Riding after Flu jab???

[SecretSquirrell379]

Cropi is having her flu jab first thing in the morning and we are going straight out to a lesson afterwards. One of my friends says that she always gives her horse 2 days off after they've had their jab, I've not heard of this before and to be honest she is normally worked before the vet comes so its not an issue.

I assume that having the flu jab can make her feel a bit icky like us humans but surely it won't get into her system within 2 hours?

What do you all do???

 

[monica987]

It is so that the horse does not sweat the stuff out- so if she doesn't sweat thats fine

 

[SecretSquirrell379]

thank you xx she does not sweat up, only a little where the girth is, so she should be fine then :-S

 

[sea_view]

I always give two days off after flu jab x

 

[Natch]

I asked our vet this exact same question not 2 weeks ago!

They used to say avoid exercise completely, then just avoid strenuous exercise so that they won't sweat it out, but apparently even that is out the window now too, and you can do whatever you like and it shouldn't affect the jab's protection, although our vet still says be sensible, if you don't normally do 10k rides then don't start that day etc.

I did find that the last 2 years Frankie has been a bit off colour after his jab though - I think it just knocks him for 6 for a few days, so I let him have easy gentle hacks etc for about a week after it, until he felt perkier, so I'd just play yours by ear. Maybe it would be a good idea to tell your instructor that you don't want to do too much strenuous stuff tomorrow and concentrate on things like accuracy or suppleness, for example.

 

[SecretSquirrell379]

[ QUOTE ]
I always give two days off after flu jab x

[/ QUOTE ]

Can you tell me why please

 

[SecretSquirrell379]

[ QUOTE ]
I asked our vet this exact same question not 2 weeks ago!

They used to say avoid exercise completely, then just avoid strenuous exercise so that they won't sweat it out, but apparently even that is out the window now too, and you can do whatever you like and it shouldn't affect the jab's protection, although our vet still says be sensible, if you don't normally do 10k rides then don't start that day etc.

I did find that the last 2 years Frankie has been a bit off colour after his jab though - I think it just knocks him for 6 for a few days, so I let him have easy gentle hacks etc for about a week after it, until he felt perkier, so I'd just play yours by ear. Maybe it would be a good idea to tell your instructor that you don't want to do too much strenuous stuff tomorrow and concentrate on things like accuracy or suppleness, for example.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats great thank you. I was/am going to speak to my vet about it tomorrow as well.

Its just never come up before as her jab is normally due at the end of October, so I sneak the morning off of work, have a quick ride before the vet comes and then the next day its too dark to ride after work anyway. This year she is having it early as she needs a check up anyway so may as well kill two birds with one stone. An easy lesson sounds good to me!!!

 

[scotsmare]

I've had some it didn't bother at all, but a couple of my current horses really get down in the dumps after having it - just leave them to mooch round feeling sorry for themselves till they feel better (generally a few days)

 

[merlinsquest]

I think that back in the dark ages, there were some bad reactions to flu jabs combined with hard work. I asked the vet about the sweating it out thing and was told this didnt happen...... but that some time ago there were some cases where the horse was very ill..... but since the jabs changed, again ages ago, there have been no problems.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I assume the 2 days off (my vets also advise) is because when you inject the horse you are introducing something into his body that will produce enough of a reaction for his immune system to make the antibodies that will then protect him. Anything that makes the horse's body BEHAVE as if it has "caught" the disease, is likely to make the horse feel a little bit crappy. I'd sooner give a couple of days off than risk some sort of unexpected side effect or a horse that injures itself because it's off colour.

 

[kickandshout]

I've always been told to give at least 24 hours after a flu jab and definitely no sweating hadn't heard the bit about sweating it out again ??

don't quote me but i'm sure i remember way back a vet mentioning how it could affect the horses heart if its doing strenuous exercise.
ask your vet thats what we pay them so much for -- educated advice !!!