Horse Shots?

Question

How often do horses get each shot and which one do they get?

Answer 1

Most shots are given yearly in the spring.  TThe first time they are given usually a round of 2 injections are required, a loading dose then a booster 10-14 days later. Many times you can lower the total number of actual injections by giving 4-way or 5-way vaccines that are for several different things.

The ones your horse will need varies greatly depending on what you do with it, how often it's hauled and exposed to other horses (and their viruses) and where you are located. Some are a must no matter what these are Rabies, Tetnus, West Nile, Encephalomyelitis (EPM) and infuenza.

Here you can find a listing of recomended vaccines and how often to give them depending on your horses environment; whether it's an open herd, semi-open herd or closed herd.

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/he...

Answer 2

The best person to ask is your vet.  He can tell you which shots you need and which ones you dont.  It has a lot to do with the area that you live in.  I live on the east coast and do require my horses to have potomac fever shots, straggles, west nile, rabies, etc.  But since I dont take my horses of my farm, I dont require a coggins every year.  One is required for horse before they come on the property and if they plan to leave.

Answer 3

Strangles is also a good one to get and is almost risk free. If you are moving your horse you will also want to get blood taken for the Coggins exam.

Answer 4

Here we do a combo shot in the spring along with West NIle and Rabies.

We do not do Potomac horse fever as it is not seen in our area. And since we do not show and travel and have older horses we do not do strangles.

Ask your vet what your horses need and it will vary according to your show and travel schedule and how much contact your horses have with others.