Vaccinate or not vaccinate? Shetland ponies.

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alm2594

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Hi guys!

I'm new to the forum so hope I'm posting in the right place!

I'm getting two beautiful shetland boys (ages 8 & 15) at the end of the month. When I went to see them the other day I asked all the usual questions bar one. If they were vaccinated or not? I'm guessing from their history they haven't been as they are not currently registered with a vet. I just wondered peoples opinions on whether I should get them vaccinated if they haven't been previously? Or should I leave them as they haven't had any issues before? Also if anyone could recommend a good equine vet in the Chorley/Preston area too?

Any help or information (past experiences etc) would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks
 
Some people never vaccinate others always do. I always had my competition horses vaccinated because they were mixing with others. I have a Shetland gelding who has never been vaccinated. He's still alive 23 years on. The gypsies never vaccinate theirs. Its your choice.
 
I would always vaccinate for Tetanus as I have seen the results of a horse with Tetanus and it is not very nice.

The Tetanus vaccination is only done every 2 years so not too expensive.

I personally always vaccinate for flu as well.
 
lelly said:
Some people never vaccinate others always do. I always had my competition horses vaccinated because they were mixing with others. I have a Shetland gelding who has never been vaccinated. He's still alive 23 years on. The gypsies never vaccinate theirs. Its your choice.
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That's not an excuse not to vaccinate a horse. All horses should be vaccinated for tet - it's a horrific disease and there are no excuses for not vaccinating, as every horse is at risk from it.
 
Moomin1 said:
That's not an excuse not to vaccinate a horse. All horses should be vaccinated for tet - it's a horrific disease and there are no excuses for not vaccinating, as every horse is at risk from it.
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^^^^^^^^^this ......... gypsies may elect for survival of the fittest, its hardly a recommendation! ........... its not what civilised people do............
 
I would always vaccinate especially for tetanus.
I think Gilliver Vets are close to you heard many good things about them, a few people on my yard use them.
 
lelly said:
Some people never vaccinate others always do. I always had my competition horses vaccinated because they were mixing with others. I have a Shetland gelding who has never been vaccinated. He's still alive 23 years on. The gypsies never vaccinate theirs. Its your choice.
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I think you are confused, the flu vaccine is to protect against a disease which competition horses are more likely to meet than stay-at-homes, but tetanus is a different disease: the fact is that we can buy single or joint inoculations.
Also the tetanus booster can be either 3 or 2 years, [ flu is annual or less], but that is after the initial jabs.
Older ponies should probably not start flu jabs, but I think that is on vet advice, and refers to much older ponies.
Tetanus can be caused by soil entering a puncture wound, a wound so small it may not even be noticed.
 
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The op was asking for opinions and I gave mine. I am not confused about the vaccinations at all I always use the combined flu and tet. I am fully aware that they are both different. I am not a child I have had horses for years. I know of many people that have never vaccinated and never will. They probably won't comment on here though for fear of being slated.
 
lelly said:
The op was asking for opinions and I gave mine. I am not confused about the vaccinations at all I always use the combined flu and tet. I am fully aware that they are both different. I am not a child I have had horses for years. I know of many people that have never vaccinated and never will. They probably won't comment on here though for fear of being slated.
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I know people who don't feed their horses, or shoe their horses when needed, they won't post that fact on here either and it does not make it right.
You suggested OP could choose a path which would put ponies at unnecessary risk, its a bit like all those people who elected not to use a combined vaccine on a baby, but then when there was an outbreak the were knocking the doors down to get a jab.
PS I expect the vet gives your horse the appropriate injection, either combined or single, unlikely it is always the combined.
 
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lelly said:
The op was asking for opinions and I gave mine. I am not confused about the vaccinations at all I always use the combined flu and tet. I am fully aware that they are both different. I am not a child I have had horses for years. I know of many people that have never vaccinated and never will. They probably won't comment on here though for fear of being slated.
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It's highly irresponsible not to vacc for tetanus. Flu, fair enough, that's something that every individual can make a judgement based on risk factors with. But tet really is horrendous, and can affect any horse, be they at home, out, or anywhere else, so there is no excuse whatsoever not to protect them from it. Though, given your experience I am sure you are aware of that.
 
Bonkers2 said:
I know people who don't feed their horses, or shoe their horses when needed, they won't post that fact on here either and it does not make it right.
You suggested OP could choose a path which would put ponies at unnecessary risk, its a bit like all those people who elected not to use a combined vaccine on a baby, but then when there was an outbreak the were knocking the doors down to get a jab.
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Quite! It always makes me laugh when someone uses the 'people won't comment through fear of being slated' comment....it's so predictable, and laughable that they seem to think it unacceptable that people point out welfare issues with regard their management, when they post on a public forum stating the very obvious welfare compromises they make...
 
My friend had her Shetland vaccinated ,within half an hour the pony was shaking and becoming stiff the vet came back and gave muscle relaxants ,by midnight the pony was picking at some hay , at next check early morning the pony was dead.
The drug company paid for a PM and my friend never got the results.
Another friends foal had a foot ball size swelling in her neck after her vaccinations she
was kept in horspital for 3 weeks,and the same drug company paid the bill.
 
I vaccinate mine whether they leave the field or not, as the ones that do go out and about are a risk to them. Even if you choose not to vaccinate against flu, tet is a no brainer.
Moomin1 said:
Quite! It always makes me laugh when someone uses the 'people won't comment through fear of being slated' comment....it's so predictable, and laughable that they seem to think it unacceptable that people point out welfare issues with regard their management, when they post on a public forum stating the very obvious welfare compromises they make...
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Usually 'people won't comment for fear of getting slated' goes alongside comments about how many private messages they are getting in support of whatever it is, from the fear of slating people. Hmm-hmm...
 
Our vet's newsletter says they have a steady trickle of tetnus cases every year, so I agree with the tetnus jab.
As to the flu - depends on whether you are going to be taking them out and about mixing with strange horses. If not, I wouldn't bother with the flu.

I have had mine vacinated for flu and tet since he was young, but I have never been asked to show his passport at shows.
 
Our mini is vaccinated for tetanus, but I think he's out of date on his flu. As none of ours travel, we're not too worried about the flu and neither is the vet. The option is always there to restart. I understand not vaccinating at all, but tetanus is so horrible and as it's only ever 2 years I feel safer doing it.
 
bonny said:
People aren't immune to Tetanus either and how many people on here get a vaccination for it regularly ?
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Humans get two tetanus vaccinations in the first twenty years of life, and then they get one whenever they are deemed at risk ie with injury etc. Horses require them two yearly because they eat grass and ingest soil. Soil is a carrier of the Clostridium tetani, which causes tetanus. Humans don't require the vaccine two yearly because they don't tend to ingest soil daily....
 
bonny said:
People aren't immune to Tetanus either and how many people on here get a vaccination for it regularly ?
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Humans get two tetanus vaccinations in the first twenty years of life, and then they get one whenever they are deemed at risk ie with injury etc. Horses require them two yearly because they eat grass and ingest soil. Soil is a carrier of the Clostridium tetani, which causes tetanus. Humans don't require the vaccine two yearly because they don't tend to ingest soil daily....
 
Out of interest Bonny, do you vaccinate any of your horses against tetanus, or would it just be the 'middle age shetlands' you wouldn't? (Assuming you own horses).
 
Moomin1 said:
Out of interest Bonny, do you vaccinate any of your horses against tetanus, or would it just be the 'middle age shetlands' you wouldn't? (Assuming you own horses).
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The only horses that I have ever had vaccinated are one's that had to in order to compete....
 
Moomin1 said:
Why is that exactly? Is it down to money, not being bothered, or because you honestly think your horses are not at any risk?
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I don't believe they are at any risk, plus I think the flu vaccine can be harmful and yes, it's expensive if not required.
 
bonny said:
I don't believe they are at any risk, plus I think the flu vaccine can be harmful and yes, it's expensive if not required.
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Every horse is at risk from tetanus. I assume you would refuse to have your children vaccinated against it then too? Flu vacc is completely different - that all depends on whether you are taking them within vicinity of other horses/yards etc. So yes, that's an individual risk assessment. Tetanus is carried in soil. Just because you may not have yet had a horse who has suffered with it, doesn't mean you won't.

It never ceases to amaze me how people can be so blase about their animal's safety and health.
 
Lots of people don't have their children vaccinated anymore, although that's a different topic and in my life, despite knowing what must be 1000's of horses I have never know a case of tetanus. Vets will tell you it's essential for obvious reasons but in real life, as opposed to forum life, lots of people don't vaccinate for it.
 
Sadly there are a lot of idiots out there who do take unnecessary risks with their horse's (and children's) health and not vaccinating for tetanus is just that. Some will get away with it, others won't.
 
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