Vaccination Guidelines for Your Horse
Vaccinations are critical to the health of your horse. However, different horses require different vaccinations, depending on the horse’s job, living environment, and exposure to other horses.

Core Vaccinations:

Tetanus: Contracted from the soil through wounds. A horse may get tetanus from a wound that you never even see.

Western and Eastern Encephalitis: Carried by mosquitoes and cause neurological symptoms such as weakness, dementia, inability to stand, and death.

West Nile Virus Encephalitis: Another encephalitis carried by mosquitoes, by far the most significant of the mosquito born viruses of this type in Utah.

The second category of equine diseases that we vaccinate for in Utah are those that can spread between horses. These diseases include the following:

Influenza: Just like in humans, this disease is caused by a virus and spread by contact between horses. The influenza vaccination is usually given twice yearly depending on the level of exposure to other horses.

Strangles: This disease is caused by a bacterium and is extremely contagious between horses.

Rhinopneumonitis (rhino): This disease is very complex and can cause symptoms as varying as respiratory problems, abortion, weak foals, and neurological damage. It is usually spread by direct or indirect contact between horses.

The third group of vaccinations given to horses in Utah are specific vaccines given to certain groups of horses. These are as follows:

Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA): This disease is primarily a problem with breeding horses. It causes mild respiratory symptoms and other signs, but, most significantly, it causes abortions in pregnant mares.

Pneumabort K is a rhino vaccine given to protect pregnant mares and their fetuses from the “abortion” form of rhinopneumonitis. This vaccine is usually given in the 5th, 7th, and 9th months of pregnancy.

Endovac Equi is a vaccine that protects against endotoxins. Endotoxins are dangerous toxins released by the equine intestinal tract in colic-type situations. It is a good idea to use this vaccine in horses that are prone to colic or laminitis, fed a very high-grain diet, or are unusually stressed.

**Contact us today to determine a customized vaccination plan for your horse**