Broodmare Vaccination Chart 



Botulism Organism
:
Clostridium botulinum. Organism is ingested or absorbed through wounds. Causes neurologic disease.

DOSAGE: Annually 4 weeks before foaling

NOTES: Mares in areas of high risk (mostly Kentucky and Ohio) should be vaccinated 1 month prior to foaling to prevent shaker foal syndrome, a neurologic disease in newborn foals.

Encephalomyelitis
(EEE,WEE,VEE)  Insect-bourne neurologic disease that is fatal.

DOSAGE: Annually 4-6 wks before foaling

NOTES: Mandatory vaccination. Booster every 6 months in risky areas. Should be administered in spring just before insects appear. Humans can become infected if not vaccinated. 


Tetanus  Organism
:
Clostridium tetani. Organism enters wounds and releases toxins resulting in neurologic disease. Can be fatal.

DOSAGE: Annually 4-6 wks before foaling

NOTES: Re-vaccinate if wounded 6 months or more after most recent booster. Tetanus organism is present in every region. 

Influenza
Respiratory infection. Signs: fever, depression, nasal discharge, cough.

DOSAGE: Every 6 months 1 booster 4-6 weeks before foaling

NOTES: Producing & maintaining an effective vaccine is difficult, since there are many strains of the virus. 


Strangles  Organism:
Streptocuccus equi. Respiratory infection. Signs: fever, nasal discharge, abscessed lymph nodes under lower jaw.

DOSAGE: Annually 4-6 wks before foaling

NOTES: Highly contagious.

Potomac Horse Fever  Orgamism
:
Ehrlichia risticii. Severe diarrhea with high rate of fatality.

DOSAGE: Annually 4-6 wks before foaling Annually thereafter

NOTES: Only in eastern half of US. Vaccinate every 4 months in high risk areas. Annually where risk is low. Vaccine is incomplete and short-lived, but vaccinated animals have a lower mortality rate and less severe signs with the disease. 


Rabies
Neurologic disease. 100% fatal.

DOSAGE:
Annually

NOTES: [none] 


Rhinopneumonitis
 
Equine Herpes Virus. Two strains: EHV-1 and EHV-4.

DOSAGE:
Vaccinate before breeding
5th, 7th & 9th months of gestation
4-6 wks before foaling

NOTES: EHV-4 causes respiratory disease. EHV-1 causes abortion in pregnant mares, neurologic disease in mature horses, and respiratory disease. This virus is very widespread. 


Rotavirus 
DOSAGE: 8th, 9th & 10th month of gestation
Booster 30-60 days of gestation
Annual thereafter

NOTES: This vaccination is a cattle drug not approved for use on horses. Check with your veterinarian before use. 


Equine Viral Arteritis 
Respiratory disease. Signs: high fever, edema, leaky blood vessels. Abortion in preg. mares.

DOSAGE: Annual Booster 3-4 wks prior to breeding

NOTES: Only needed if breeding to known carrier stallions. Do not vaccinate preg. mares the last 2 months of gestation. Check regulations prior to vaccinating. 


NOTE: New vaccines are created frequently. Please check with your veterinarian for the most updated vaccines and health care schedules. Ask your vet about the new West Nile Virus vaccine, and the EPM vaccine. This chart is supplied only as an example of a Foal's Vaccination Schedule. Your horse's vaccination schedule should be tailored specifically to your horse's needs by your veterinarian.

Horse Health
Vaccination Schedule for Adult Horses


Vaccine

Performance: Traveling/contact with many horses Pleasure: No traveling/minimal contact with new horses
Eastern/Western Encephalomyelitis Every 6 months Every 6 months
Tetanus Every 6 months Every 6 months
Rhinoneumonitis Every 3 months Every 6 months
Influenza Every 3 months Every 6 months
Rabies Annual Annual
Potomac Horse Fever If traveling to endemic areas, give semi-annually If traveling to endemic areas, give semi-annually
Strangles (intranasal) Depends on risk, ask your veterinarian Depends on risk, ask your veterinarian
EPM Ask your veterinarian Ask your veterinarian
West Nile Vaccine Initially 2 vaccines 3-6 apart, boost 6 months later and then annually in the spring Initially 2 vaccines 3-6 apart, boost 6 months later and then annually in the spring

* Each horse should be evaluated based upon his/her use and potential exposure to other horses and wildlife.


Vaccination Schedule for Foals and Broodmare

Vaccine Foal Broodmare
Eastern/Western Encephalomyelitis 1st at 4 months, 2nd at 5 months Every 6 months, boost 30-45 days before foaling date
Tetanus 1st at 4 months, 2nd at 5 months Annually, boost 30-45 days before foaling date
Rhinoneumonitis 1st at 5 months, 2nd at 6 months, continue to boost every 3 months Every 3 months, boost 30-45 days before foaling date
Influenza 1st at 5 months, 2nd at 6 months, continue to boost every 3 months Every 3 months, boost 30-45 days before foaling date
Rabies 1st at 4 months, then boost annually Annually, boost 30-45 days before foaling date
Potomac Horse Fever Not routine in this area, if traveling check with you Veterinarian Not routine in this area, if traveling check with you Veterinarian
Strangles (intranasal) 1st at 6 months, 2nd at 7 months Ask your Veterinarian
Pneumabort-K Not given to foals At 3rd, 5th 7th and 9th months of pregnancy
Influenza (intranasal) At 7 months, then every 3 months Every 3 months, boost 30-45 days before foaling date
EPM Ask your Veterinarian Ask your Veterinarian
West Nile 1st at 3 months, 2nd at 4 months, 3rd at 10 months, then every 6 months If Open: Initially 2 vaccines 3-6 weeks apart, then every 6 months. If in Foal: THIS VACCINE IS NOT LABELED FOR USE IN PREGNANT MARES

* Each horse should be evaluated based upon his/her use and potential exposure to other horses and wildlife. All pregnant broodmares should be booster-vaccinated at approximately 10 months of pregnancy to insure colostral immunity. They should also receive pneumabort-k vaccines at months: 3,5,7 and 9 months of pregnancy. There is also a new a intranasal influenza vaccine available. This can be given in conjunction with the intra-muscular version. It is likely that the recommendations for vaccinating foals to establish immunity will be modified in the next couple of years, as new research data is validated in field trails.




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Vital Signs

Adult Horse

Temperature: 99.5-101.5 F

Heart Rate: 32-44 beats/min.

Respiratory Rate: 6-16 breaths/min.


Mucous Membrane Color: Pale Pink

Capillary Refill Time: 1-2 seconds

Gut Sounds: Always Present

Foals

Temperature: Increases the first four days, then plateaus at 100-102 F

Heart Rate: 60-110 beats/min.

Respiratory: 25-60 breaths/min.

First Aid Kit

Stethoscope                                

Scissors

4 X 4 gauze

Vet Wrap

Ophthalmic Ointment

6" gauze roll

Betadine Scrub/Solution

Sheet or Roll Cotton

Thermometer


Elastikon tape

Duct tape

Flash light

Medication (if possible): Tribrissen Tabs (SMZ), Phenylbutazone or Banamine

Basic First Aid

Lacerations:

Control Hemorrhage-bandage or direct pressure

Clean contaminated wound with clear water/antiseptic soap

Control swelling- bandage

Attention to punctures

Colic:

Mild to Moderate pain- obtain vital signs then call for assistance/advice

No food- Walk 10-15 min./Rest 30 min.

Severe or Unrelenting Pain- Call NOW

Eye Problem:

Clean/Flush with eye wash

Cold compress if swollen

Antibiotic ophthalmic ointment
TO TELL A HORSE’S AGE
    To tell the age of any horse
   Inspect the lower jaw of course
   The six front teeth the tale will tell,
   And every doubt and fear dispel.
   Two middle nippers you behold
   Before the colt is two weeks old,
   Before eight weeks, two more will come;
   Eight months, the corners cut the gum.
   Two outside grooves will disappear
   From middle two in just one year
   In two years from the second pair,
   In three the corners, too, are bare.
   At two the middle nippers drop
   At three, the second pair can’t stop.
   When four years old the the third pair go:
   At five a full new set will show.
   The deep black spots will pass from view
   At six years from the middle two
   The second pair at seven years
  At eight the spot each corner clears.
    From middle nippers upper jaw,
   At nine the black spot will withdraw.
   The second pair at ten are white
   Eleven finds the corners light.
    The oval teeth three sided grow
   As time goes on the horsemen know
   They longer get, project before,
   Till twenty, when we know no more.