Vaccination

Young animals, just like children, are at risk from many infectious diseases. In many cases there is no treatment for these and foals who catch them often die. Protection against these deadly diseases can be provided by vaccination. To keep your horse fit and healthy make sure they complete an initial course of vaccinations and then receive regular booster jabs.

Vaccinations are available for a number of diseases, but some are only appropriate for horses that travel overseas for racing and competitions. The two most important vaccinations that every horse should receive are influenza and tetanus. Most influenza vaccinations also contain the tetanus vaccine, so if you follow the influenza vaccination programme using a combined vaccine, your horse will also be protected against tetanus. The programme should be as follows:

Primary course: 2 injections 28-42 days apart
First booster: 168 days after the 2nd primary injection
Following boosters: annually (withing 365 days of preceding booster)

In most cases the initial course of injections is given between 3-6 months of age. However, if it is not known when a horse was last given its annual booster vaccination, the initial course of injections should be repeated to ensure effective immunity.

Are vaccines safe?

Vaccines are powerful substances and should be used with care. Your vet will perform a health check before administering a vaccine and you can discuss any concerns you have at this time.