Preparing a Vaccination Plan for Disease Prevention

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From the course by University of California, Davis

Equine Welfare and Management

оценки

University of California, Davis

Equine Welfare and Management

оценки

This unique course was developed by veterinarians at the world-renowned University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The course will address horsemanship from a welfare perspective, within the context of “The Five Freedoms” of animal welfare. We’ll explore equine physiology, behavior and basic needs including housing, nutrition, hygiene and disease management. You’ll learn how to perform basic tasks to assess the overall condition of the horse and identify problem areas. We’ll also examine the specialized needs of the equine athlete and the major responsibilities we as owners, handlers or competitors must assume in order to ensure the health and welfare of our equine companions. Finally, we’ll look several special topics in equine welfare including disaster planning and the international welfare efforts now in place to protect working horses and other equids in key industries such as racing, international competition, tourism and even mining. By the conclusion of the course, you will be well equipped to develop a comprehensive welfare plan for any horses in your care.

From the lesson

Assess Fitness, Prevent Common Diseases and Injuries

In this module, you will be able to discuss common injuries and diseases that can afflict horses. You will be able to identify the characteristics of the fit horse and the impact of fitness in injury prevention. You will be able to recognize common symptoms of illness, discomfort, and pain and the importance of hoof and dental care. You will be able to review common fly management and deworming practices. You will be able to prepare a vaccination plan for disease prevention.

Fitness and Health1:03

Assess Cardiovascular and Musculoskeletal Fitness5:30

Maintaining Health and Preventing Common Ailments5:01

Deworming: Centerpiece of a Preventative Health Program6:11

Preparing a Vaccination Plan for Disease Prevention4:47

Hoof and Dental Care5:16

Preventing Diseases with Biosecurity5:19

Recognizing Signs of Pain and Discomfort7:43

Common Ailments and Injuries18:09

Meet the Instructors

Claudia Sonder, DVM
Emeriti Director of Equine Outreach
Center for Equine Health

Hello again. We have covered a lot of ground so far on how

to protect your horse from parasite and insect infestations.

And now, let's turn our attention to vaccines and the diseases they can prevent.

We'll also look at some of the more common diseases we see as veterinarians.

And by the end of the lesson,

you'll be able to recognize the symptoms of some of

these diseases and have a vaccination plan in place to prevent them.

Before we begin, it's important to know that in veterinary medicine,

much like in human medicine,

we cannot guarantee prevention of a disease

based just on the fact that a horse has received vaccines.

The horse's immune system also plays a large role in how it responds to a vaccine.

Although we don't have time to explain

the details of the horse's immune system in this course,

keep in mind that there are several factors involved in

the horse's immune system that affect how the horse reacts to the vaccine.

The vaccine may not work or there may be

severe immediate reactions if the horse's immune response is not appropriate.

First of all, the vaccine must be produced by a reputable company,

properly shipped and stored,

and properly administered to do its job.

Some vaccines are injected in the muscle,

some under the skin,

and some are sprayed into the nostril.

Some vaccines are given once a year,

some every few months,

and some require multiple initial doses several weeks apart to create lasting immunity.

Your horse must have a healthy immune system to do its job in mounting

a robust response and making antibodies to protect him from the disease.

If too many vaccines are given at once,

it may overwhelm the immune system and your horse will not be protected.

It is possible for a horse to have an adverse or negative reaction to the vaccination,

such as local swelling,

or abscessed formation at the injection site,

transient fever, lethargy, or a severe allergic reaction.

These signs should be evaluated by a veterinarian and

will sometimes be reported to the vaccine company.

That's why we encourage horse caretakers to have a veterinarian plan,

a specific vaccination strategy that includes ordering,

storage, and administration of the vaccinations.

In the unlikely event that your horse has a severe reaction to a vaccination,

your veterinarian will have the medications on hand to optimize treatment and response.

Veterinarians are also likely to keep complete records of horse vaccination history,

this is not only helpful in the event that the horse gets ill,

but also if the horse needs to show, travel or sold.

Next, we'll take a look at some of

the more common diseases that can be prevented with vaccination.

Your veterinarian will advise you which vaccinations are

most appropriate for your horse based on regional diseases,

likelihood of exposure, and the health of the horse.

Let's start with core vaccines likely to be recommended.

These are considered core,

because they are diseases known to exist in

many regions or have potential to infect people.

They can be highly infectious or pose a risk of severe disease.

These vaccines are considered to be relatively

safe with low risk of negative reaction in the horse,

and include tetanus, Eastern and Western equine encephalitis,

West Nile virus, and rabies.

The next category of vaccines are risk based vaccines because as the name implies,

whether or not you choose to use them is determined by the potential risk of

your horse coming in contact with the disease and succumbing to the infection.

These vaccines often include equine influenza,

equine herpes virus which is also known as rhinopneumonitis,

potomac horse fever and strangles.

This list can also include snake bite or rattlesnake vaccine, botulism,

equine viral arteritis, leptospirosis,

rrotaviral diarrhea, and anthrax.

It is also worth pointing out,

protection from the vaccine does not occur immediately after administration.

Full immunity requires the appropriate number of doses given at the proper interval,

and can often take 10 to 14 days to occur.

So, vaccination the day before a trip, is not advised.

Vaccines must generally be given before the horse is

exposed to the disease in order to have full protection.

And remember, as we discussed with parasite control,

good management practices have to be followed.

The vaccination program will not work if there is

repeated and overwhelming exposure to the infectious agents.

A good management plan for controlling infectious disease is called a biosecurity plan.

Biosecurity is a concept we'll explore some,

in depth, in the upcoming lesson.

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