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What To Expect After Vaccinating Your Horse

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According to orthodox veterinary practice, vaccination plays a vital role in optimizing the health of horses, just as it does with other animals. It is actually considered as one of the most effective ways in protecting your horses against contagious parasites which bring about a number of diseases and infections. The most common diseases diagnosed on horses include tetanus, Potomac horse fever, botulism, rotavirus, rhinopneumonitis, influenza, rabies, strangles, and West Nile virus. ^[1]

Though widely known as a preventive measure, vaccination does not guarantee 100% protection against diseases. However, in some cases, immunization helps in reducing the severity of an illness.

Prior to the administration of vaccines, there are a number of factors that need to be considered. These factors include general management, exposure risk, geographic location, use, environment, and of course, risks involved. Certain vaccines for tetanus, Equine Encephalomyelitis and rabies must be administered regulary as prescribed by veterinarians because these diseases can lead to fatal death.

Vaccines can be administered by horse owners, but it would be best if the process is done by veterinarians. Vaccines need to be fresh, and be handled with extra care. Timing is also essential. In order to achieve optimum result, vaccination is discouraged if the horse is sick as it can affect the effectiveness of the vaccine. ^[2]

In most cases, equine owners expect that their horses are protected from a number of diseases after vaccination. What surprise them are the reactions which occur after the vaccine has been injected. Just like humans, horses experience a number of discomforts right after vaccination which includes fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, lack of energy, and muscle swelling or soreness. ^[3]

According to experts, these reactions are pretty normal, as even humans experience them. The occurrence of these discomforts signifies that the immune response of the body has already been stimulated. They usually last for a few hours after administration. However, if they occur for more than 24 hours already, seeking for immediate veterinarian help is advised. ^[4]

More details: Want to know more on what to expect after vaccinating your horse? Visit http://myhorse.com/blogs/horse-care/vaccinations/what-to-expect-when-vaccinating-horses-common-response-or-cause-for-concern/ and discover extensive information about the aftermath of vaccinating horses.

References:
[1] http://www.equinevetservice.com/vaccinations.htm
[2] http://www.equinevetservice.com/vaccinations.htm
[3] http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-health/equine-vaccine-reactions.aspx
[4] http://blog.abler.com/what-to-expect-from-vaccination-programs-for-horses/