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  Discussion on Flu shots and Cushing's
Author Message
Member:
Lindi

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003 - 11:31 am:

Hello,

This past weekend my 25 year old pony with Cushing's was given his flu shot by the vet. The vet said that one had to be very careful in giving shots to horses with Cushing's and although our pony was beginning to really suffer from his disease, she gave it to him anyway. To make a long story short, the pony didn't do well and had to be put to rest yesterday. It seems he began to have breathing problems and his personality changed after he had been given his West Nile Virus shot in the summer. What are your thoughts on giving shots to horses/ponies with Cushing's? At what stage in their disease should they stop having the shots? I am asking because there is another pony owner in our area who has been told by the same vet that her pony has Cushing's although his only symptom is founder. The vet refused to give that pony his flu shot. I am trying get a handle on the right thing to do for these horses so that should I have another horse with Cushing's, I will have the knowledge to do the right thing. Thanks in advance for your reply.

Lindi
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Oct 23, 2003 - 6:54 am:

Hello Linda,
The main problem is Cushinoid horses are immune compromised and therefore are more prone to infections disease and may not respond well to the vaccine. I have not had any adverse reaction problems vaccinating these horses. However I do not vaccinate while an active founder episode is going on or if a horse is debilitated and worsening.
DrO
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Friday, Oct 24, 2003 - 4:47 pm:

Dr. O.,
This is topic is of interest to me because a dear friend's Morgan mare developed Cushings last winter . . . and this spring had the characteristic long hair and lack of energy . . . I sent her Linda's question above, and this is what she wrote back:

"Thanks for the info. Bell did acquire respiratory problems which I took to be heart problems. I was rather disappointed that Dr. ----- did not attempt to confirm her Cushings when he came to do spring shots. He took a blood sample and I thought he was going to but he ran a T-4 test for thyroid function. I believe that the thyro L contributed to congestive heart failure but it could have been vaccinations. I know the vets at the small animal clinic suggested that Seismo (elderly cat) not have any more vaccinations when he started to show physical signs of nerve damage from the Feline Leukemia Virus."

Late this summer, the Morgan mare showed extreme weight loss (150-200lbs in two weeks) and increased feebleness . . . very unsteady on her legs . . . and my friend put her down a few days later. The vaccines were given in May . . . EEE, WEE, Tetanus, Rabies, Rhino Flu and WNV.

Holly
Member:
Lindi

Posted on Friday, Oct 24, 2003 - 6:27 pm:

Dear Dr. O and Holly,

Thank you both for your replies.

My pony was on a bit of a downhill slide and my vet was assessing him to begin Pergolide. She knew that he was slipping because we discussed all of the "new" symptoms and his personality change. Not long after he received the flu shot (within 5 to 10 minutes) I noticed that his rib cage was sprung and his breathing was laboured. I brought it to her attention as she was still working with him. She said that he was like that prior to beginning, however I am positive that he wasn't as I work very closely with him and notice all changes - this is something I would have mentioned to her if it were present. At the same time as she and I were discussing his breathing, someone else was listening to his heart and reported a rate of 90. He went into congestive heart failure and plummeted downhill from there. Although we tried to help him, two days later he had blood coming from both nostrils and his breathing was bubbly. We had no choice but to stop the suffering of this little guy.

This has taught me to be very careful about allowing my horses to have vaccines when they don't appear to be doing well. Our small animal vet won't even consider giving our dogs their annual vaccinations if they even have a slightly runny nose. Now I fully understand the complications they can have and I will never allow it to happen again.

I don't honestly know why my vet went ahead and gave him the shot after having just said that we had to be careful, but I will always err on the side of caution from now on.

Thanks again for your responses.

Linda
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