Not every horse needs to have every vaccination that’s been developed. Equine vaccines fall into two categories: core and risk-based vaccines. Core vaccines include those that are typically recommended for all horses, and risk-based vaccines include those that are only recommended on a case-by-case basis.

Core Equine Vaccines

The five core vaccinations for horses are:

  • Rabies
  • Tetanus
  • Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE)
  • Western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE)
  • West Nile virus
All of the diseases from which these core vaccinations safeguard horses have high fatality rates and/or long-lasting symptoms that will hinder a horse’s health and performance for life. In most cases, equine veterinarians recommend that all horses receive a regular schedule that includes these core vaccinations.

Risk-Based Equine Vaccines

Additional risk-based vaccinations that are commonly administered on a case-by-case basis include:

  • Strangles
  • Leptospirosis
  • Equine influenza
  • Rotavirus
  • Botulism
  • Rhinopneumonitis (equine herpesvirus)
  • Potomac horse fever (PHF)
  • Equine viral arteritis (EVA)
  • Anthrax

What Vaccinations Do My Horses Need?

Not every horse will need to receive every vaccination. For individual horses, equine veterinarians usually make recommendations that include a combination of core and risk-based vaccines. These recommendations are based on each individual horse’s:

  • Overall health
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Horse type and use
  • Exposure to other livestock, horses, domestic animals, and wildlife
  • Local/regional history of disease outbreaks
  • Local environment and geography
  • Travel or horse show routine

Our veterinarians at Advanced Equine keep track of all disease outbreaks that occur in our region, and we’ll make recommendations based on what our veterinarians and equine veterinarians from other practices are seeing in their patients. Additionally, horses that are exposed to lots of other horses (on neighboring farms, in horse shows, or at competitions) will likely receive a greater number of vaccinations due to their increased exposure risk.

For any horse, a thorough veterinary examination and evaluation are necessary to determine the appropriate schedule of vaccinations to keep that particular horse thriving and healthy.

More Ways to Strengthen a Horse's Immune System

The most important part of safeguarding a horse from disease is maintaining overall good health and an equally strong immune system. You can help support your horse’s immune system by always providing a balanced and nutritious diet, plenty of exercise, shelter and a clean environment, and regular veterinary care.
To schedule a checkup and vaccinations for your horse, we invite you to contact Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley today.
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Protect Your Horse with Veterinarian-Administered Vaccinations

With vaccines readily available at farm supplies stores, online pharmacies and other retailers, it’s sometimes tempting to save a few dollars by purchasing and administering them to your animals yourself.
There are hidden risks and costs associated with vaccinating animals yourself, therefore “cheaper” vaccines aren’t the value they first appear to be.
Ask your veterinarian to develop a customized vaccine program for your horse. Having your veterinarian administer vaccines is always safer, easier and a better value in the long run than doing it yourself.

Here are several good reasons why your veterinarian is the best choice for administering vaccines

Proper Handling of the Vaccine

Many vaccines require special handling and storage, for instance, protection from extremes of temperature or exposure to light to preserve its effectiveness. Rely on a licensed veterinarian to store and handle the vaccine properly—and to make sure the vaccine isn’t past its expiration date!

Safe Administration

A licensed veterinarian knows about safe administration: clean environment, an appropriate injection site and good documentation. They also know the best time of year to vaccinate and whether vaccinations would react with any medications being administered to the horse. Your veterinarian will document the vaccine’s serial number and administration date—especially important in the event of a manufacturer’s recall. This is one instance when poor documentation could put your animal in peril.

Availability for Treatment of Adverse Reactions

Any injection can result in adverse effects—mild swelling at the injection site, lethargy and a slight fever for one to two days, the immediate outbreak of hives and life-threatening anaphylaxis. If your veterinarian is administering the vaccine, he’ll know what to do to counteract a reaction—and he’ll have the medicine to do it.
When you think about the risks of doing it yourself, it only makes good sense to have a licensed professional administer vaccines.
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