What month do you give spring shots? and which ones?
 

Hi, I was wondering what month everyone does Spring shots in the Northeast? Also what shots do you have given? First springtime with my first horse, so I was interested in what is the usual. I can't find out what he had in the past as he came with no history (feedlot), I did have him get fall rhino and flu. I will have vet out to do routine check up and shots but wanted to know what everyone feels is necessary and not over vaccinate him because sometimes vets just recommend get everything. He is between 12 and 15 years old, gelding.
Thanks for your help, so much to learn but enjoying every minute.

Hi, Sunnylucy! I live in N MI - I give my mares a 4-way vaccine every May. *East Nile, West Nile, Influenza, and Tetanus. I have my two horses here at home, so a 4-way once each Spring is perfectly adequate. I think at particular boarding stables, however, giving this twice a year is required.

Hi Northernstar,
Thank you for the information, is this one needle with 4 in it? I think my guy would be okay with that LOL. Do you ever give rabies shots? Someone mentioned it at the boarding stables, but I wasn't sure if its necessary, but we do have raccoons and stuff running around. Oh my, there is so much to keep track of, I have been keeping a horse book on him so I know what was done and what needs to be done, I keep receipts too, but there is no way I'm ever adding them up, I don't really want to know! :)

I don't know about the "4", but I know they are getting the 4-way which is perfect in my region - as far as rabies, I have to say I would definately consider it if I lived where there are raccoons - we don't have many raccoons up here at all, as they tend to live further south in my state in urban areas. If someone suggests a rabies, and if you do indeed live in a more urban area, you should consider it.

Thanks, I think I will have rabies given, I would rather not take chances, I worry enough about him, Thank you again for the info.

I give my gelding this vaccine every spring and fall (April/October). I also get his rabies vaccine from my vet in the spring, he sells the syringe and vaccine for only $7. No farm call, no exam fee, I get my spring shots over and done with for less than $40! :-)

Raccoons are not the only creature that can carry rabies. Any mammal can - fox, coyote, dogs, cats, squirrels, etc. It's also 100% fatal. Why risk it?
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here is the AAEP's guidelines of core vaccines (ones which all horses should have)
http://www.aaep.org/core_vaccinations.htm
and you can find a link on there for risk based vaccines, meaning might be important in your area. For example, spring is the time to vaccinate against Potomac horse fever, if you have that where you live.

Every May (i think) I give a 5-way and westnile. Our veterinarian said that due to our location, the rabies vaccine wasn't a necessity and recommended against it.

When you give spring shots is dependent upon where you live and when the vectors that transmit the disease are most prevalent. What you need to administer is dependent upon where you live and the risk factors (showing, stabling, traveling...). What each of us on a forum does is hardly good advice for your horses not knowing their location and risk factors. Don't base what you need to do and when you need to do it by what others do.