Horse Illustrated Magazine

Every horse owner is familiar with the routine of spring vaccinations, but which vaccines does your horse really need and why is a spring checkup so important? Read on to find out more information about spring shots for horses.

When your vet comes to the barn, she will do a thorough exam on your horse before vaccinating your horse’s spring shots. The vet will listen to his heart, lungs and belly, assess his body condition, check his teeth, skin, coat and eyes, and take a sample of manure for a parasite exam.

She will discuss his current feeding plan with you and answer any questions you have about his health and care. Your vet may also watch the way your horse moves to check for lameness.

Spring Check Up: Coggins Test

If you are planning to travel with your horse, you will need to have your vet do a Coggins test. This is a blood test for a disease called equine infectious anemia (EIA). There is no vaccine for this disease, but the test is required by law if you travel more than 75 miles or cross state lines.

You will also need a USDA health certificate, which your vet will issue after the Coggins test is completed. Many boarding barns and shows also require a current health certificate and Coggins test.

Spring Check Up: Equine Dental Exam

If necessary, your vet will do dental work on your horse, a medical procedure done under sedation to remove sharp points and correct any problems with damaged or diseased teeth.

The vet will also check and clean the sheath of geldings and the udders of mares while the horse is sedated for the dentistry. Only a veterinarian trained in equine dentistry or a technician under the direct supervision of a vet should perform dentistry on your horse.

Vaccinations for Horses

During a spring check up, it is important to get all spring shots up to date for your horse. Vaccinations can be confusing to owners because there are many different ones available. How do you know which ones your horse needs? There are two categories: core vaccines and risk-based vaccines.

Core vaccines are the ones every horse needs to protect against dangerous diseases that can cause serious problems or even death. The core vaccines protect against Eastern and Western encephalitis (EEE, WEE), rabies, West Nile virus (WNV) and tetanus. Since these diseases can be found across the country, it is recommended to keep all horses current on these vaccinations.

• EEE and WEE are deadly viruses carried by mosquitos and other bloodsucking insects but can also be passed from horse to horse.
• Tetanus is a disease affecting the nervous system caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani, which can be carried by horses. It can also live in certain soil types. This bacteria can enter the body through wounds.
• West Nile is a dangerous virus carried and passed on by mosquitoes.
• Rabies is a virus carried by wildlife, most commonly skunks, foxes, raccoons and bats, and it is always fatal.

Risk-based vaccines should only be given on the recommendation of your veterinarian. These are given for specific reasons, and may vary from year to year.

The presence of these diseases will vary according to insect populations and the climate, travel and other factors, which is why they are only recommended on an as-needed basis. They include anthrax, botulism, flu, rhino, EVA, leptospirosis, Potomac horse fever, rotavirus and strangles.

Remember that vaccinations are most effective when administered correctly. If the vaccine history of a new horse is unknown, he will need his initial shots boosted in four to six weeks. If you are planning to travel or show your horse, it is generally recommended to boost all needed vaccinations six to eight weeks beforehand to allow immunity to develop and any soreness or swelling from the shots to resolve.

Vaccines will minimize but not prevent the risk of disease. Good management is also necessary to protect your horse. Insect control, minimizing stress and overcrowding and keeping your horse isolated from strange horses from other barns are some good preventative measures that you can take.

Finally, most vaccines are given once a year in the spring season during a spring check up, but some are recommended more often if you are traveling to a different area or exposing your horse to a new barn. So plan ahead with your vet’s advice so you can have a safe and healthy summer!

This article originally appeared in the March/April issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!