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SPRING 2017 ISSUE
EQUINE MATTERS
16
VA C C I NAT I ON S
Veterinary Surgeon
Nicola Mason
XLVets Equine practice
Durham Equine
Practice
Vaccinating my horse,
why should i bother?
Nicola Mason BVMS MrCVS,
Durham Equine Practice
If you could save your horse’s life for less than the price of a
magazine subscription, would you
?
Of course, every responsible
horse owner would answer ‘Yes’.
Vaccines successfully mimic nature, by
stimulating the immune system to protect itself
against specific viruses and bacteria - but
without the devastating effects of the disease.
The secondary benefit of a vaccine is that it
can activate the horse’s immune system much
faster; in effect, the vaccine turbo-charges the
horse's natural system to give him a security
system against diseases that could otherwise
make him extremely ill, and even cause death.
And that is why it is so important to make
sure your horse is vaccinated against
influenza and tetanus, and that those
vaccinations are kept up-to-date.
So what can happen to horses
that are not vaccinated?
Tetanus
is often fatal and can cause an
excruciating death. It floods the horse with
toxins that destroy the nervous system. Light
and sound become unbearable for
affected animals and the mortality rate is
devastatingly high, even when the horse
receives prompt treatment. Treatment attempts
are also very expensive.
The bacteria that causes tetanus can be found
just about anywhere, and can enter the
horse's system by the tiniest injury: making
every single horse vulnerable if they are
unprotected. So a vaccine that takes a
second to administer can save both horse
and owner untold pain.
Sadly, it is a reality that we have seen fatal
cases in recent years. Inevitably with these
horses, their owners wish they could turn back
the clock and get their vaccinations sorted.
They loved their horse of course, but were
either unaware of the consequences or never
quite got around to booking the appointment.
Equine influenza
is very common and
spreads quickly. Symptoms include a snotty
nose
(figure 1)
, a dry, hacking cough, fever
and loss of appetite.
While many horses recover, they can
develop serious complications, particularly
if they are very old or young. Again,
treatment can be expensive.
All in all, is the risk worth it
?
Definitely not.
Of course, if you’re taking your horse to
competitions, vaccinations are a requirement.
So if your horse is all covered - great!
However if not, take a moment to get him
booked in with your vet for a primary course.
You won't regret it and your horse will thank
you.
Figure 1. Nasal discharge is a typical symptom
of influenza