Posted 2016-01-30 8:53 AM Subject: Vaccine Routine
Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275 Location: In The Snow, AZ
I have had horses for the past 14 years. I have never vaccinated. Not one time. And I have never had an issue or a sick horse.
In light of the recent outbreak of EHV-1, I am rethinking that idea. What are your vaccine routines? When do you vaccinate and what do you vaccinate for? I vaccinate our dogs myself. Would lean towards vaccinating the horses at home if it's possible.
Last I heard there was no vaccine for neurological EHV-1. They are saying there MAY be some protection from the vaccination for EHV-1. But some if the sick horses had been vaccinated and still got the neurological strain.
Posts: 10368 Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs
They are making us all vaccinate for the virus or we can't haul into the tracks in Oklahoma. In addition we have to have a health certificate within 72 hours of transporting to the track.
I have had horses for the past 14 years. I have never vaccinated. Not one time. And I have never had an issue or a sick horse.
In light of the recent outbreak of EHV-1, I am rethinking that idea. What are your vaccine routines? When do you vaccinate and what do you vaccinate for? I vaccinate our dogs myself. Would lean towards vaccinating the horses at home if it's possible.
The only vaccines that create immunity are the three eastern western and venezuelan encephalomyelitis strains, Tetanus and the Kentucky A1-A2 virus ...
I use TRIPLE EFT a one shot vaccine on new horses and when foals are 7-8 months old since remaining effects of colostrum nulls the affects of giving it any sooner. Other wise shots are very limited and given primarily for the Tetanus booster since horses have live tetanus in their poop and humans can catch it via a cut or scratch and come in contact with the horses poop. I buy it in single dose syringes that way there is no sharing of a needle or syringe..
My simple method to keep needle in the horse if they move around ...
Practice with a pen at your desk .. lay cheek of hand on desk firmly with pen in fingers as if to write a note ... keep cheek of hand firmly pressed on the desk and make stabbing motions into a paper pad by rotating your hand slightly and peck the paper like a chicken pecking at grain ... get smooth with this little maneuver and now let's go to the barn.
Use an empty syringe to repeat the above by pressing the cheek of your hand against the horses neck where your pecking/needle insertion will be and practice the motion with no needle of course until you feel comfortable with keeping your hand and the nozzle head of the syringe firmly pressed against the horses neck (this is also a good way to acclimate a horse to getting their shots)
Pinch the horse on the neck for 5 seconds and wipe away the pinch mark with your finger. This numbs the area so any prick from the needle is not a surprise to the horse.
Also .. keeping hand and syringe pressed firmly against the neck during injection keeps needle still so movement by the horse does not cause the sharp end of the needle to slice and dice any muscle tissue. .... REmind your feet to move when the horse moves to keep your hand and needle in place ...
Now open and take off the needle cover on your vaccine ... pinch the exact area you intend to insert the needle .... for 5+ seconds.. smooth out area with your finger ... now give your shot with the pecking motion while keeping the cheek of your hand AND the needle/syringe PRESSED FIRMLY AGAINST THE HORSE WHILE YOU INJECT THE VACCINE ... hold your position for 2-3 seconds after administering ... and then swiftly and smoothly remove the needle in one quick movement. Now press your finger on the injection site to seal it up and rub the area slightly to help the vaccine spread in the muscle area below the injection site.
Most swelling and abscesses at injection shots are created by sloppy shot giving and some of the vaccine or meds are released under the skin rather than totally in the muscle. If giving meds .. I use a 20 guage needle even with a thicker solution .. takes a little longer to inject .. but gives meds time to move into the muscle vs leaking out the injection hole and creating problems ... use same technique as above .. and meds or vaccines should be at body temperature ... so carry them in a shirt pocket will work ...
All the other vaccines are scare tactics to sell them ... similar quotes from mfgrs and vets is .... Vaccinating may decrease the effects of the disease and in some cases will give the disease to the horse. We recommend you give it....
Big $$$'s in profits for something that does not work ..
Some of my quirks to keep my horses healthy ... I refrain from taking my horses inside a vet clinic if they can be treated or get their coggins test outside ...... inside is where all the sicker horse go .. so I avoid it if I can.
Stalls at events ... carry you a couple of spray bottles or a pump up garden sprayer with 10% cholorine bleach and water........ spray your stalls and door before you bring in your horses and especially any feeders or block them off and bring your own buckets.
NEVER WATER YOUR HORSE AT A COMMON WATER TANK ANYWHERE YOU GO ... water out of your own buckets ... or no water is better than taking a chance..
And for Horse's sake ... NO NOSE RUBBING with other horses ...
These are so simple you may think I am goofy for mentioning them ... until your horse is sick with some respiratory or other disease caused by lack of concern by his owner ...
Vaccine Routine
