Vaccinations for horses

Guideline for Vaccination of Horses

The schedule below is a suggested vaccination schedule provided by the American Association of equine Practitioners, and is based on generally accepted veterinary practices. Infectious disease control programs in conjunction with vaccination are important in maximizing the health, productivity and performance of your horse. Your veterinarian can help design a health management program to reduce exposure to infectious disease agents in your horse’s environment and lessen the incidence of illness. Disease control programs should be tailored to your individual needs with consideration give to ages, types, activities, and number of horses in your program. You should consult with your veterinarian regarding the specific needs of your horses.

Disease/vaccine	Foals/weanlings	Yearlings	Performance Horses	Pleasure Horses	Broodmares	Comments

Tetanus toxoid	From nonvaccinated mare: First dose: 3 to 4 months. Second dose: 4 to 5 months Third dose: 5 to 6 months. From vaccinated mare: First dose: 6 months Second dose: 7 months Third dose: 8 to 9 months.	Annual	Annual	Annual	Annual, 4 to 6 weeks prepartum	Booster at time of penetrating injury or surgery if last dose not administered within 6 months.

Encephalomyelitis (EEE, WEE, VEE)	EEE: (in high-risk areas) First dose: 3 to 4 months Second dose: 4 to 5 months Third dose: 5 to 6 months	Annual, spring	Annual, spring	Annual, spring	Annual, 4 to 6 weeks prepartum	In endemic areas booster EEE and WEE every 6 months; VEE only needed when threat of exposure; VEE may only be available as a combination vaccine with EEE and WEE.
	WEE, EEE (in low-risk areas) and VEE: From nonvaccinated mare: First dose: 3 to 4 months Second dose: 4 to 5 months Third dose: 5 to 6 months from vaccinated mare: First dose: 6 months Second dose: 7 months Third dose: 8 months	Annual, spring	Annual, spring	Annual, spring	Annual, 4 to 6 weeks prepartum

Disease/vaccine	Foals/weanlings	Yearlings	Performance Horses	Pleasure Horses	Broodmares	Comments

Influenza	Inactivated injectable From nonvaccinated mare: First dose: 6 months Second dose: 7 months Third dose: 8 months Then @ 3 months intervals. From vaccinated mare: First dose: 9 months Second dose: 10 months Third dose: 11-12 months Then @ 3 month intervals	Every 3 to 4 months	Every 3 to 4 months	Annual with added boosters prior to likely exposure	At least semiannual, with 1 booster 4 to 6 weeks prepartum	A series of at least 3 doses is recommended for primary immunization of foals.

Strangles	Injectable: First dose: 4 to 6 months Second dose: 5 to 7 months Third dose: 7 to 8 months (depending on product used) Fourth dose: 12 months Intranasal: First dose: 6 to 9 months Second dose: 3 weeks later	Semiannual	Optional: semi-annual if risk is high	Optional: semi-annual if risk is high	Semiannual with 1 dose of inativated M-protein vaccine 4 to 6 weeks prepartum	Vaccines containing M-protein extract may be less reactive than whole-cell vaccines. Use when endemic conditions exist or risk is high. Foals as young as 6 weeks of age may safely receive the intranasal product by a 3rd dose should be administered before

Rabies	Foals born to non-vaccinated mares: First dose: 3 to 4 months Second dose: 12 months Foals born to vaccinated mares: First dose: 6 months Second dose: 7 months Third doses: 12 months	Annual	Annual	Annual	Annual, before breeding	Vaccination recommended in endemic areas. Do not use modified-live-virus vaccines in horses

Potomac Horse Fever	First dose: 5 to 6 months Second dose: 6 to 7 months	Semiannual	Semiannual	Semiannual	Semiannual with 1 dose 4 to 6 weeks prepartum	Booster during May to June in endemic areas.

Rhinopneumonitis (EHV-1 and EHV -4)	First dose: 4 to 6 months Second dose: 5 to 7 months Third dose: 6 to 8 months Then at 3 month intervals	Every 3 to 4 months	Every 3 to 4 months	Optional; semiannual if elected	Fifth, seventh, ninth month of gestation (Inactivated EHV-1 vaccine); optional dose at third month of gestation	Vaccination of mares before breeding and 4 to 6 weeks prepartum is suggested. Breeding stallions should be vaccinated before the breeding season and semiannually.

Disease/vaccine	Foals/weanlings	Yearlings	Performance Horses	Pleasure Horses	Broodmares	Comments

West Nile Virus	From nonvaccinated mares: First dose: 3 to 4 months Second dose: 4 to 5 months Third dose: 5 to 6 months From vaccinated mares: First dose: 6 months Second dose: 7 months Third dose: 8 months	Annual, spring	Annual, spring	Annual, spring	Annual, 4 to 6 weeks prepartum	In high risk areas, every 6 months

Botulism	Foal from vaccinated mare: 3 dose series of toxoid at 30 day intervals starting at 2 to 3 months of age	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Initial 3 dose series at 30 day intervals with last dose 4 to 6 weeks prepartum. Annually thereafter, 4 to 6 weeks prepartum.	Only in endemic areas. A third dose administered 4 to 6 weeks after the second dose may improve the response of foals to primary immunizations.
	Foal from nonvaccinated mare: see comments					Foal from nonvaccinated mare may benefit from : 1) toxoid at 2, 4 and 8 weeks of age; 2) transfusion of plasma from vaccinated horse; or 3) antitoxin. Efficacy needs further study.

Equine Viral Arteritis	Intact colts intended to be breeding stallions: One dose at 6 to 12 months of age	Annual for colts intended to be breeding stallions	Annual for colts intended to be breeding stallions	Annual for colts intended to be breeding stallions	Annual for seronegative, open mares before breeding to carrier stallions; isolate mares for 21 days after breeding to carrier stallion	Annual for breeding stallions & teasers, 28 days before start of breeding season; virus may be shed in semen for up to 21 days. Vaccinated mares do not develop clinical signs even though they become transiently infected and may shed virus for a short time

Rotavirus A	Little value to vaccinate foal because insufficient time to develop antibodies to protect during susceptible age	Not applicable	Not Applicable	Not applicable	Vaccinate mares at 8, 9 & 10 months of gestation, each pregnancy. Passive transfer of colostral antibodies aid in prevention of rotaviral diarrhea in foals.	Check concentrations of immunoglobulins in foal to be assured that there is no failure of passive transfer.