Horse Health/Equine Vaccination



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Disease	Type Vaccine	Administration	Earliest Age Of Initial vaccine	2nd Vaccine Interval	Revaccination Interval
Tetanus	killed bacterin toxoid	intramuscular (in the muscle)	3 months	1 to 2 months later	yearly
Encephalomyelitis Eastern/Western	killed virus	intramuscular	3 months	1 to 2 months later	yearly, before insect season
Equine Influenza	killed virus	intramuscular	3 months	1 to 2 moths later	every 3 months during epidemic/before shipping
Rhinopneumonitis*	killed virus	intramuscular	3 months	1 to 2 months later	every 3 months during epidemic/before shipping
Strangles Equine Distemper	killed bacterin	intramuscular	3 months	1 month later	every 3 months during epidemic/before shipping
Rabies	killed virus	intramuscular	3 months	1 time per year	yearly
Potomac Horse Fever	killed bacterin	intramuscular	3 months	3 weeks later	yearly

*Pregnant mares should be vaccinated for Rhinopneumonitis during
the 5th, 7th and 9th months of gestation.
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Equine Disease Symptoms

Disease	General Signs	Spread
Tetanus	Difficulty eating or walking, overreaction to noise, stiffness, elevation of the 3rd eyelid.	Not contagious; caused by punctures and wound infection.
Encephalomyelitis	Often fatal; fever, staggering, circling, head pressing, depression and sleepiness.	Not contagious, but spread by mosquitoes.
Equine Influenza	Rarely fatal; cough, loss of appetite, fever, depression, muscle soreness, discharge from the eyes & nose.	Very contagious; keep affected animals isolated.
Rhinopneumonitis	Respiratory distress; nasal discharge, cough, fever; causes abortion in pregnant mares.	Very contagious; keep affected animals isolated.
Strangles	Fever, swollen jaw glands, loss of appetite, cough, nasal discharge, can cause abortion in pregnant mares.	Very contagious; keep affected animals isolated.
Potomac Horse Fever	Lethargy, anorexia, fever, colic, laminitis, colitis, and diarrhea.	Spread during insect season, vector unknown.

Parts of the Horse

West Nile Virus

Signs of West Nile virus in horses: These symptoms can be confused with rabies, EPM ("Possum Disease), equine encephalitis, and other serious neurological diseases. If you see any of these signs in your horse, please see your veterinarian immediately. Stumbling or tripping ~ Muscle weakness or twitching ~ Partial paralysis ~ Loss of appetite ~ Depression or lethargy ~ Head pressing or tilt ~ Impaired vision ~ Wandering or circling ~ Inability to swallow ~ Inability to stand up ~ Fever ~ Convulsions ~ Coma.
Click on the links below for more West Nile information:

CDC West Nile Virus Home Page CDC West Nile Virus in Horses FAQ

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Anthrax in Horses

Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by the organism Bacillus Anthracis. Horses most commonly show septicemia with enteritis and colic. Most cases are reported during the warm summer months. Vaccination is only recommended in enzootic areas of the country, (i.e. South Dakota, Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, California, and Arkansas). In the case of an outbreak, only those animals not exhibiting clinical signs should be vaccinated.

Anthrax as a Weapon of Terrorism
Centers for Disease Control - Anthrax

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Mare Heat Cycles

We have found that most healthy mares come into heat every 21-22 days. 21 to 22 days from the time she comes into heat, she should start into heat again. Some mares may vary from 18 to 31 days in their heat cycles.

Ovulation or the fertile time for the mare occurs 24 to 48 hours before the mare goes out of heat. So, no matter how long she is in heat she cannot become pregnant until shortly before she goes out of heat. Most mares are in heat for about 5 to 7 days. A healthy stallion's sperm lives about 24 hours in the mares genital tract, so in order to get the mare to settle in foal it is necessary to have the stallion cover her shortly before she goes out of heat. We usually breed mares on the second day of their heat cycles, and then breed them every other day until they go out of heat.

Most mare's foal heat, (the first heat cycle after foaling) will usually start about 9 days after the foal is born, but depending on the individual mare, it can start from 4 to 18 days later. She can be bred back at this time if she foaled clean with no problems or complications. The second heat after foaling usually starts 18 to 21 days after the foal heat.

Managing Heat Cycles in Mares Culture Test Mares

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Parasites & Worms

Internal parasites are a major threat to the health, strength and vitality of every horse. Clinical and/or sub clinical parasitism exacts a staggering toll on the health of nearly every horse. Fortunately, horse owners have the power to prevent parasite damage.

Thousands of eggs and larvae of dangerous parasites like large strongyles, small strongyles, roundworms and pinworms are ingested daily by horses. The typical life cycle of internal parasites in the horse begins when infective larvae or eggs containing larvae are ingested. Damage is done to the intestines, and larval migration may damage other organs as well. Over the following weeks and months, the larvae develop and mature until they become egg-producing adults. The thousands of eggs produced by the adult worms are passed back into the environment where they start the cycle all over again.

Horse Health — Practical Worm Control Equine Internal Parasites World of Horses

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Horse Temperature

A horse's normal rectal body temperature is approximately 100.5 degrees.
Temperatures of 102 degrees or more generally indicate an infection, which needs attention.
The normal breathing rate for a horse at rest is 12-15 breaths per minute. Breathing rate can be determined by watching the nostrils or flank. Rapid, shallow breathing at rest often means a horse needs medical attention.
The normal resting heart rate for a horse is 35-40 beats per minute. The rate will increase when a horse is excited or exercising. A resting heart or pulse rate of 50 or higher means the horse is in physical distress. The heart rate can be determined by monitoring it at the artery that crosses under the jaw, or by feeling the heart beat. To feel the beat put your hand under the horse's left elbow.

How to Take Your Horse's Temperature
How To Evaluate Your Horse's Vital Signs

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The above tips are not meant as a diagnosis, treatment advise or replacement for the medical advisement of your veterinarian. It is offered as a general informational resource based on personal experience and study.

Where to Buy Equine Vaccines & Wormers

We order our horse vaccines & wormers from Jeffers Equine Supply.
Click below to visit their web site.

Click here for JeffersEquine.com: Horse Vaccines, Horse Supplies, Tack Supplies and Equine Supplies

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