Those Pesky Yearly Shots

Yep, it's that time of year. Spring is sprung, the grass has riz, all is well with the world.

So, since I'm basically tighter than bark on a tree when it comes to money, I've almost always done my own horse shots, on the horse, I mean. This has been a bit confusing to me.

Up here in the PNW, people seem to give a lot more shots than I've ever done in my whole life. Used to be, I only gave Eastern, Western, VEE (http://petcaretips.net/equine_encephalomyelitis.html) and Tetanus Toxoid (http://www.drugs.com/vet/tetanus-toxoid.html) . If a horse got cut during the year, then I gave a tetanus anti-toxin to boost the toxoid.

However, up here, my friends have advised me to give West Nile http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/other/wnv/news/july2105wnv.html and the Potomac shot, also known as Swamp Fever http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equine_infectious_anemia or EIA. This illness is the one that's the cause of needing a Coggins test to haul your horse around over state lines. Pain in the neck to do but you should have it...even though in all my years of hauling, I've only been asked once for my paperwork. Still, it's good to do things the proper way and have it.

Also, I was advised to give Rhino http://www.extension.org/pages/Equine_Viral_Rhinopneumonitis_in_horses and the horse Flu shot http://www.equine-world.co.uk/horses_care/flu.htm.

Wow, that's a lot, huh?? At first I was concerned that I was over-doing it and how will this affect my horse, whom I dearly love. To me, it's always been that less is more and don't stress your horse(s) where you don't have to. For a long time, it was sort of a joke about the Coggins...kind of like the vet now has to give rabies shots (for an official record)...just another way for the vet to make money when either you didn't have to or could do it yourself.

Up here, meaning the PNW, with all the damp and rain (does it EVER stop??), I guess that bad bugs get a better foothold in your horse and possibly have mutated into super-bugs/strains. The result, if your horse got sick, would be devastating. I went ahead and gave all the above shots and have for several years. I'm kind of annoyed that I can only find a 5 way http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=1&pf_id=14135 when I used to pick and choose but giving one shot is better than giving multiple ones. The VEE doesn't seem to be as much a threat anymore...I haven't heard of it in years but I still like the protection.

Years ago, there was a VEE outbreak in the southwest and all the horses had to be vac'ed, then a little metal clip was put in their forelock to show they had their shot. No horses could be moved anywhere. Not even to the rodeo grounds or ridden off your boarding property. Periodically, something will show up and the Livestock Inspector has to shut down a section but with everyone properly innoculating, those cases have become rare.

So, my advice, free though it is, is to buy the shots at the feed store, make sure it's been kept cold and give it yourself. The vet will also have the shots and be happy to give them for you. It's a good thing to know how to give shots anyway. http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1018/ If you do order your shots from a catalog, make sure you get the speedy delivery to ensure that your shots stay nice and chilly.

Just make sure you give your yearly shots. It's way cheaper in the long run plus you are saving your pumpkin horse unnecessary suffering!

Ride safe, everyone!!