AHP Newsgroup: What to Expect When Vaccinating
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Natasha Joseph
Merial
(678) 638-3690
Jennifer Ryan
Bader Rutter & Assoc.
(262) 938-5524
When vaccination time rolls around, do you know what to expect after your horse’s immunizations? Every horse owner expects their vaccinated horse to be protected from disease, but some horse owners don’t expect to see a reaction that may occur after a vaccination.
“Vaccines can save time, money and may even save your horse’s life,” says
April Knudson, DVM, manager, Veterinary Services, Merial. “Understanding the
risk from vaccination can probably save you a few hours of worrying, but it’s
important to remember that the reaction to any vaccine is likely far less
devastating than if your horse actually acquired the disease you vaccinated
for.”1
Additional info:
• What
to Expect - Fact Sheet
Vaccines are designed to stimulate an immune response, notes Dr. Knudson. Each
horse is unique — and a horse’s specific immune response may be different from
other horses.2
In particular, Dr. Knudson says that it’s fairly common for horses to
experience mild, temporary side effects a few hours after intramuscular
vaccination, such as:3
-
Local muscle soreness or swelling
-
Fever
-
Loss of appetite
-
Lack of energy or alertness
“Even humans experience signs like this following vaccinations,” Dr. Knudson
says. “What happens to the immune system after vaccinations can’t always be
seen, but these types of clinical signs help demonstrate that an immune
response has been stimulated – which is exactly what we want the vaccine to
do.”
However, Dr. Knudson recommends contacting your veterinarian immediately if
any of these signs persist for more than 24 hours or if more serious side
effects, such as hives, difficulty breathing, collapse or colic occur. These
more serious side effects are rare.3,4
Getting your local veterinarian involved is the best way to ensure horses are
being vaccinated for the area’s disease risks, and make certain the vaccines
themselves are handled and administered properly. Vaccines that are handled
improperly can become ineffective or may actually increase the risk of side
effects.2,5
In addition, vaccination time is a great opportunity to make certain all
aspects of an equine health care regimen are up-to-date with current disease
threats, Dr. Knudson recommends.
“Vaccinations are a vital part of any equine health program,” Dr. Knudson
says. “A good rule of thumb is to check with your veterinarian at least twice
a year — usually in the spring and fall — to make sure horses are receiving
vaccinations in alignment with the region’s disease risks and the horse’s
travel schedule. Plus, it’s a good time to make sure nutritional and dental
needs are being met and deworming programs are on track.
“Veterinarians are the best source for quality vaccines and vaccination
information, and checking in a couple times a year helps make sure your horse
is healthy year-round.”
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1MacAllister C, Gilliam L. Equine vaccination programs. Oklahoma
Cooperative Extension Service Publication VTMD-9119. Available at:
http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2072/VTMD-9119web.pdf.
Accessed December 5, 2008.
2Merck Veterinary Manual. Ninth edition. 2005:2181.
3Adverse reactions. American Association of Equine Practitioners.
Available at:
http://www.aaep.org/adverse_reactions.htm. Accessed December 5, 2008.
4Povey RC and Carman PS (Martinod S). Technical basics of
vaccination. In: Pastoret PP, Blancou J, Vannier P, Verschueren C, eds.
Veterinary Vaccinology. New York: Elsevier; 1997;15:574-578.
5Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health. Home edition. 2007:561.
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