Vaccinations

Hi everyone I new. :)

Hope you don't mind if I ask a silly question?

Can anyone tell me how often I'm supposed to vaccinate against strangles & tetanus? They sell the needles in the horse store, and I know I'm supposed to give them regularly (but haven't because I don't know how )

Where do I give them? Are they hard to administer? I'm scared about putting needles into my horse in the wrong way or wrong spot!!

Thanks.

Read the box to see when to vaccinate!!! They vaccinations go into the neck.do you know anyone who is more experienced at giving vaccinations, this way you can watch and they can teach you how and where to put it exactly.. if not you should get the vet out.

No such thing as a silly question here :)
I have the vet do all my vaccinations. I don't trust myself to do it and it saves me a lot of anxiety. I know there is an area on the neck where your suppose to do the injections and its once a year on most of them. Your braver than me if you can do it yourself
My vet will come to the house for a small fee I think it $15-$20.

I would def. Talk to your vet about that. Either to show you how to do it yourself in the future or for them to do it. I took a class on how to do it myself and I still don't have the guts, haha.

This is a good chart showing what vaccinations a horse needs, and when:

http://www.equusite.com/articles/hea...Pleasure.shtml

This tells you step by step how to inject:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2046220_give-horse-shot.html

I haven't given my horses a shot. Usually I have the vet do it because I like him to check my horses vitals, teeth, etc. at the same time. Though I've educated myself on those subjects, I still feel the vet is much more qualified than I am.

I have given cattle shots, and I've watched vets give my horses shots, and the process is the same for both species of animals. I give vaccinations on the neck just above the shoulder. Tap the area quickly and firmly with your fingers and then stick the needle in with the same type of motion.

It really is best to have an experienced person show you, however. Its easier to learn by watching the correct technique for this sort of thing, than reading about it.

I just vaccinate my horse once a year right before fair.

I gave those shots once a year. Had the same issue: never gave shots before when I got my youngsters and they were not vet-trained... So... I ended up giving shots in butt: it's hard to hurt anything there as there are only muscles (unlike neck). However there is a danger of getting kicked. Next year I used vet to give shots. Just makes me feel more secure about the professional doing that.

What your supposed to do it starting at the poll go down 4 inches then to the right 6 in that is the spot you want to adminaster it.when you push it in the skin. Pull the suringe a tiny bit like your taking blood but if there is blood you want to try another spot because you hit a vain so once your sure its in the muscle administer I hope this helps

Tetanus vaccination should be given once a year.

Strangles is also given once a year IN HIGH RISK SITUATIONS. Strangles is not a vaccine that all horses shoud be given due to the increased risk of severe adverse reactions associated with this vaccine.

There are also several other vaccines that should be given as well as just Tetanus and Strangles.

If you don't know what to give, when to give it or how to give it, you definitely need to talk to your vet. Vaccination schedules vary from situation to situation and location to location because risk factors vary. You want to be sure that you are giving the appropriate vaccines and at the appropriate time for your area and situation, otherwise you may think your horse is covered an he may still be very much at risk.



note: The Equisite article is handy, but not completely accurate and I wouldn't base my vaccination schedule solely on that information. Always consult your vet to determine what exactly YOUR HORSE needs.

If you ask me, you need to get with your vet.

The advice given here is very very good I'm sure but your vet is the person to ask.

In my situation, our vet privides specific option packages for preventative care. The packages differ based on what the horse is used for and how often it travels. They come with vaccinations and other care procedures to be administered at appropriate intervals over the course of the year. The following year we renew the package. It's an up front cost that covers all of the procedures included for the year, and sometimes our insurance pays part of it.