Vaccinating a companion pony. Do you?

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SpruceRI

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My Shettie is 18yrs this year. Retired from the little work he ever did
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due to melanomas.

I've had him vaccinated Flu and Tet for the last 16yrs. But now I'm thinking why bother?

He never goes anywhere, plus always has a reaction to the vac and is a bit poorly for a few days.

Should I carry on having him vacc'ed? Just tetanus? Or flu and tet? What would you do?
 
I have mine done because he belongs to the ILPH and he had a vaccination record when he came to me which I just continued. I think I would do it anyway as my other two compete and they could easily bring something back.
 
I've always had them vacc'ed yearly for flu and bi-yearly for Tet??

THE_carthorse - do you know how many vaccs they need to have had to be covered long term?
 
Well, said pony is booked in for his flu and tet early March so will check with the vet then.

Part of me thinks the flu jabs poison them as they are all ill afterwards.
 
I have been told the same re tetanus. But i still wont risk it! I like my oldies to have a yearly MOT with teeth etc checked and the jabs are pretty cheap really if you are getting the vet out anyway. So I get mine done but i dont worry about the 365 days malarkey!!!
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Is he still insured, most insurance is invalid without vaccs

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I stopped vaccinating Amy in latter years - only having her jabbed for tetenus.

It never affected my insurance policy.
 
He's probably built up an immunity to tet by now, you could have him done every other year if you're worried about it. Re flu no I wouldnt bother unless he was in contact with other horse that are going out and about
 
I have mine done for tet ever 2 years but not flu. I think he had flue jabs earlier in life.

He has the same care as the others re feet and teeth.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Is he still insured, most insurance is invalid without vaccs

[/ QUOTE ]
I stopped vaccinating Amy in latter years - only having her jabbed for tetenus.

It never affected my insurance policy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Read the small print, it usually requires annual vaccination and preventative dentistry.


Tetanus immunity builds up in the body over the years, so my vets say.

I cannot have tetanus boosters as I have such a strong immunity to it now.

If you are vaccinating for peace of mind rather than a record just get the pony done with tetanus every 3 years of so.
 
My Shetland is in with 2 others who compete.

But, I was thinking the other day that I have owned about 10 horses in my lifetime and only 2 of them came to me having been vaccinated at all.

OK, some of them were youngsters and my current youngster has had aTetanus jab but not Flu, so it doesn't seem the norm that people vaccinate per se.
 
I have only ever bought one who was vaccinated - and one was a regular at shows.
personally, I would keep up the tetanus (two yearly) and forget the Flu.
 
I no longer vaccinate any of my horses for flu; however they are all vaccinated every 2 years for tetanus and their rabies jabs are every 3 years.
 
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