Will it be a problem to delay my veteran's jabs?

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alj

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Just wondering if anyone can give me advice on whether it is safe to delay my horse's flu and tet jabs by a week.

My 27-year-old Thoroughbred is due to be vaccinated by next Wednesday but for various reasons I may have to put back my vet's visit by a week.

He is extremely unlikely to be competing again (!) so the fact that his passport is no longer up to date shouldn't be a problem. But will a week's delay affect his immunity?

I presume not but can anyone put me straight? Many thanks
 
There's been a lot about the injections lately especially the Tetanus. When we had our boy last vaccinated a couple of months ago the vet said you only really need Tetanus every two years. In America they are saying 4 years. I'd give your vet a ring and ask. I don't think a week is a problem even under the older thinking. I beleive (but wouldn't swear to it that it was if it went over a month). You could also check the Internet before ringing your vet so you know what questions to ask.

I suppose this was not much help. This last year there seems to be a lot of confusion regarding the injections.
 
Your vet may not be happy to backdate the date of the jabs though - so you could have a problem there and need to re-start the course....

If he's no longer competing does he need a flu jab??
 
Having it a week late will be fine. The only time it'll be a problem is if you go somewhere where they require upto date vaccinations, and if thats the case will need to have the whole course again.
 
No, it won't be a problem. Mine had theirs a month late - bad mum
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. As AmyMay said though your vet may not backdate the stamp.
 
Thanks for your responses. I don't think we will be going anywhere where he will need an up-to-date passport. How lovely it would be if we were but I retired him fully last year after a bad bout of Cushing's-related laminitis. Still, we are planning to do a mile sponsored walk in March for Sports Relief at our own yard. Doesn't sound much but a year ago he could hardly manage 100 yards.
 
given that a vet was struck off last year for backdating passports i really hope vets have learnt and have stopped this stupid practice.

it is not a problem in terms of immunity to go a week overdue. if you ever want to go anywhere that needs a full up to date course then you'll have to start again.
 
well I was told by an equine-vet that the tetanas was only needed every three years, but we get it every two years. The flu we get every year, and have tried to stay up to date with it
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successful so far. Anyway would it not be possible to bring it back instead of forward?
 
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I know exactly where you are coming from alj ..
In October 2005 my (then 24 year old) boy went down with Cushings Inducted Laminitis. In December, when he was actually getting worse, the jabs were due, the Vet implied, 'was it really worth it!!!!'
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). So I left it and had a tear or two ..... after about 3 months or his 5 months box rest, I asked the Vet if he could have the injections then and he promply obliged
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By August and a very up hill struggle the Vet suggeted I could ride him again
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.... I could have been knocked down with a feather ... after many weeks of walking him out in hand, with his mate, I eventually got on him ...... and it was like all my Christmasses rolled in together, as I NEVER thought I would see that day again
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Now over 2 years later, and monitoring his every twitch, I ride him reguarly and, in fact, since Christmas, he has acted just like he used to be, before he went down with this awful condition ..... he has started jogging again and I have even cantered him. To me it's a miracle
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In answer to your question (sorry I went off on one!
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), unless you are going to compete him again, having a late vaccination should not be a problem, but due to the risk of his immune system not being as good as it was, it really is worth keeping the vaccinations up to date.

Best wishes
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No I stupidly let my mares jabs laspe - sore point with father don't go there!! Also last year before he died my BF's horse flu jabs lasped too (he died of a tumor, nothing related!) the vet said in both cases the immunity would be fine, but Hollys must be restarted beacuse she competed, Merlins was just a booster jab, but with the new date on, as he never left the yard as he was a b*stard to hack, and my BF a novice
 
our vet says the vaccine is effective for 14 months so as long as you aren't competing it won't matter if there is a delay in the dates in the passport
 
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