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 Shoot Yeah
Posts: 4273
  
Location: Where you need a paddle... Oregon! | I don't. I have, but I don't. Even when I was hauling and competing. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 322
| Neros Winning Chick - 2016-11-24 7:39 PM I have religiously vaccinated my horses every spring for many years but this year I didn't and I have talked with many other horse owners that didn't also. I know a couple that own an outfitting business and own and haul 50+ horses and they have never vaccinated any of them. None of them have ever been ill. In MN this year, there were quite a few cases of West Nile reported. Some of the horses were vaccinated against the disease and some were not.
This is an interesting topic. I was a little worried this year since I had not vaccinated but the more people I talk to, the more I find out that very few people vaccinate. Here's an interesting arcticle on the subject: http://hl.depaoloequineconcepts.com/?q=node/6
I have always religiously vaccinated. This is the first year I am considering not vaccinating. I really thought it was a taboo idea then I see I'm not the only who either is considering or already doesn't. | |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | Vaccinating horses does not "weaken" their immune system. Anyone who believes this nonsense simply has no idea whatsoever how the immune system works. Also, this notion that people prefer "natural" immunity through the disease process, as opposed to vaccines, likewise has no understanding of immunology. As a matter of fact, vaccines are a completely natural process. Living creatures are exposed to thousands of foreign antigens or "germs" on a daily basis. We are unaware of that fact, precisely because healthy people posses a vigorous immune system. If you want to see what life would be like without a healthy immune system, read about infectious diseases in people who are immunosuppressed, like people with leukemia, AIDS, or cancer patients on chemotherapy. They frequently become seriously ill or even die from infectious diseases that wouldn't even cause a runny nose in healthy people. Only a small percentage of viruses and bacteria cause disease that is life threatening in otherwise healthy people (or horses). We are all covered with bacteria and viruses....literally millions of them, inside and out. Most deadly bacteria and viruses do convey immunity, which is wonderful........if you, or your horse, survives. Fortunately, we (and our horses) are all equipped to call upon our immune systems to prevent deadly illness if we are smart and sensible enough to vaccinate. For those of you who repeatedly say, "I've never vaccinated and my horses have never been sick", all I can say is you are either a liar or lucky. I'm not going to sit here and recommend which vaccines are recommended and which aren't necessary, but I would recommend you talk to your vet or doctor. If they tell you vaccines aren't necessary, I will recommend you dump them and seek out someone educated and competent. This whole antivax movement is insane. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 618
| I vaccinate, not religiously on the same day/time every year ie it lapses sometimes a couple of months. I keep tetanus shots in fridge bc horses are suicidal. I think the biggest threat to our horses getting ill are us! The constant "sanitizing" of buckets, barns, trailers and trying to keep their areas clean is far more damaging to them than the exposure of dirt and germs. WE are inhibiting their natural ability to build immunity by removing bacteriaa nd germs from natural environment, even the good ones! I just use a common sense approach. When I haul, no bucket sharing with other horses besides mine, I don't stall, I park by myself(mostly bc my horse sets back and is more peaceful away from others). I try not to get packed in "holding areas" etc. I've only had one sick horse in 25 yrs | |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I never used to until I moved to AZ and started boarding. I don't do the 5/6 way, I vaccinate based on what my horse needs per the vet. I can't quite remember what we vaccinated for without grabbing the invoice.
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 Brains Behind the Operation...
Posts: 4543
Location: Arizona | I don't haul much, but I do try to vaccinate with a 5-way once a year. Occassionally I slack. I have had one case of rhino 16-17 years ago, and what I think may have been a case of Potomac fever 2 years ago (it was touch and go for a couple days with that one but she pulled through). I work in the office of an equine hospital, and we did have someone hauling 5 horses back from AQHA Congress last month with sick horses. They overnighted at a local boarding stable, and during the night one horse developed a 105* fever and cold symptoms. That horse stayed at the clinic, but the hauler chose to keep traveling (against our recommendations) with the others. We took nasal swabs from all the horses before she left, and all but one ended up testing positive for influenza. The other positive horses were all symptomatic by the time they arrived home in Washington. The one unvaccinated horse at the local boarding stable (new boarder) that was the stopover also got sick a few days later. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | Per my vet I vaccinate everyone for everything possible and spread them out over the course of several weeks. | |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| Bear - 2016-11-24 10:07 PM
Vaccinating horses does not "weaken" their immune system. Anyone who believes this nonsense simply has no idea whatsoever how the immune system works. Also, this notion that people prefer "natural" immunity through the disease process, as opposed to vaccines, likewise has no understanding of immunology. As a matter of fact, vaccines are a completely natural process. Living creatures are exposed to thousands of foreign antigens or "germs" on a daily basis. We are unaware of that fact, precisely because healthy people posses a vigorous immune system. If you want to see what life would be like without a healthy immune system, read about infectious diseases in people who are immunosuppressed, like people with leukemia, AIDS, or cancer patients on chemotherapy. They frequently become seriously ill or even die from infectious diseases that wouldn't even cause a runny nose in healthy people. Only a small percentage of viruses and bacteria cause disease that is life threatening in otherwise healthy people (or horses). We are all covered with bacteria and viruses....literally millions of them, inside and out. Most deadly bacteria and viruses do convey immunity, which is wonderful........if you, or your horse, survives. Fortunately, we (and our horses) are all equipped to call upon our immune systems to prevent deadly illness if we are smart and sensible enough to vaccinate. For those of you who repeatedly say, "I've never vaccinated and my horses have never been sick", all I can say is you are either a liar or lucky. I'm not going to sit here and recommend which vaccines are recommended and which aren't necessary, but I would recommend you talk to your vet or doctor. If they tell you vaccines aren't necessary, I will recommend you dump them and seek out someone educated and competent. This whole antivax movement is insane.
Agreed
I grew up on a ranch and my dad vaccinated for everything. We rarely lost animals from disease. I got married and my FIL didn't see a need to vaccinate at all. One year he lost nearly all of his calves to blackleg. That pretty well convinced him of the need to vaccinate. A hard way to learn when you lose 100 or so calves. In all the vet offices around here there are signs to vaccinate for West Nile.
There has been a post on facebook about all the dangers of getting a vaccination for the flu. My principal nearly died last year the from the flu because it went septic. I was the first person in line at school for my flu shot and I bet my principal was right behind me somewhere. I think I will continue vaccinate horses and myself. I seriously don't know where people come up with that stuff. You youngsters have no idea about small pox vaccinations but smallpox has been wiped out around the world because of an aggressive vaccination program.
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | streakysox - 2016-11-28 9:22 AM Bear - 2016-11-24 10:07 PM Vaccinating horses does not "weaken" their immune system. Anyone who believes this nonsense simply has no idea whatsoever how the immune system works. Also, this notion that people prefer "natural" immunity through the disease process, as opposed to vaccines, likewise has no understanding of immunology. As a matter of fact, vaccines are a completely natural process. Living creatures are exposed to thousands of foreign antigens or "germs" on a daily basis. We are unaware of that fact, precisely because healthy people posses a vigorous immune system. If you want to see what life would be like without a healthy immune system, read about infectious diseases in people who are immunosuppressed, like people with leukemia, AIDS, or cancer patients on chemotherapy. They frequently become seriously ill or even die from infectious diseases that wouldn't even cause a runny nose in healthy people. Only a small percentage of viruses and bacteria cause disease that is life threatening in otherwise healthy people (or horses). We are all covered with bacteria and viruses....literally millions of them, inside and out. Most deadly bacteria and viruses do convey immunity, which is wonderful........if you, or your horse, survives. Fortunately, we (and our horses) are all equipped to call upon our immune systems to prevent deadly illness if we are smart and sensible enough to vaccinate. For those of you who repeatedly say, "I've never vaccinated and my horses have never been sick", all I can say is you are either a liar or lucky. I'm not going to sit here and recommend which vaccines are recommended and which aren't necessary, but I would recommend you talk to your vet or doctor. If they tell you vaccines aren't necessary, I will recommend you dump them and seek out someone educated and competent. This whole antivax movement is insane. Agreed I grew up on a ranch and my dad vaccinated for everything. We rarely lost animals from disease. I got married and my FIL didn't see a need to vaccinate at all. One year he lost nearly all of his calves to blackleg. That pretty well convinced him of the need to vaccinate. A hard way to learn when you lose 100 or so calves. In all the vet offices around here there are signs to vaccinate for West Nile. There has been a post on facebook about all the dangers of getting a vaccination for the flu. My principal nearly died last year the from the flu because it went septic. I was the first person in line at school for my flu shot and I bet my principal was right behind me somewhere. I think I will continue vaccinate horses and myself. I seriously don't know where people come up with that stuff. You youngsters have no idea about small pox vaccinations but smallpox has been wiped out around the world because of an aggressive vaccination program.
First day on the job of the vet clinic I used to work for, I witnessed a "sick" horse-turned out to be rabies-fortunately for me I didn't deal with the animal so I didn't need rabies vaccinations (at least that time)-leaves quite an impression when you have to witness an animal slowly dieing and then be euthanized over something that could have been so easily prevented. I witnessed several animals VERY ill from west nile-some survived many didn't. I vaccinate my horses EVERY year. My dad lost several calves from BVD one year-he now makes dang sure he handles his vaccination protocol to the letter for his cows and his calves. Even cattle on a ranch can be infiltrated-whether you're buying from a private owner or the sales barn-most horses get exposed a lot more than cattle. Finding a hole big enough to bury an animal in-isn't at the top of my list of things I love to do. | |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I vaccinate for everything, every year. I've seen firsthand what tetanus looks like, and what the neuro diseases can do. It's ugly, and a lot of times they never come back 100% from it if they survive a form of infectious encephalitis. And rabies? If you have a horse come down with rabies, which does happen, your option is euthanasia.
Edited by casualdust07 2016-11-28 10:01 AM
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