Equine Flu - Poll

[Mr_Ed]

For the first time equine influenza has hit Australia and locked down the horse industry. Many horses are not vaccinated in Australia against equine flu.
BBC report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6963428.stm

In the UK it is recommended to have horses routinely vaccinated against tetanus, equine influenza and ideally equine herpes virus. Many equestrian organisations insist that horses hold current vaccination cards showing continuous cover and vaccination against influenza which is now mandatory for all horses using racecourse premises.

 

[dieseldog]

No, mine isn't. All the rest on the farm are, and every horse I've owned has been but when I bought Dolly hers had lapsed so I had the first one done, she then went lame, I thought she was going to be PTS so didn't bother to do the next one, couldn't see the point. If the operation is a success and she comes sound again I'll re do them (again)

 

[Laafet]

Mine are only because they have to be to compete, which I think is wise, Tarquin was only done for tetanus until recently as he was on a farm with a stable herd and not broken in.

 

[Tia]

No. Mine are all vaccinated from absolute killer conditions; rabies and tetanus; and that's it.

 

[mollymurphy]

Yep, mine all are. Just because, knowing my luck, if they werent they'd all get it!!!

 

[reynold]

having seen equine flu outbreak in the 70s it is NOT nice. We 'panic' about strangles and yet a real bad dose of flu can be very debilitating for the horse

yeah - the horses then had almost zero immunity 'cos it was a fairly new disease - but then if you have a horse now that hasn't ever been vaccinated then it has ....zero immunity.....

 

[Fairynuff]

All of mine are done for tet/flu and some of the owners have them done for Herpes. All of my boys are 'stay at homes' but seeing as they are OAPs and oh is in contact with outside horses every day, I prefer to have them covered as much as possible. To be honest, Ive always had my nags done whatever the circumstances and will continue to do so! mairi.

 

[Hedgewitch13]

Yes, always have and will do. Anyway my mare is kept on a private stud so it would be irresponsible not to plus I would be kicked out if I chose not to (quite rightly).

 

[Faithkat]

All the horses [and pony] that I've ever had are vaccinated religiously for everything every year. Until the last three years I was in a livery yard and wouldn't take the risk. I've never seen equine 'flu but have met people who have and it's not very nice, apparently. If she hadn't been done already, I would have had to have the mare fully vaccinated before she went to the stud as they won't have anything on the place that isn't vaccinated.

 

[Coffee_Bean]

Yep she is.

 

[Halfstep]

Yes. I've seen a flu outbreak and it was horrid. No point in putting horses through that when vaccination is easy and relatively cheap.

 

[nuffield]

seen the flu outbreak in the '70s. its terrible. all mine vaccinated against flu and tet

 

[harrihjc]

not yet but he'll be having it within the next few weeks

 

[Dovorian]

If I am absolutely honest, he's only vacc for flu because it is a competition requirement - if not competing would only have tet jabs I think.

 

[Bounty]

3 out of 4 of mine are done.
The only one that isn't done is not done because she wasn't done when I first had her, then I didn't get around to it, and then she 'broke' and it's touch and go as to whether she'll be around much longer

If she comes through the winter I'll possibly breed from her so I'll be having her vaccinated, but at the moment she's very low risk anyway as none of my horses come into contact with any others, and she herself never leaves the premises.

 

[Zebedee]

Mine are all done for flu & tet.

A lot of people don't realise how dreadful equine flu can be. It is a severely debilitating disease, & can be a killer. Part of the problem where people are reluctant to vacinate for equine flu is the human habit of referring to the head colds that we get as 'flu'. Real influenza (both equine & human) is a totally different issue.

 

[Selkie]

None of mine are.

 

[gloster_image]

He has been as its mandatory for competing affiliated - however he has been having an allergic reaction to the vaccine which this year caused his breathing to get so bad he nearly died. Next year I will be seeking another option. And after asking around my horse is not a rare case - a huge number of people i've spoken to have had similar experiences with the vaccine - one even had his vets fees paid for by the drugs company in exchange for him not causing a fuss over it !!!

 

[MillionDollar]

None of my horses are vaccinated against anything. Before anyone shouts at me this will change very soon as when my livery yard opens there will be a lot of horses around and I will have a vaccination policy in place. None of our cats and dogs are done either. Think i've been raised proper farmer style

 

[regalrendezvous]

No neither of mine are not vaccinated as we have never had the virus in the country before and there is no vaccination avaliable here...that will change soon.

 

[conniegirl]

2 our of my 5 are. the other 3 react badly to the jab. One nearly died last time he had one so he isnt done. He is 28 anyway so should havbe some resistance to it built up

 

[dozzie]

All of mine are. Flu and Tet.

 

[PapaFrita]

PF and A are vaccinated against Flu, Tetanus, Strangles and Encephalomyelitis because otherwise I can't compete. Not keen on the Strangles jab at all, and neither is my vet!

 

[spotty_pony]

Mine are vaccinated ... what has happened to the horses competing at Burghley from Auatrailia? I would have thought they wouldn't be allowed to come over!

 

[Wishful]

Quite a lot of the Aussies are based here all year round. Certainly Andrew Hoy, Andrew Nicholson and the Fredericks are based in the UK.