Rabies Vaccinations

[loveponies]

Okay need some advice. I am lifelong experienced in training and riding big horses. Due to injury and *old* age I have become a new mini owner and many of you have given me wonderful advice and answered my questions. I used to work for Animal Control in Arizona, had a wonderful large animal vet who mentored me and trained me for specializing at another job I held prior to the County Animal Control. That said, we always vaccinated our horses with Rabies. I now work for a small animal vet in Northern Nevada *the real northern Nevada* and the tech at work specializes in equine floating and raises big horses. Since I get my vaccines through the tech at work, they are questioning my need to administer the Rabies vaccine, wanting to know why, and is it safe for minis. Couldn't really give her a solid reason for ordering it for me, so I began rethinking the real need. I have read on the forums here that many of you do give the little ones Rabies, do all of you judge the need by where you live and is it necessary?

Also two things; any information on mini shows in Reno that I could go to, to watch? And I wanted to give a big shout out of thanks to Oberg's Hilliard Horses to Hug in Wyoming for my first two mini friends, and all of their help and graciousness.

 

[Boinky]

yes rabies is "safe" for mini's. You use the same dose as a large horse on the minis. We never used to do rabies as cases of rabies were extremely rare. Over the last decade or so rabid ***** were introduced into Maine and the rabies epidemic is spreading. Usually several rabid animals are documented in our specific area and hundreds across maine every year. for that reason alone it is HIGHLY suggested that animals get the shots as a preventative measure. Most show's now require proof of rabies as well to be able to show so even if you didn't do your horses at home if your area's require rabies vacinations then you will need them for the show horses.

I personally delt with a case where a large horse became rabid. I had to go through the series of shots and i can tell you i'm convinced they do damage to joints. they cause a lot of joint pain....BUT they are a nessary evil in area's that rabies is prevalent. Rabies is an INCURABLE disease once it starts to show signs of infection and it is 100% fatal. It only makes sense to vaccinate against it ad try to keep exposure low.

 

[MyBarakah]

Hi!

I am from Nebraska and this part of Nebraska (south eastern part) there is a high case of rabies. So I do vaccinate mine for rabies and give the regular dose.

 

[disneyhorse]

My vet was telling me the other day that my state (California) may soon make Rabies a "required" vaccination for horses. We would have to do it annually. I don't currently give the vaccine though.

Andrea

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

Yes the Rabies vaccine is safe for minis, and yes, every one of my horses is vaccinated and will be, every year. Is it worth the risk for a vaccine that costs $2/dose? If a rabid animal is found on your property they reserve the option to kill your unvaccinated animals to test; by state law in some cases. And your insurance won't cover their loss, to add insult to injury. Does it matter that the risk is only 5%, if you are one of the 5%?

 

[Boinky]

The problem is that it does NOT cost only $2.00 to vaccinate... In this area the vets price gouge and are charging like $30 +++ per shot Plus you have to pay the "office/farm" call fee. for one shot it's not only $2.00. It REALLY fries my butt though that i COULD order it for $2.00 per dose out of a catalogue but many states do not allow it to be shipped to that state and if they do usually if any questions arise in many states your not covered if you do your own shots. I would take the risk of "illegally" doing it for my own piece of mind but you would think seeing as it's a serious health hazard for humans and animals they would regulate the price of the shot so vets can't price gouge.

 

[White Socks Miniature]

Rabies is not high in this area. (BC Canada) but I still vaccinate ALL my animals for it. I figure my horses are out alot and could possibly be exposed, although it is not likely. Like others have said here before it is ALWAYS fatal once symptoms begin. You are extinguishing a HUGE risk with a vaccine.

You would have to check with a vet in your state to see if you are allowed to give it or if it has to be a veterinarian that administers it. I know in Canada a vet must always give the vaccine, which is actually a government law for record keeping purposes as if an animal is in question, a person has no real proof that they gave the vaccine, gave it properly, or that the vaccines were stored appropriately and were actually viable at the time of administration. The government health officials can then take your animal, quarantine it or even euthanize it for testing.

So really it isnt even a bad idea to get your vet to do it just on the off chance that there is a rabid animal found on or near your property as rabies is a zoonotic disease and if the health officials get involved, if you cannot give documented proof that they had that vaccine, it was given properly ect ect. they arent going to care how much you kick and scream that you did do it!

Cheers

Masako

 

[loveponies]

Thanks everyone, I can say that it is necessary for showing in some areas. Let me clarify that I worked in Animal Control and specialized with a vet so I know the types of rabies, yes there is more than one type, depending on the mode it is transferred, and I know how deadly it is. I myself had to be vaccinated for work. I agree with the price gouging in most areas for any vet services. I am going to hae to pay $250 to $300 for gelding. I am lucky I can have vaccination with the vet I work for, done for little cost.

Again thanks, I have learned so much from all of you on the forums.

 

[eagles ring farm]

our Rabies shots when the vet does them are $10.00 plus call fee

we really don't have any specific need for them

but my vet told me the gross reality of a horse dying from rabies

and they have to cut off the head and send in for testing to the state

so in our case for $10 it's worth the price even if the risk is very low

from what I understand you can have your vet write you a prescription to order Rabies shots through the mail.

 

[loveponies]

No one except veterinarians can administer rabies since it is so deadly to humans if accidentally pricked.

 

[Boinky]

that's not true because rabies vaccines is not a live vaccine. Not to mention look at the thousands of people that do it now in states that allow it. People did it for years and years here in Maine before they made it illegal to buy it and get it shipped in.

 

[White Socks Miniature]

Boinky is correct, it is a Killed virus that is used for vaccination. and no it will not kill you if you prick yourself.

They vaccinate humans for this disease as well. There would be alot of people and animals dead if the vaccine was like that! lol!

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

No one except veterinarians can administer rabies since it is so deadly to humans if accidentally pricked.

I've been pricked before by a rabies vaccine... I've also recieved the human version of the vaccine. I think I'm doing okay... a little screwed up, but certainly alive! Purchasing/administering the rabies vaccine is only restricted in 15 or so states... the other states allow it. They may not recignize it as easily as they do a vaccine given by a vet, but they do allow it.

 

[Jill]

I give all the vaccinations myself to my horses, including rabies EXCEPT that the vet now gives my show horses their Rhino shot because documentation of that shot from a vet is required for DE shows

 

[Carolyn R]

I give all of my own shots here in PA also. The rabies is an inexpensive shot and well worth the protection it can offer. That in itself should be enough of an argument that any vet can understand. The only shot that I find a little more difficult to find is West Nile. Their are a few companies that carry it. There again, we are not in a huge High Risk area, but it is HIGHLY Advisable by my vet to give the shot.

I would just tell the vet, it is a safe shot, the dose is the same for a big or small horse, it is not prorated for size, and based on the very nature of a mini being so curious and the lack apprehension that they sometimes show (when compared to some big horses faced with strange critters) it is better safe than sorry.

Arm yourself with some knowledgable facts when telling the vet why you want the vaccine.

 

[Marianne]

If rabies vaccine is valid in dogs for three years, is it necessary to vaccinate horses every year? I am an advocate of not overvaccinating my animals. I do titres on my dogs and so far have not had to boost any of them. So, why are we putting all these chemicals into our horses?

 

[Jill]

I follow your thought. I don't know the full answer, but I know the packaging says that horses and livestock are to get the rabies vaccine every year.

 

[Boinky]

honestly marianne,

In my opinion probalby not. The human vaccine will last for years. I was highly allergic to it when i had it done so i've always done a titer to try to keep ontop of it and only have the shot when very nessary. It's shown to cover at least three years in dogs (probably more if they allow it to go that long) and i've personally seen it does in humans as well. I think they need to do more research on it in horses because i think we are over vaccinating with it.

 

[jess]

The rabies vaccine is in no way harmful to a human unless you have an allergic reaction and go into anaphylactic shock. I'm a vet tech and have been accidentally vaccinated with the vaccine several times. I also do wildlife rehab and even though the vaccine hasn't been tested on all species I vaccinate anything that sets foot on the property that is a mammal. Having dealt with and seen first hand the effects rabies has on an animal I would never NOT vaccinate against it. The reason they require a vet to administer the vaccine in some states is so there is proof and documentation that the animal in question is indeed vaccinated and what batch the vaccine came from. Hence the reason you receive a rabies certificate when you have your pet vaccinated. There is NO way to test a live animal for this disease. If a animal bites a person and there is not proof of vaccination the animal is required to be quarantined at a vets office for 10 days if during those 10 days the animal shows any suspect signs it is put down and the head sent out for testing as the only tissue you can test for rabies is the brain. Even if your animal is vaccinated and you have proof if it bites someone and a report is made to the health department your animal must still be quarantined but the quarantine can be done at home. Having to personally euthanize several innocent non rabid animals because the owner wouldn't pay for the cost of the vaccine or then for boarding during the 10 day quarantine period I can tell you the vaccine is VERY inexpensive compared to the cost of having your pet held at the vets for 10 days or put down. Anyone who thinks it's unnecessary should have to watch an innocent animal be euthanized and then decapitated. I can tell you it's not fun or pretty. Every animal should be vaccinated for rabies.

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

Be VERY CAREFUL when comparing human and canine vaccines to equine vaccines... horses have been shown to have a very poor responce to many vaccines. The recommended dosage is related to titers. The recommended annual vs biannual suggestion is based on experimental titers and side effect frequency. It may last for three to five years in dogs, but horses have a very different immune system. This is seen very clearly in the flu and rhino (and original WN) vaccines, which require boosters every two to three months. Its taken all this time before an annual vaccine for flu (Recombitek) and WN (Chimera and Recombitek) could be developed. They still haven't been able to make an annual rhino vaccine.