Opinions on vaccinations

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basilbrush2009

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Something I have read has sparked my interest and I would like to know how many people do or dont have their horses vaccinations updated

I have known a whole yard of 20 or so horses to not be vaccinated.

Does this make people go OMG?!?! or is it not that abnormal.

Im remaining switzerland just interested to know what other people think (and quite bored at work so having a bit of a posting frenzy session)

:p
 
Not sure how normal/not that is but I would always vaccinate for flu and tetanus for my peace of mind and my horses health. I'd be devastated if something happened to him and I'd be so guilty knowing that for a very small sum per year I could have prevented it. I hear that it's not pretty when horses get tetanus! :(
 
There are arguments that a YEARLY booster is unnecessary for some things but I would always have some sort of programme of vacillation agreed with my vet.
 
We all have a choice don't we ?

Mine are all done, based on the following reasons; I have horses that compete at shows where vac's are compulsory, I have seen a horse with tetanus - not pretty and I have seen plenty of horses with flu.

It is far cheaper, more sensible and in my view, a far more responsible owner that makes the effort to jab, than an owner that takes a risk and then finds themselves paying vet bills that could have been avoided or in the worst case loses a horse.
 
IMO tetanus is an absolute must. There are arguements around 'flu vaccinations - and the new strangles one - if you don't compete. But to not vaccinate against tetanus is bordering on negligent.
 
I think it is a bit OMG.

Let's consider this - how many humans do you know who aren't vaccinated against tetanus? Stats show that 90% of horses that aren't vaccinated against tetanus die. Not so hot if your horse get a little cut and then develops tetanus. The bacteria are in the soil, everywhere. So not vaccinating against tetanus, is, IMOHO, a bit thick.

If a yard of 20 aren't vaccinated for flu, then if one carries it in, there are going to be a lot of ill horses. And let's hope they aren't then irresponsible enough to travel to competitions / training venues.

In a yard of 20 you would expect at least a handful to be competing regularly? If at affiliated level, and certainly FEI, then they are breaking the rules if not vaccinated. That tells you something.

Equating lack of equine vaccs to human vaccinations - you have to ask why not? Due to the MMR (unfounded) scare a good few years back, parents haven't been vaccinating their kids. Apparently measles outbreaks are at an 18 year high - for those who missed the MMR vaccine when they were younger due to the fashion of not vaccinating, they now stand at risk of a rather nasty disease in the older child or teenager - my Mum had her vision impaired from the measles she contracted as a teenager and would have been most greatful if there had been a vaccine when she was a baby.

I guess I digress a little, but basically the benfits of vaccinating far outweigh the costs -
that goes doubly so in countries where there are such nasties as Rabies and West Nile.
 
Many of the larger charities only vaccinate for tetanus as they isolate new horses coming in and they don't have them going off to shows.

I vaccinate mine as he's out in public (competing) and coming into contact with horses I don't know the background of, and I vaccinate his companion (even though he doesn't leave my yard) because I don't know what Polo might bring back inadvertantly.
 
Tetanus is a must for me but imo the vaccines can cause more issues then they prevent. For that reason I only vaccinate mine if they are out on public/competing alot. Only 1 out of 3 of mine are vaccinated.
 
My boy is vaccinated for flu & tet so he's covered totally from a health prospective BUT hes not to "jockey club standards" as his boosters slipped by a week one year. So now I cant compete at the riding club events until I get it sorted - which I'm reluctant to do as said horse is beyond a nightmare & downright dangerous when theres a vet about esp one with a needle!! :( Just dont understand if hes covered from a health point of view why they have to be the jockey club rules - hes not a race horse hes a cob! lol
 
I can understand why some don't e.g. a static herd on private land that don't come into contact with others through competing or regular arrivals of new horses or perhaps with an oldie where the risk of the vaccination aginst their current health wasn't worth it - especially if they'd been vaccinated for many years.

But personally I have always vaccinated, presently being on a massive yard with plenty of comings and goings and lots out competing I wouldn't consider not being vaccinated atm.
 
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