HORSE 10

Vaccinations and
disease control

The charity dedicated to

helping sick, injured and
homeless pets since 1897.
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2
Common infections An affected horse may have a high
fever and move with a stiff-legged gait.
Horses can suffer numerous health Other signs include flared nostrils, a
problems as a result of bacterial, viral startled expression (with eyes wide and
or fungal infections. The healthier the ears pricked) and the tail held out stiffly.
horse and the higher the standards of Spasms of the head and neck muscles
horse care, the greater the chance of cause difficulty in chewing (hence the
fighting and minimising the effects of an common name, lockjaw). The reaction
infection. It is vital that veterinary advice is of the animal to sudden noise or
sought as soon as a horse shows signs movement is heightened, causing violent,
of a possible infection. uncontrollable body spasms.
Tetanus The risk of infection varies from area
Caused by the bacterium Clostridium to area and from horse to horse,
tetani, commonly found in the soil and with younger horses (and those
often present in horse dung. Horses with impaired health) at greater risk.
are particularly at risk, being prone to Unvaccinated horses usually die shortly
small puncture wounds (eg from thorns after contracting tetanus, with fewer
or nails), through which infection can than ten per cent surviving. Recovery
enter the body and then thrive. The requires extensive veterinary treatment
infection takes three weeks to have an and nursing throughout the long period
obvious effect, with the first signs (muscle of convalescence. Vaccination provides
stiffness, spasms and a reluctance to simple and effective protection against
move) often becoming apparent some tetanus. If an unvaccinated animal
time after the wound is wounded, the veterinary
has healed. surgeon should be
called immediately.

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Strangles Horse influenza
Strangles is a highly contagious Horse influenza is a highly contagious
respiratory infection, caused by the viral disease of the respiratory tract.
bacterium Streptococcus equi. A horse Infection can occur following inhalation
contracts the infection though direct of the airborne virus from other infected
contact with an infected horse or horses or by indirect transmission via,
indirectly through contamination in for example, the stable, equipment
the surrounding area. The disease is or grooms.
characterised by swelling of the lymph
Veterinary diagnosis and treatment is
glands below the horse’s throat, which
essential. Signs of infection, which begin
subsequently develop into abscesses.
to develop a few days after exposure
Other symptoms are a thick nasal
to the virus, include a husky cough
discharge, often accompanied by
and nasal discharge (which changes
a weak cough, a high fever and a
over a period of four to five days from
generally unwell appearance.
thin to thick mucus), combined with
A veterinary surgeon must be contacted general signs of ill health. Influenza
immediately if strangles is suspected debilitates the animal, leaving a horse
as early diagnosis and treatment are susceptible to secondary infections.
essential for the individual animal It may also develop into a more serious
and to prevent the spread of infection. respiratory disorder.
Following veterinary advice, together
Every effort should be made to isolate an
with careful nursing, strict isolation
infected horse. Strict hygiene measures
and scrupulous hygiene is of vital
should be adopted, to minimise the risk
importance. All horses that have been
of infection spreading to other horses.
in contact with an infected horse should
be monitored twice daily for signs of
fever and the onset of infection.
Vaccination against strangles is
available in the UK, more information
can be provided by your vet. Prevention
through effective hygiene measures and
strict control is essential. No infected
horses should be taken to public events,
and no new or visiting horses should
be permitted into the yard until a month
after the last abscess has healed.

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The veterinary surgeon will advise on
suitable convalescent care. Recovery
may take several weeks and the horse
may take even longer to return to full
health. Prevention is better than cure
and horses should be vaccinated
routinely against the most common
strains of horse influenza. Vaccination
is compulsory for horses competing in
most equestrian sports.

Ringworm
Ringworm is a contagious fungal
infection of the skin. The disease is
spread by both direct and indirect
contact, so infected horses should
be isolated wherever possible, with Horse herpes
strict hygiene measures adopted and Horse herpes is a serious viral infection
veterinary advice sought. Infection that can cause abortion and respiratory
shows initially as tufts of raised hair disease. All horses are susceptible to
which eventually fall off leaving the respiratory form, especially foals
weeping lesions. Often circular in and yearlings, and it also poses a
shape, these lesions may vary in particular risk to studs. As with other
size and density, and usually occur respiratory infections, the horse will
around the head, neck, saddle and appear generally unwell and have a
girth regions. The horse’s immediate high fever, nasal discharge and a slight
environment also becomes infected, so cough. A veterinary surgeon should be
bedding material should be destroyed contacted as soon as a horse shows
and the stable, tack and all equipment any of the signs of ill health, so that the
should be washed thoroughly with a type of infection may be identified and
fungicidal disinfectant. treated promptly.

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 most equestrian competitions and horse
racing. In addition, nowadays, many
livery yards and training establishments
will accept only those horses that have
an up to date vaccination record.
If a vaccination is compulsory, the
vaccination record (which can be
included in the horse passport) must
show that the horse has received an
initial course and a continual annual
vaccination thereafter. The initial course
Vaccination intervals comprises two primary injections given
and records at an interval of at least 21 days (and no
more than 92 days apart), followed by
Vaccination maximises protection a first booster at 150 days (and no later
against a specific disease by stimulating than 215 days) after the second primary
the natural immune response, boosting injection. Booster injections must be
the ability of the animal’s body to fight given at intervals of less than one year.
subsequent infection. Veterinary care
Horses should not be exercised
should be sought to ensure that all
strenuously for 24 to 48 hours after
horses are vaccinated against tetanus
vaccination. Occasionally, there may
and horse influenza, and continual
be a slight reaction to vaccination,
cover maintained.
evident as a small lump under the
A tetanus vaccination course consists skin. However, the risk of side effects is
of two primary doses of vaccine, given minimal and greatly outweighed by the
by injection approximately four weeks benefits of protection.
apart, followed by a booster at twelve
months and thereafter at intervals of
two to five years. The course can be
started from the age of three months
onwards. Pregnant mares may require
an additional booster to provide initial
protection to the newborn foal.
The influenza vaccination is given
annually and is often combined with
a tetanus booster every other year.
Influenza vaccination is compulsory for

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Hygiene and disease control
Routine hygiene measures should form
an essential part of stable management
for all horse keepers. Keeping stables,
yards and equipment clean should
be routine, combined with daily
observations of the health of all horses
in care.
Flies and vermin can spread disease
and have an adverse effect on the
health of horses. Feed should be
stored in vermin-proof containers and
Related Blue Cross
measures taken to reduce the available
food sources for vermin, thus eliminating publications
breeding sites. The following leaflets from the
Stagnant water, manure and effluent pet care series may be useful.
from muck heaps provide ideal breeding Routine healthcare for horses (H8)
grounds for flies and midges. Manure
should not be allowed to accumulate in Basic horse first aid (H11)
or around stables and shelters. During Common ailments (H12)
the summer months it is important to
reduce the fly problem by collecting
and disposing of muck regularly,
in combination with chemical
control and provision of
physical protection for
the horses (fly sheets,
fringes and shelter).
Happy, healthy pets
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Telephone: 0300 777 1897
Fax: 0300 777 1601
Email: [email protected]
M6634/0112

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Registered charity no: 224392 (England and Wales), SC040154 (Scotland)