Vaccinating horses..?

Question

OK I am going to vaccinate my horses my self this year (yes I know how) but I have a couple questions. ok first off my mare had to have a tetnus shot back in February for a lacaration. I am planning on buying the 5 way horse shots plus westnile. Can I give her the 5 way even though it has tetnus in it or should I vaccinate her with everything but? will it hurt her if I vaccinate her again for tetnus? and second one of my geldings is not due for shots untill september but all of my others are due now can I just vaccinate him now so they are all on the same schedule?

Answer 1

It doesn't cost anything to give your vet a call and ask the question.....

Answer 2

For your mare, there is no worry about giving her another tetanus shot. They are only good in horses for about three months, which is why a veterinarian will vaccinate them again if they sustain an injury.

It also will not hurt your gelding to have his vaccinations early. Really, the only thing he will be getting ahead of schedule in the 5 way is the EEE/WEE. Flu/Rhino is only good for three to six months, and west nile should be given every six months as well.

The main concern I have with vaccinating your own horses is that you will likely be unable to purchase rabies vaccine (depending on your state's laws). People sometimes forget about that one, but it is a core vaccine for horses and should not be skipped. Horses are exposed to bats, opposums, raccoons, barn cats, etc., all of which have the potential to carry and transmit rabies.

Answer 3

this question is exactly why most horse owners have no business doing their own vaccinations.

Answer 4

You probably ought to leave this kind of question to the professionals. Look it up on a horse website.

Answer 5

You can give your mare an extra tetnus shot - there is not ill effects, especially since it is far apart.

Giving a horse shots a bit early in the year is not a problem, either.  If you want to put him on the same schedule of the rest of your horses, it is not a problem to give shots a few months early.

Answer 6

It will not hurt her to get the tetanus a second time in one year. I personally would go a head and vaccinate for it to keep her all on the same schedule.

As for the gelding yes you can go a head and vaccinate now on him. Some show horses get vaccinated every 6 months for many of the most common vaccines so it won't hurt him at all.

Answer 7

The earlier tetanus may have been a vaccination that is only good for a few weeks and is good to give to a horse that has had an injury and may already have tetanus. You should now give your horse a regular vaccination. The tetanus vaccine in the 5 way is the type you don't give to an injured horse so it is fine to give it now. You can also vaccinate your gelding now too.

Answer 8

Go ahead and vaccinate them. Having another tetanus shot now won't hurt, and it's a good idea to have them all on the same schedule.