Equine Health Care
By Dr. Jeff Hookstead

Quite often I am asked by horse owners "what vaccinations should my horse get?" That's a really difficult question to answer because no two situations are exactly alike. Vaccination recommendations for a brood living on a brood farm will be much different than a gelded horse which lives alone and never leaves the farm. Remember, vaccinations are like buying mini insurance policies. No one needs car insurance unless they are involved in a car crash. Likewise, horses only need certain vaccines if they are exposed to the disease causing agent. Unfortunately, we can only make educated guesses regarding disease risk factors in horses.

Common vaccines include Tetanus, West Nile, Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis, Rabies, Influenza, just to name a few. Discussing your horse's situation with a veterinarian and tailoring the vaccination protocol to address your horse's risk factors is the best approach to take.

The goal should be to not over vaccinate your horse, but rather to protect your horse against those disease agents which pose a risk to your horse's health. Other basic health considerations for your horse is periodic worming and annual oral exams. Keeping your horse free of intestinal parasites will help in maintaining optimal body condition and may also help in preventing some parasite related colics. Dental exams and "floating" your horse's teeth helps maintain normal tooth anatomy and improves your horse's ability to chew its food.

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© Marsh View Veterinary Clinic, 2007
These articles are for your educational enjoyment. They may not be republished without the permission of Marsh View Veterinary Clinic. Please contact us at 920-326-3020 or 920-326-5738 if you have any questions.