What diseases do we vaccinate against?

Tetanus

Tetanus is an extremely nasty neurological disease, caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which is found in soil.  Any break in the skin, no matter how minor or seemingly insignificant can let the bacteria into the horse’s body.  This bacteria produces a toxin that causes spastic paralysis – this means that the horse’s muscles become permanently contracted (hence the name “Lockjaw” in humans).  The horse is uniquely susceptible to tetanus amongst mammals, and so we protect them with vaccination.

A course of tetanus vaccination requires two injections 4-6 weeks apart, followed by a booster one year later.  After this, booster injections need only be given every 2 years.

Equine Influenza

Equine influenza is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the horse’s upper respiratory tract.  This is often accompanied by depression, inappetance and a raised temperature.  The infection is usually self-limiting, and will resolve with supportive treatment over the course of 7-10 days.  However, infection can put your horse out of action for far longer – as a rough guide, any horse with a respiratory infection should have 1 week of rest for each day it had a temperature, meaning your horse could be out of action for several weeks.  Although uncommon in healthy horses, influenza infection can also lead to a secondary bacterial infection, which can be much more difficult, time consuming, and expensive to treat.

More serious disease caused by influenza also occurs in the young, the old, and ill horses, so it is essential that they are protected.  Often, as a horse gets older and no longer goes to shows and events where vaccination is required, it is tempting to stop vaccinating against influenza.  However, it is these animals that are most susceptible, so vaccination is key.

A Vaccination Program

After this then yearly vaccinations alternate between influenza and tetanus, and just influenza. The exception to this rule is for horses competing under FEI rules, when an influenza must be given every 6 months.

Equine Herpesvirus

Herpesvirus is a less common disease that we sometimes vaccinate horses against.  It can cause upper respiratory infections, neurological problems and abortion.  We commonly vaccinate pregnant mares against this disease to reduce the risk of abortion – they must be vaccinated at 5 months, 7 months and 9 months of pregnancy.  All horses can be vaccinated to prevent them from contracting the respiratory or neurological forms of the disease, and this consists of a primary course, followed by boosters every 6 months.

Equine Viral Arteritis

Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) is a sexually transmitted disease of horses, which can cause a range of clinical signs, including abortion.  Some breeding animals must be tested to see if they have the disease before breeding.  EVA is a notifiable disease, so if it is suspected the relevant authorites (DEFRA) must be informed.  Vaccination is only carried out under rare circumstances.

Strangles

There is no longer a strangles vaccination available, after the previous product was removed from the market.  Drug companies are working on a new vaccine, which may become available in the not too distant future – we will let you know if one becomes available.