I live next to a small pond and I was just wondering if I should get my horse's shots this year or not?? We can't really afford it, but I would rather be safe than sorry. Do any of your horses get shots?? Please let me know!
I called two different vets in the new town today and no one knew of any recommended shots... like here, I guess, where no one vaccinates. it actually took one girl about 5 minutes on the phone to remember that EIA should be tested for *facepalm*
I might see if it's possible to have the 5 way shot from Valley Vet shipped to Canada
Holy cow, SnowCowgirl! Were these vet offices of equine (large animal) vets?
That's amazing. How could they not have a basic idea of what should be given? Talk about uninformed.
Oh geez, are you sure they were large animal vets? Small animal vets may not know what vaccines a horse needs because, well they don't ever treat them. If they were in fact large animal vets I would stay away, far away...
Do you have mosquitoes?
if so give West Nile and possibly E/W encephalomyelitis (or sleeping sickness) depending on your areas risk factors, these are transmitted by mosquito.
Do your horses have any chance at all of contact with wild animals such as raccoon, skunk, possum, coyote, or other common rabies carriers? If so give rabies, it is 100% fatal if they come down with it.
Tetanus should be given no matter what area, although there are varying opinions as to whether it should be given annually or every other year or longer.
Do you plan on hauling to any shows, trail rides, etc? if so I would consider Flu/Rhino/maybe strangles.
Flu/Rhino/Tet/SS (5 way) is a common affordable vaccination around here (Northern WI) Rabies and WNV are given separately.
Most states do require that a veterinarian give the rabies shot. This is because its a zoonotic deadly disease. If you are going to a show they may want a rabies certificate which would be signed by the vet. Most places will say ewt/wn (EEE,WEE, Tetanus and west nile) and rabies are given. Strangles, rhino and coggins all depend on where and what you do with your horse.
I know a number of people who don't vaccinate and don't have a problem but really its luck of the draw. I know people who don't/didn't vaccinate and after a disease ended up with a HUGE vet bill and a dead horse, plus or minus vaccinations for themselves. It just a sad situation to see because it could have been easily and pretty cheaply prevented. I figure for the cost of the vaccine its an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
they were the only two vet offices in the town. I assumed that, like where I'm from, they would do small animal AND large animal... the next largest town is about 3 hours away as far as I know and that's probably the closest I could find a place that specializes in large animals.
I really think I'm going to do the 5 way just to be safe and will think about rabies. I need to take River in to get the coggins test done next week anyway.
I just vaccinated all of mine with a 5 way and west nile all in one syringe. I ordered them from United Vet Equine. It was actually cheaper to get it all in one not to mention it's just one injection. Unfortunately in TX, they won't let you do Rabies yourself though.
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