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Vaccination Horses

Tetanus: Horses can be vaccinated against various diseases, some of which are more common than others. The single most important disease against which they must be vaccinated is undoubtedly tetanus. Horses are the most susceptible domestic animal to this painful and fatal disease, followed by sheep, goats, (and humans are in the middle here), then cattle, then dogs and lastly cats. (The disease is virtually unheard of in cats). Tetanus (or “lockjaw”) is a bacterial disease that usually develops from infected wounds but can sometimes appear to develop spontaneously, and progresses over days to dehydration, suffocation and death. Whilst treatment is theoretically possible, it is extremely expensive, time-consuming and has an extremely poor success rate. Consequently, it is vital that all horses are routinely vaccinated with this cheap vaccine, and receive their boosters every 18 to 30 months.

Equine influenza: Flu is a viral disease that is a major worry to the competitive horse world. Highly infectious, it causes fever, coughing and can spread rapidly through a livery or other stable. One difficulty is that, just as with human flu, the strain of virus responsible for outbreaks mutates, making life difficult for the vaccine manufacturers. Horses should be vaccinated yearly, although there are special rules for competitive horses whereby the vaccinations must be administered within specific time periods, otherwise the vaccination course must start again. 

Equine rhinopneumonitis: otherwise known by the name of the virus responsible, herpes, this is a potentially serious infection causing a respiratory infections, and sometimes a paralysis of the hind limbs, of horses. Pregnant mares are particularly at risk, as it can cause them to abort.