Does anybody not vaccinate?

[SilverLinings]

My lot had their boosters just before Christmas and the vet was saying that they've seen a few serious cases over the years of flu in horses who never leave their yards (and other horses don't go in), and that there have been studies showing flu can be spread over a mile by the wind so they strongly advice all horses to be vaccinated for both. Unless the horses are nowhere near a road/track/field/common where other horses may be ridden past then they are still at risk, although less risk than horses out mixing with other on a regular basis (e.g. competition horses). It is up to the owner to decide whether they are happy to accept the risk.

I would say tetanus, on the other hand, is a serious risk for any horse kept anywhere, it is a nasty way to die, and it would be negligent not to vaccinate against it.

 

[LEC]

In the past I would have thought nah not to bother but my yearling who is in a closed herd of 2 other yearlings and never been moved her whole life managed to pick up the snots quite badly. Literally never mixed with other horses. Somehow she managed to get a virus…..

The others didn’t get it either but for 3 days she was very sorry for herself and no explanation of how she managed to get it.

 

[ycbm]

Deleted.

 

[Reacher]

Are there any studies as to whether a lifetime immunity is built up after having been vaccinated for tetanus for XX years?
Sorry I realise the OP was to do with flu

 

[equinerebel]

I always vaccinate for both. I couldn’t forgive myself if I had the option but didn’t take it and the horse suffered.

I know OP is only asking about flu, but I’m surprised anyone thinks tet is optional.

 

[ycbm]

Are there any studies as to whether a lifetime immunity is built up after having been vaccinated for tetanus for XX years?
Sorry I realise the OP was to do with flu

It's not in anyone's interest to do that research, sadly. I looked for it when I had a16 year old mini with full cover for tetanus. In humans it's 5 injections but the NHS save a mint by knowing that.

There is one vaccine that last 3 years but I'm not sure which it is and it doesn't seem to be commonly used.
.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Two of my pasture ornaments still get their annual flu/bi annual tet jabs. They are the two that I might travel off the yard and would need up to date vaccs cards. I’ve allowed the senior mare’s flu jabs to lapse as I wouldn’t travel her, but I do keep up with her tet jabs, as any knowledgeable owner would.

I’ve got a closed yard, no equine visitors, but people do hack past. The horses can’t get close enough to ever touch noses, but infection could be carried airbourne .

 

[Annagain]

I only vaccinate Archie for tet. He's 30 and had more than enough flu jabs over the years. I also figured that something will get him sooner or later, at the first sign of being seriously ill he will be pts anyway. The difference with tet is it's a horrible disease that can develop very quickly.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Death from tetanus is a horrific way to go, be it in humans or horses, and is so easily preventable these days.

 

[Glitter's fun]

A question!

If you do everyone for Tetanus but only do the working horses for Flu, does the Flu vaccine 100% prevent the "travelling" horses from bringing flu home to their retired companions?

 

[bonny]

A question!

If you do everyone for Tetanus but only do the working horses for Flu, does the Flu vaccine 100% prevent the "travelling" horses from bringing flu home to their retired companions?

No of course it doesn’t ….flu vaccines don’t work like that

 

[quizzie]

Are there any studies as to whether a lifetime immunity is built up after having been vaccinated for tetanus for XX years?
Sorry I realise the OP was to do with flu

Horses are much more susceptible to tetanus than humans, and produce a poorer, less long lasting immunity from vaccination... they have tested demonstrating falling immunity levels as part of the licensing requirements.

A question!

If you do everyone for Tetanus but only do the working horses for Flu, does the Flu vaccine 100% prevent the "travelling" horses from bringing flu home to their retired companions?

Unfortunately not, plus it could potentially be carried on clothing and air-borne.

 

[meleeka]

.

Are there any studies as to whether a lifetime immunity is built up after having been vaccinated for tetanus for XX years?
Sorry I realise the OP was to do with flu

My vet says yes, but I’ve no idea if that’s correct. My old mare’s Tetanus lapsed during the lock down. My vet said if she’d been vaccinated her whole life she wouldn’t have bothered starting again. As it was, she’d only been vaccinated in my ownership (5 years), so we started again.

Mine are only vaccinated for tetanus, every 2 years. They don’t mix with others and there are no other horses nearby that do.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Unfortunately not, plus it could potentially be carried on clothing and air-borne.

Thank you.

 

[Reacher]

Horses are much more susceptible to tetanus than humans, and produce a poorer, less long lasting immunity from vaccination... they have tested demonstrating falling immunity levels as part of the licensing requirements.

that’s interesting, thankyou

 

[Snowfilly]

I went several years not vaccinating the old ones when the herd went down to two, as they never left the yard, no-one else came in and they were too frail to travel in an emergency. I kept them up to date for tet though.

Now the (different) herd has an elderly pony who never leaves but everyone else does so he’s vaccinated just in case.

Years ago, mid 90s, I had a pony who the vet recommended not vaccinating for tet as her reactions grew more extreme each time and the final straw was what appeared to be full blown colic that lasted hours with heart rate through the roof, throwing her herself around, foamy white sweat all over and a fist size lump on the site, he thought he might kill her next time around. No idea what that was about, her foal is now in his twenties and never an issue.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Can anyone tell me why, even if my horse and donkeys are fully vaccinated against tetanus, after certain open injuries my vet will always give another tetanus jab?

 

[ecb89]

Flu can travel 5km so even if your horse never leaves the yard, or others leave the yard, it’s still at risk.

 

[SheriffTruman]

Horses are much more susceptible to tetanus than humans, and produce a poorer, less long lasting immunity from vaccination... they have tested demonstrating falling immunity levels as part of the licensing requirements.

Interesting, I never properly informed myself.

Flu and tetanus vaccinations are obligatory at the yard we're at (herd of 18). I would do them anyways. Horse has never reacted to them, luckily.

 

[ponynutz]

Can anyone tell me why, even if my horse and donkeys are fully vaccinated against tetanus, after certain open injuries my vet will always give another tetanus jab?

I don’t know for certain but here are my theories based on what I know about how vaccines work.

Tet vaccines are every 2 years so resistance may have dropped.

By stimulating a response it means the immune system is prepared if real, live tetanus does occur (stimulates the production of the correct white blood cells therefore giving the horse the best chance of attacking and fending off real, live tetanus).

To cover their backs legally.

 

[quizzie]

Horses are much more susceptible to tetanus than humans, and produce a poorer, less long lasting immunity from vaccination... they have tested demonstrating falling immunity levels as part of the licensing requirements.

Can anyone tell me why, even if my horse and donkeys are fully vaccinated against tetanus, after certain open injuries my vet will always give another tetanus jab?

Precisely because they are very susceptible, in some circumstances the "belt and braces" of giving additional tetanus antitoxin to back up the immunity produced by vaccination
with tetanus toxoid ( they are not the same thing!) is very sensible!

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Thanks ponynutz that sounds a very probable reason to me.

 

[quizzie]

I don’t know for certain but here are my theories based on what I know about how vaccines work.

Tet vaccines are every 2 years so resistance may have dropped.

By stimulating a response it means the immune system is prepared if real, live tetanus does occur (stimulates the production of the correct white blood cells therefore giving the horse the best chance of attacking and fending off real, live tetanus).

To cover their backs legally.

It is usually a tetanus antitoxin they will be giving...not a vaccine.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Thankyou quizzie

 

[Tiddlypom]

Re reading the post war pony books, back then it was just the tetanus antitoxin that was available before the vaccine was produced. There are tales of ponies needing the vet out urgently to give a shot of antitoxin after even a minor cut.

We are so fortunate to have the vaccine available now.

Surely all decent livery yards require all horses and ponies to be fully vaccinated against both flu and tet?

 

[Indy]

My lot get vaccinated flu and tet. I have one horse in her teens, two in their twenties and two elderly gentlemen in their in their thirties. They are at home so no other horses can get near them but I do hack out and I live in an area where there are a lot of gypsy ponies who regularly seem to end up where they aren't supposed to. I'd rather be safe than sorry with them.

 

[AWinter]

Thanks guys this has been really interesting, I think I am going to keep doing flu as there are some bridlepaths close by and you just never know.