Spring is just around the corner, and many of our clients are getting ready to schedule their wellness and vaccine appointments for the season. One of the most common questions this time of year is, “What vaccines do you offer?” And “What does MY horse need?”. These answers can vary slightly, dependent on your horse’s environment, travel, current medical status (pregnant or breeding) and previous history.
Let’s take a look at the vaccines our office currently offers, and what they protect against. Then we can break down each potential disease individually, to summarize the symptoms and risks. Finally, at the bottom you will find a chart with Dr. Slamka’s typical recommendations (following both the American Association of Equine Practitioner’s and the manufacturer guidelines) for vaccination. As always, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call or email our office.
Standard vaccines utilized:
We offer the following products that provide the highest level of protection with the least risk for adverse reaction. Vaccines can be administered as a combination or broken up into individual vaccines if necessary or desired.
Vetera EWT+WNV: Provides protection against Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis, West Nile Virus and Tetanus. It is safe for use in horses as young as 4 months of age, including pregnant mares.
Vetera Gold: Also protects against Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis, West Nile Virus, and Tetanus, as well as Influenza and Herpesvirus (EHV-1 and EHV-4). This is also safe for horses as young as 4 months of age, including pregnant mares.
Calvenza 03 EIV/EHV: (Flu/Rhino) For protection against Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1 and EHV-4), and Influenza. Tested and approved for horses 6 months or older, including pregnant mares.
Vetera EHV 1/4: Also for Herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1 and EHV-4), without the Influenza. This is recommended for pregnant mares, and susceptible horses 4 months of age or older.
Potomavac: For prevention of Potomac Horse Fever. Safe for horses 3 months of age or older.
IMRAB Large Animal: A killed virus rabies vaccine, for use in horses 3 months of age or older.
Potomavac+ IMRAB: Recommended for protection against the disease caused by rabies virus and for prevention of Potomac Horse Fever. Safe for horses 3 months of age or older.
Pinnacle (Strangles IN): Intranasal vaccine for horses 9 months of age or older for aid in the prevention of disease caused by Streptococcus equi (Strangles).
CDT: For the immunization of sheep and goats against enterotoxemia (overeating disease) caused by Clostridium perfringens types C & D and tetanus. Although you will not find this under horse risks or in the equine chart below, this annual booster should be mentioned as a necessary vaccine offered and recommended by Dr. Slamka for our small ruminant friends.
What diseases do the vaccines protect against?:
Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis (EEE and WEE): Both EEE and WEE are transmitted by insects. Mosquitoes feed from birds and snakes with the virus, then transmit the virus to horses and humans. Symptoms can include high fever, inappetence, trouble swallowing, head pressing, circling, blindness, seizures, facial paralysis, or rapid behavior changes. EEE holds a 75-95% mortality rate, whereas WEE impacts horses less severely with a 20-40% mortality rate. Horses that do survive can show long term necrologic issues and spinal cord abnormalities.
West Nile Virus: This mosquito transmitted virus has a 33% mortality rate for horses that show signs of the virus. Depression, loss of appetite, lethargy, as well as neurologic signs such as tremors in the face and neck, facial paralysis, head tilt, weakness of one or more limbs, or colic may all be signs. A mild fever (101.5-103.5) is present in about 25% of horses. 40% of horses that survive the illness still show side effects such as walking and behavioral abnormalities 6 months later.
Tetanus: Tetanus is a disease transmitted through the infection of puncture wounds, open lacerations, surgical incisions, or exposed tissues from organisms in the soil. Symptoms include lockjaw, inability to eat, respiratory depression, recumbency and death. Many species are at risk of development of tetanus, which is often fatal and caused by the neurotoxin Clostridium tetani. Unvaccinated horses faced a fatality rate of 75% in 2007, and recent numbers appear higher.
Influenza: Equine influenza is one of the most common infectious diseases of the respiratory tract of horses. This highly contagious virus can spread rapidly in the same ways that humans spread influenza (either airborne droplets from coughing/snorting, or through droplets that have already been expelled and are on shared surfaces). Common respiratory signs are fever, cough, nasal discharge and enlarged lymph nodes. It is very rare that equine influenza infection would result in a fatal outcome, however, horses can be underperforming for a few weeks up to 6 months.
Herpesvirus (Rhinopneumonitis): Equine herpesvirus (EHV-1 and EHV-4) can cause respiratory disease, abortion in mares and neurologic illness. Respiratory signs include fever, lethargy, nasal discharge, cough, not eating, and swollen lymph nodes in the lower jaw. This highly contagious infection is spread both with direct and indirect contact with nasal secretions. Like herpesviruses of other species, this can be a latent infection in the majority of horses, which means that it can lie dormant, and they can still be asymptomatic carriers. Although uncommon, horses may develop Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Prognosis for horses who test positive for EHV and then develop neurologic signs of EHM is often poor with mortality rates reported around 30%.
Potomac Horse Fever: PHF is a non-contagious, infectious disease that usually occurs late spring thru early fall. Signs may include a high fever, profuse diarrhea, mild to moderate colic, inappetence, decreased GI sounds, edema (swelling from fluid), or depression. Severe laminitis can develop as well. Typical transmission is from ingestion of parasites present in aquatic insects (caddisflies, mayflies, damselflies, and dragonflies) or snails. Horses within 5 miles of a freshwater river/stream are at increased risk. Barns that utilize nighttime lights can also attract insects containing these parasites. With mortality rates being reported between 5-30%.
Rabies: Rabies is an acute viral infection of the nervous system that is transmissible to humans. Horses can show distress (colic like symptoms), lameness, depression, or agitation. The throat and jaw muscles may become paralyzed, which will progress throughout the body. Early stages of rabies can be easily confused with other diseases (such as colic) or with normal aggressive tendencies. Later signs are less confusing, as they either become unresponsive or dangerously aggressive. A rabies diagnosis must be verified with post mortem laboratory tests. There is no effective treatment in horses or people. People exposed to rabies need to be treated urgently with rabies prophylactic immunizations.
Streptococcus equi (Strangles): This is a highly contagious upper-respiratory infection. Strangles symptoms can include fever, cough, difficulty swallowing, abnormal breathing, nasal discharge, swelling and/or abscesses of the lymph nodes.The disease can spread quickly and is easily transmitted. Strangles can be passed with direct contact with another horse, but also indirect such as human contact between horses, or sharing items like feeding buckets and water troughs. Your horse may be at risk for strangles during travel to events or shows or exposure to horses that travel, such as within a boarding barn.
Vaccination Recommendations:
