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Discussion on Don't forget to vaccinate! EHV and Encepalomyelitis deaths here recently.
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Member:
jjrichar
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 - 11:58 pm:
Hello all!
I just wanted to pop in here real quick and remind everyone to vaccinate their horses. A horse owner down the street just lost 2 horses and has a 3rd sick due to what they believe is an outbreak of Rhinopneumonitis (EHV 1/4) They are running tests now to confirm.
My mom just had a friend who lost a horse due to Enecepalomyelitis. She said she was late giving her annual boosters by only a few weeks.
Please, please don't forget to vaccinate. 
If you know how to do them yourself, vaccines can be ordered from Valley Vet.com or other horse supply sites. Beware of buying vaccines from feed stores or TSC, etc., unless you know they are reputable. An uneducated store clerk can sometimes let a shipment sit a long time before they put them in the refrigerator, rendering the vaccines ineffective.
See Dr. O's article below for more vaccine info. https://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/3/16582.html
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Monday, Jul 13, 2009 - 1:38 am:
An important reminder. I would just add you need to talk with your local vet about what shots are recommended for your area. Some are necessisary regardless of where you live, but in our area, for instance, we don't give rabies.
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Member:
erika
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Posted on Monday, Jul 13, 2009 - 1:45 pm:
Good advice, Jennifer. A lot of meds are not effective when stored improperly.
Sara, that is interesting about the rabies in your area, only because I was talking with my dog vet about emerging diseases. She and I were discussing an article I saw about a new strain of rabies in Arizona that is transmissible by casual contact (no blood or saliva transmission necessary).
She confirmed that it is the case and that it is a very frightening scenario. I know you aren't all that far north, and I wonder if it is because of the mountains and other natural barriers that you don't have rabies there when your neighbors to the south do have it?
Now I know I can handle the mammals there without fear....just kidding! I'm still on the lookout for scorpions out west!!
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Monday, Jul 13, 2009 - 3:27 pm:
Good question. Our vet says he has never seen a case in our area. We also never have fleas. Maybe the altitude? We never had either one in Truckee CA either. Also, the only time a horse gets ascarids is if it spends time in other areas, and some of the other parasites seem less frequently found and less severe when they are found.
I did find a Child of the Earth in the barn last week; the first one I've seen here. I've never seen a scorpion near our place, although I suspect they exist. I know they are in the deserts. Never seen a rattle snake near us either, but do see them on the trails once in a while. I do see black widows and brown recluse spiders from time to time, so you can worry about them instead!!
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Member:
sodmonst
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Posted on Monday, Jul 13, 2009 - 11:41 pm:
Yikes! Maybe I should have gotten the rabies vaccination for Hairball! Vaccinations are important, and reminders are helpful too. Thanks.
As for the local fauna: The coyotes had a songfest all around us yesterday, and we chased off a mountain lion from the parking lot not long ago. There's a bobcat living close by too.
There are lots of critters around here snattlerakes, shorpiuns, centipedieuns, and all other sorts of what-nots. I pulled a HUGE bug, 4+ inches by 1+inch out of the water trough, and after washing it clean, the next day found a giant Colorado River Toad in there. Washed it out again. We actually have four separate water tubs in the enclosure so that if one or two get fouled during the day, there's still clean water available. Ah, summer in the desert!
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Member:
jjrichar
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 - 9:37 am:
LOL you guys are too funny with all of the 'critter' stories. In TX as a kid, it was not uncommon to look up at the ceiling at night and see a scorpion huddled up there above you. My Dad even had one fall on him in bed one night. Talk about YIKES! I remember leaving my shoes on the doorstep overnight once and sticking my bare feet in them the next morning and getting the shock or rather 'sting' of my life! OUCH! In case you didn't know Scorpions love shoes! I sure don't miss those suckers.
We vaccinate for VEWT, West Nile, and rabies here for sure. A few years back there were a few horses that came down with rabies at the TN Walking Horse Celebration (their world championship show). And after my neighbor having her horses come down with what they believe is EHV (Rhinopneumonitis) I will be vaccinating for that now too. They say the EHV vaccines aren't a sure bet but I spose it's better than nothing.
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 - 1:13 pm:
We always get EHV. I guess it's a habit from when we were breeding. However,while I don't like to give any more vaccines, or any other medication, more than needed, it's much easier to vaccinate than deal with a serious desease!
While on the subject: don't forget to keep your own tetnus shots up to date!
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Member:
sodmonst
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 - 8:52 pm:
I'll bet there are a few of us who get injured just enough that remembering to boost tetnus immunity is no problem. If I remember right, horses carry tetnus, and they are involved in making the vaccine. Cannot remember the details. Last time for me was when a raccoon jumped out from under a bush and bit me. That was the most inconvenient injury ever. Let's see, when was that anyway......? 
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Member:
trouble
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 21, 2009 - 4:54 pm:
Okay, I was just thinking I would skip vacs this year due to my horses NEVER being off my farm; my NEVER being around other horses; and my dog's vet telling me there have been no rabies cases in our area for several years. We also have West Nile, but I have heard of no cases in my area recently.
I have ALWAYS vaccinated annually, but due to the above circumstances and cutting back expenses, I thought maybe I could skip this year.
My guys are good for vacs and I have actually given the West Nile vac before, so maybe I will consider giving them myself. Don't you have to have an RX to order vacs online?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 22, 2009 - 7:13 am:
Hello Lisa,
You should note that the most important diseases you vaccinate for are not contracted from other horses. To review the decision making process on which vaccines are important and a brief description of the most commonly needed vaccines for your horse see Horse Care » Horse Vaccines, Vaccination, Coggins Test » Vaccines an Overview.
Many vaccines are available over the counter but whether Rabies will be available depends on your state's law.
DrO
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Member:
trouble
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 22, 2009 - 4:42 pm:
Thanks, DrO,
I did read your article on vaccinations for my scenario and it looks as though Rabies, Tetanus, and E/WEE and WNV would be sufficient for my area.
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Member:
jjrichar
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 30, 2009 - 9:35 am:
Lisa, I usually get my vaccines from Valleyvet.com or a similar site (without an rx). They have a VEWT/westnile combo. I believe I paid $27 each for them. We can't do our own rabies vaccines in TN though. That still has to be done by a vet.
If you are trying to cut expenses, vaccines are a risky way to do it. If one of your horses contracts one of these illnesses, imagine how much more a vet bill would be, not counting all of the torment you would go thru watching your horse suffer. At minimum I would at least do the EWT, which is pretty inexpensive.
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Member:
trouble
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Posted on Monday, Aug 3, 2009 - 3:08 pm:
Thanks, Jennifer. I have ordered other things from ValleyVet, so I will probably do the same with the vacs.
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