Interesting article about vaccines!

I hope for their horse's sake no one heeds that nonsense. Glade info like that in the public domain is a dangerous thing! :o
 
Thanks for posting. Makes interesting reading. I've no idea how widely accepted (or not) those ideas are so will be interested in others' thoughts or knowledge of this.

I can't imagine ever not wanting to vaccinate against tetanus, but don't think I'd be brave enough to leave vaccination intervals any longer than what is recommended.

Glenruby, are you saying all the info in that article is false, or just a particular part of it?

Sarah
 
I have always pondered why the vaccination interval for tetanus horses is so much shorter than in humans other than they are more likely to be exposed to it.
 
Horses have a lower resistance to tetanus than humans and dogs, along with higher exposure levels. Much of the info the article is unfounded and not proven at all. Yes vaccinations last longer than 12months but it is wrong to say all of them last 7 years - I'd like to see real evidence of this. Anyway, the primary reason for 12 mth vaccine protocols is Jockey club rules not manufacturer recommendations. Many competition and racehorses will be vaccinated much more frequently than 12 mths. His basic info with regards to diseases/fatalities etc is false, I doubt he has ever treated a Potomac Horse Fever case (i notice he is not in an area of high incidence either) because if he did he would know that the fatality rate is high and the disease is much better to be avoided by vaccine (which insistently DOES need boosters). If there was any basis to this article he would have referred to some studies and probably have included references. And finally, vaccines do not make up half the income of any decent equine practice.
 
thanks for the tetanus info GR :) I didn't think a huge amount of the article either ;) it was just a comparison pondering I had!
 
It would be interesting to see some research on the durability of the tetanus vac particularly.
In humans it used to be every 5 years and then it was increased to 10. In the dog world vacinations are now widely debated about the vet's advice for annual boosters being correct.
Vets and drug companies have a vested interest in promoting annual vacs, I'd like to see an independent study.
 
When my horse was last due for flu and tet he happened to by at horsepital at the time so I asked the vet to do it while he was there to save another call out.

He said after a certain amount of years of tetanus it was fine to drop down to 2 years and did flu only.

I wonder though how many vets only carry the combined not giving you a choice.
 
As far as I know vets do always offer tetanus every other year, with flu annually. Mine certainly does and so does every vet Ive known. Would be disappointed if they did insist on tet every year.
 
criso said:
When my horse was last due for flu and tet he happened to by at horsepital at the time so I asked the vet to do it while he was there to save another call out.

He said after a certain amount of years of tetanus it was fine to drop down to 2 years and did flu only.

I wonder though how many vets only carry the combined not giving you a choice.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear that your vet also says it's ok to jab for tetanus on a biennial basis - we do that here.

I'm another who would like to see a comprehensive independent study.
 
I am with the same vets and my pony has tetnus jab every other year and flu every year. I had him booked in for flu and tet one year and the vet who came out looked at his passport and then said he did not need tet every year only every other year so he just had his flu jab.

I think sometimes if someone books to have flu and tet that perhaps some vet will just give what they have been booked to give and perhaps not think about other options.

criso said:
When my horse was last due for flu and tet he happened to by at horsepital at the time so I asked the vet to do it while he was there to save another call out.

He said after a certain amount of years of tetanus it was fine to drop down to 2 years and did flu only.

I wonder though how many vets only carry the combined not giving you a choice.
Click to expand...
 
The article is interesting I never knew that horse vaccine contains mercury it is not banned in equine vaccinations , if you type in on net MERCURY IN HORSE VACCINES ,you can read a lot more ,it may explain why so many horse s have reactions. I have asked the VETERINARY MEDICAL DIRECTORATE why horses have reactions and they could not tell me ,they did say they are aware there is a problem. Just a thought may be we could have horses tested to see if they do need to be vaccinated,rather than give drugs that they don,t need,as we do now with egg counts for worms . I would be interested to know other opinions ,and as always I only want what is best to keep our horses healthy .
 
Mine are all vaccinated for tetanus. BUT in the years that I have been around horses the tetnus vaccine recommendations have definatly gone down in length. First it was every 10 years, then five, now two.

My old boy was vaccinated for flu and herpes as well when he was young. First year after initial two and 6 months booster, he came down with the worst case of mud fever that my vet had seen.
cue year after year, most of the winter fine, end of winter mud fever. Didnt connect for a long time, then all of a sudden, connection. He doesnt go out anywhere now, so no flu, and he has hardly any reaction to the mud now (Including this winter, where he has lived out 24/7)

My friend had to give up vaccinating hers as ever vaccine he nearly dies from colic.
 
Have you noticed that the "undersigned's" names at the end if that have been repeated twice. Have just flicked through it again, but no substance and no authors/vets of note - most homeopathic "vets". Little credibility I'm afraid. And I will remind you again, it is not vets who insist on 12 monthly vaccines it is the jockey club - it is widely acknowledged that the vaccine lasts longer but not 10 years or anything like it. I also remind you that the human flu vaccine is annual so certainly not a veterinary anomaly
 
My RI believes my boys intermittent headshaking is flue vaccine related- it started about 2 weeks after his second booster (sept) and has been a massive issue to work through. It's not pollen related as its been going on in winter.
 
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