Spring Shots

It's that time of year again.  Indy was so scared when I led him into the stall for his shots that he was shaking all over.  The vet said she didn't even need to take his heartbeat because it was already leaping out of his chest.  Poor thing - sedation was in order for teeth floating anyway.

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Some recommended shots: (I've put in bold the ones Indy got.)

The Coggins Test: Needed only if you're going to take your horse in contact with lots of other horses.  Like trail rides, campgrounds, or shows.  Most of these things require a Coggins, so it's not an option.  It checks for a kind of virus that spreads ever so easily among horses.

Strangles: Only needed if your horse will be in contact with young horses, because the disease "strangles" usually affects horses aged 1-5.  It involves the lymph nodes swelling up, and it's not fatal, but...do you really want to pay a $65 vet's farm call again?

Potomac Horse Fever: This one protects against a disease carried by water snails, mayflies, and possibly other creatures that live in bodies of water.  In MN, we have water almost everywhere, so it's recommended - but for the first time your horse gets it, he'll need a booster shot after three weeks.

Influenza:  Combats a viral disease with these clinical signs: fever, coughing, disinterest in eating, depression.  An upper respiratory disease.

FLU/Rhino: Also an upper respiratory disease.

Rabies: Horror of horrors! I'd say this one is a must.  I'm sure I don't want Indy going rabid.

West Nile Virus: This protects against disease mosquitos carry.  *shudder*

Tetanus:  Tetanus usually enters through open wounds (including puncture wounds) and starts to reproduce via bacteria.  This results in stiff muscles, which means dangerous riding, possible lockjaw, and breathing problems.  Treatment of tetanus is very hard to do and expensive.

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Besides these shots, your horse will need to be dewormed every six to eight weeks, but you can do that yourself.  Just get someone to help hold your horse's head and squirt that stuff into the side of his mouth.  (That way he can't spit it out right away.)

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Teeth floating essentially means "teeth filing" and that will need to be done every two years.  Your horse will be sedated, put into a special cranking halter  (see above) that holds his mouth open, and the vet will take a grinding drill to those troublesome teeth.  (Just an FYI - the smell of burnt teeth is awful.)

We just learned that Indy will need his teeth floated once a year now, because he has a missing tooth on top, and the tooth on the bottom keeps growing up into the gap.  This hinders him from eating properly and I think it's most of the reason that he gets so thin.

If you're not sure if your horse needs his teeth done, watch him eat corn or grain.  Does he drop it out of his mouth as he's chewing? If so, you want to think about calling the vet.


What vaccinations do you get for your horses? Was this post helpful?



Have a wonderful day.
Ellyn