What You Need to Know About Horse Vaccinations

What You Need to Know About Horse Vaccinations

There are two categories of horse vaccinations. Do you know what they are?

Photo Credit: Dr. Mike Pownall giving a horse vaccination, Youtube

There are two categories of horse vaccinations.

The first category of horse vaccinations refers to CORE VACCINATIONS, vaccinations that all horses should have. They include:

Tetanus
Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis
West Nile Virus
Rabies

The second category is referred to as RISK BASED VACCINATIONS.The necessity of these vaccines vary from region to region and even between individual horses (meaning that some horses are more susceptible to certain diseases than others). The vaccinations in this category include:

Anthrax
Botulism
Equine Herpesvirus (Rhinopneumonitis)
Equine Viral Arteritis
Equine Influenza
Potomac Horse Fever
Rotaviral Diarrhea
Strangles

The best way to determine whether your horse needs the vaccines in this category is to consult a trusted large animal veterinarian in your area.

I recommend that you have a veterinarian vaccinate your horses rather than doing it yourself. But if your veterinarian gives you the OK to vaccinate your horse yourself, or if you need to give your horse any other prescribed medication by injection, here is an excellent YouTube video by Dr. Mike Pownall showing how it is done.

Here are a few books and products that I recommend for learning more about how to keep your horse healthy and safe.