The older horse and flu jabs.

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ynneb

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Following a conversation at the yard this morning about whether or not older, retired horses need to be vaccinated, I would like your opinions. Do they need the jab even more when they are older or have they built up some natural immunity over the years? One Vet advises against the vaccination, while another is all in favour. So what do you wise and wonderful lot think?
 
I stopped vaccinating Amy against flu the day she was retired. Obviously tetenus needs to be kept up.

The only reason Thumper is vaccinated for flu is because of riding club activities. Otherwise I wouldn't bother.
 
I still vaccinate my older horse, as the immune system starts to decrease in efficiency with age - so although she has been exposed and therefore has some immunity to many of the pathogens around, if she did catch 'flu, for example, she would be much more ill than a younger horse.
Another reasons to vaccinate the oldies is to keep up to date with new strains - 'flu and other nasties keep mutating so new 'strains' appear every year or two, and it's important to protect the older horse too.
The final reason I'd vaccinate is to help ensure that a certain percentage of the population is vaccinated - this is necessary for any disease control.
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All our old or not so old retire's get their tetnus and flu jabs once a year just like the in work horses.

I thought it was important as when they get older they'd find it even harder to fight off the flu? But that could be just me humanising horses again.
 
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Following a conversation at the yard this morning about whether or not older, retired horses need to be vaccinated, I would like your opinions. Do they need the jab even more when they are older or have they built up some natural immunity over the years? One Vet advises against the vaccination, while another is all in favour. So what do you wise and wonderful lot think?

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My 23 year old retired 3 years ago through injury and she is still jabbed for flu and tetanus. She is only on a small yard of 5 horses but 2 of them on the yard compete and often stable away so I figured for the sake of a £50 vets bill she is better covered incase one of the others brought it onto the yard. I would never forgive myself if she got it
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Interesting, my mare is now 33 she had her flu jab this year (not due tet till next year) because I have another horse who goes out n about, But I was thinking dose she really need a tet shot? surely that will have built up in her system over the years? Humans only have to have a tet shot every 10 years, I appreciate that we don't go round eating grass but?I will no doubt still have it done but what do we think re tet?
 
I vaccintae my 19yo - as others have said immune system is less efficient with age - absolutely no way I would risk not tetanus vaccinating him
 
My retired mare aged 20yrs old still has all her injections...as she has got older her immune sys will not be so strong and if others at the yard go out they could bring it back and my innocent mare would be the one at risk. Her pain levels have def decreased with age.
 
The flue virus mutilates so each years vacination is different.

Both my 27 and 22 year old have an annual Flue and Tetanus injection and their teeth rasped and also have a veterinary check up at the same time to ensure that they are o.k. (digital pulse, heart, lungs, eyes etc.).
 
i think its very important to vaccinate for tetanus,i seen a 3 year old die of it not nice,i keep mine up to date,it doesnt cost much.
 
my 22yr old will continue to have his flu and tet. he lives with horses who go out and about and i wouldn't want him getting flu in his old age.
 
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