Suspected case of Equine flu

Oh bludy hell
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NB vaccinations do not stop a horse getting flu and if you horse has been vaccinated you should watch very carefully as the jab may well mask the fact that the horse has it.
 
well, surely the vaccination DOES stop it gettin flu otherwise why vaccinate it in the first place and why have it compulsory in affiliated competition?
 
Basically you pay for a jab that moderates the flu virus, like any virus the flu virus mutates, no vaccination is fully effective against all strains of the flu virus but the vaccination is regularly updated to allow for mutations and different strains. It is not a cure all as you might be led to believe.

Work your horse hard when flu is about at your peril as if the signs are masked by your vaccination you can cause damage to the respiratory system, just like athletes when they get cold/flu symptoms they do not work hard, a horse should not be worked hard if it shows ANY signs and as a precaution if there is flu about. About all the vaccine will do in full blow flu outbreak is make the recovery time a bit quicker.

Just like humans horses have naturally acquired immunity to certain viruses but unlike in dogs there are few available titre level tests available to see if a horse has immunity and the level at which an immunity is effective is not readily available to people, or the need to vaccinate could be challenged!!! It is in the small print of the tetanus vaccine you only need to vaccinate once every 2 years yet thousands of people carry on every year!

Did you read about the recent outbreak in the Australian TB population, they are ALL vaccinated!!! Also when some vaccinations are given the animal concerned can for a period actually shed the live virus!

The reason it's compulsory is because years ago many affiliated competitions were held at racing and point to point venues and the Jockey Club insisted that all horses competing be vaccinated, so that is why you have to pay and with some horses they have adverse reactions, but you still have to vaccinate.
 
long as your horse have had the proper jabs = the 2 jabs with a month part,then the one after 6 months and then the annual jab they are then FULLY protected ! The flu is not fatal they just gets very poorly and it will take them a long time to get back into shape again, the flu spreads through the saliva/snot and direct contact an its not airborn,so unless your horse has been in contact with a "flu horse " you got nothing to worry about,just found tis link about the Equine Influenza http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1370/86005.html
 
It depends on how you term FULLY. If you are saying your horse will not get Flu then this is most DEFINTELY NOT the case.

http://veterinaryrecord.bvapublications.com/cgi/content/abstract/156/12/367

I’ll quote the important bit

“The challenge produced severe clinical signs of influenza (fever, coughing, nasal discharge and dyspnoea) in all five control ponies, but the vaccinated ponies developed only mild disease, consisting of a serous nasal discharge lasting for only one day. The excretion of virus was almost completely suppressed in the vaccinated ponies, but the control ponies shed the virus for up to seven days after the challenge.”

So a vaccine does not prevent Flu.

Also in the H&H article you quote you will note the following

“The FEI now requires all horses in competition under its rules to be vaccinated every six months, instead of annually, and as from 1 January 2006 there will be fines for those who do not comply.”

So according to this doctrine your horse is not FULLY protected on a 2 + 6mth + yearly regime.
 
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It depends on how you term FULLY. If you are saying your horse will not get Flu then this is most DEFINTELY NOT the case.

http://veterinaryrecord.bvapublications.com/cgi/content/abstract/156/12/367

I’ll quote the important bit

“The challenge produced severe clinical signs of influenza (fever, coughing, nasal discharge and dyspnoea) in all five control ponies, but the vaccinated ponies developed only mild disease, consisting of a serous nasal discharge lasting for only one day. The excretion of virus was almost completely suppressed in the vaccinated ponies, but the control ponies shed the virus for up to seven days after the challenge.”

So a vaccine does not prevent Flu.

Also in the H&H article you quote you will note the following

“The FEI now requires all horses in competition under its rules to be vaccinated every six months, instead of annually, and as from 1 January 2006 there will be fines for those who do not comply.”

So according to this doctrine your horse is not FULLY protected on a 2 + 6mth + yearly regime.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes you are right about the FEI second jab,my vet could never understand why FEI decided to add that,according to him its enough if they get the boosters(3 jabs) and then anually jab,BUT people sometimes go over the due date for the annual jab,and if you are 1 day over you should start again, and then the horse is at higher risk,and if he says that they have enough cover after that i beleive him,mind you i can see FEI's concern since on a FEI event there are soo many horses from different countries and god knows what they are bringing with them,since there are no proper controls at the borders these days,and yes at Events they are very strict checking the vaccinations.
Long as your horse got the innitial protection and does not "kiss" another horse you will be fine,the HHO article did say that it spreads rapidly from horse to horse and that people should vaccinate their horses to stop the virus from spreading
 
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