As mentioned yesterday - here is the first of the diseases that we feel should be covered: Tetanus - Every horse should be vaccinated against tetanus. Tetanus is caused by a common soil bacterium Clostridium tetanii that is found virtually everywhere and can survive in the environment for long periods of time. The bacteria invade the body through cuts and grazes; particularly puncture wounds such as penetration of the sole of the foot. The bacteria then multiply in the body and produce a toxin that causes rigid paralysis of the horse’s muscles. The horse becomes progressively stiffer adopting a rigid stance with an elevated tail head and a prolapsed third eyelid. Horses with tetanus also appear anxious and are extremely sensitive to stimuli such as being touched or sounds. Ultimately the horse has trouble eating, standing and breathing and will die from respiratory failure. Horses are particularly susceptible to tetanus toxin and therefore disease is usually fatal in unprotected horses, even if aggressive treatment is attempted. However, tetanus can be easily avoided by vaccinating your horse. Young foals can be infected through the umbilicus in the first few days of life and therefore it is important that they receive antibody protection from their dam by sucking colostrum in the first few hours of life, provided that their dam is fully vaccinated herself. Foals should then be vaccinated at approximately 4 months of age once these maternally derived antibodies have waned. Unprotected horses (and new born foals) can be given short term protection (several weeks) by administration of tetanus antitoxin; however this is much more expense than the tetanus vaccine. Tetanus and flu protection can also be given together in combined vaccines.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:51:50 +0000