21/01/2024
Tetanus Vaccination! I cannot stress how important this is!
One of the diseases we commonly vaccinate for is Tetanus. Tetanus is fatal in 50-75% of cases.
It isn’t passed from horse to horse hence it isn’t required by different competition bodies to compete but is caused by a bacteria Clostridium Tetani that is found in the soil. Horses often contract tetanus from contaminated wounds but this can include very small wounds that wouldn’t otherwise be spotted hence it is so important for your horse to already be vaccinated for tetanus. If your horse does develop a wound and is unvaccinated or their vaccines have lapsed, we can give tetanus antitoxin but we need to do so before your horse shows any signs of tetanus. However due to the very limited self-life of tetanus anti toxin, the cost of this one-off treatment is more than the cost of 14 tetanus vaccinations, which could have covered your horse for more than 25 years! The tetanus anti toxin only provides cover for 3 weeks.
Signs of tetanus can include:
🐴Muscle stiffness resulting in a ‘rocking horse’ stance and ‘lock-jaw’
🐴Difficulty moving and eating
🐴Protrusion of the third eyelid
🐴Seizures
🐴Recumbent and unable to stand
🐴Tail held straight out
🐴The horse has an anxious expression due to muscle spasm
🐴Sweating
🐴Respiratory failure
Most of the time we use a combination vaccination for tetanus and influenza. But we can vaccinate for just tetanus in which case the primary cause only requires two vaccines 4-6 weeks apart another vaccine approximately a year later and then a vaccination once every two years. It is also recommended to vaccinate pregnant mares a month prior to foaling to improve the level of antibodies to tetanus passed to the foal in their colostrum.
For more information on tetanus please see our February newsletter:
https://www.summerleaze-vets.co.uk/documents/feb23.pdf
If you would like any more information on vaccinations please feel free to contact the practice on 01297304007
I am a Vet with over 20 years experience working with horses and small animals; with a particular interest in equine dentistry and dental surgery.
