Equine Vaccination - The basics
Tetanus
Tetanus is a neuromuscular disease caused by the Clostridium Tetani bacteria, releasing a neurotoxin inside the body. This bacterium is ubiquitous in the environment. Horses can become infected with tetanus through any break in the body barrier such as wounds, foot abscessed or umbilical infections from contaminated environmental sources such as dirt and animal faeces. Tetanus causes muscle rigidity and can quickly progress to muscle paralysis, this can be fatal if not vaccinated against.
Toxoid vs Antitoxin: What’s The Difference?
Tetanus Toxoid:
Tetanus Toxoid is the highly effective tetanus vaccination and can provide long term protection against the disease.
Initial vaccination requires 2 vaccinations 4 weeks apart, and a third dose at 12 months to complete the course. Following initial vaccination, boosters are required every 5 years for ongoing protection.
Protection is not immediate after the initial course, taking approximately 14 days for immunity to be received. Subsequent vaccinations however deliver rapid immunity.
Tetanus Antitoxin:
The Tetanus Antitoxin is used for horses that experience a risk event (wounds, foot abscesses etc.) and are not currently vaccinated with Tetanus Toxoid. The antitoxin provides fast action against the tetanus toxin circulating within the blood. The downside is that the antitoxin offers a short duration of protection of approximately 2-3 weeks and does not replace vaccination with the Tetanus Toxoid. A Tetanus Antitoxin is therefore required every time your horse sustains a wound. This is not required if your horse is fully vaccinated with Tetanus Toxoid. If starting a toxoid vaccination course at the time of a risk event, an anti-toxin will be given under the skin at the same time to provide that short term protection while immunity builds.
Strangles:
Strangles is a highly contagious equine upper respiratory tract infection. Strangles, caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi equi causes purulent nasal discharge and abscess formation in lymph nodes of the head and neck.
Although strangles is not often fatal, high morbidity especially in young horses can pose significant risk to herd and stable outbreaks. Isolation of infected horses is essential and supportive care is often required.
Vaccination against Strangles requires 3 initial doses, each 2 weeks apart. Annual booster vaccinations are required for ongoing protection.
Tetanus and Strangles vaccines may be administered individually or as one combined vaccination. Vaccines are administered into the neck muscle of the horse, are straightforward and take only a few minutes! Vaccinations are a fantastic opportunity to undertake your horse’s annual health check.
We strongly recommend that all horses are vaccinated against Strangles and Tetanus but please note that no vaccination provides 100% protection against diseases but will provide your horse with the best chance of immunity.