Potomac Horse Fever Vaccine?

My horse and I are originally from CO (well we met there) and when I moved out East, I was given a list of required vaccines and optional vaccines. On the list, was Potomac Fever which I had little no knowledge about so I tried to seek answers but the bottom line was horses don't catch it often and there's a chance they WILL catch it having had the vaccine.

Does anyone have experience with it? Should I add it to the list of shots my vet administers this spring? Is it an annual shot or monthly or something else?

Have their been any side affects or anything I should be concerned about?

Thanks :)

The P. Vaccination does not prevent your horse from catching the fever, what it does, is minimize the effects of the fever. Most horses, without the vaccination who do contract the P. Fever, aren't good.

My fellow ended up contracting it a couple of "Springs" ago, his temp was very high. I was able to get my vet out ASAP who gave him a handful of antibiotics and said that without the vaccination, this would of took his life. He spend the next few days coming out to the barn to give him his vaccinations - since then, I've been convinced about the P. Vaccination.

He gets his first vaccination in the spring, and the second in the fall.

The Vaccination does not make your horse more susceptible to catching the fever, that's a load of malarkey.

I would discuss this with your vet and learn more about it.

Potomac Horse Fever is a very real threat, depending on where you're located. When I lived in southern Maryland, my horses got the vaccine every year. Your local vet will know whether or not your horse is at risk, and will advise you.

Yes, it's an optional vaccine, but if you're in an area where PHF is known to occur, better safe than sorry.

I don't know who told you that a horse is more likely to contract PHF if they've had the vaccine, because that's backwards. An unvaccinated horse is more likely to get it than one who hasn't, because the one who did get it has developed antibodies to fight it. That's the premise behind every vaccine, including the ones given to humans.

The old barn manager did, and I know little to nothing about it so I just kind of accepted the tidbit of advice and didn't really read up on it

I am definitely going to talk with my vet about it, I was just curious on what people's experience is with it. I wouldn't base my decision off of solely what I read here.

We skipped the shots this fall since he got them prior to shipping. I haven't even met the vet yet, but I'm planning on doing some maintenance stuff (sheath cleaning, stool analysis, teeth check) in January so I can ask about it then.

Thank you for the quick response :)

Had to correct my first post.

The P. Vaccination does not minimize the possibilities of contracting the P. Fever, the vaccination minimizes the effects.

Excellent plan of action.

In this area, I would get the vaccine. Esepcially if you live near the water. I'm walking distance from the Potomac river and I have creeks that run through my land.

It's an organism that infects snails so that is why it's important to vaccinate if you are near water.

Yeah I'm in Maryland so I think it's worth looking into.

Thanks for the helpful advice :) I just want what's best for my horse..