Tetanus is one of the oldest recorded diseases in horses and horses are one of the most sensitive animals to this disease. Excellent vaccines have made this disease rare but it is important to note that the rate of exposure to the disease is high despite vaccination. Vaccination is as important as ever and treatment for tetanus continues to evolve. This article discusses how horses get tetanus, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.

Tetanus is a disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. Also called Lockjaw the symptoms are not caused by a direct action of the bacteria, but by a toxin released into the bloodstream that interferes with the normal nerve-muscle interaction. In short, the horse looses his ability to inhibit nervous system activity resulting in hyperactive muscles.

Clostridium is an anaerobe which means it does not survive and reproduce anywhere oxygen is present. It is a common inhabitant of herbivore intestinal tracts, including horses. As foodstuffs are digested, oxygen tension in the intestinal tract goes down and the organism is able to reproduce. The bacteria are then passed out the digestive tract and form spores that persist in the soil until conditions become right for becoming active again. The spores are very hardy and may persist for many years there.

Horses get tetanus through a dirt contaminated wound and not from rusty metal. Since high oxygen tensions prevents it from becoming active. wounds where there are pockets of dead tissue promote the infection and elabortion of the toxin.