Vaccinations, finally found a brand

[Anne]

I have always hated vaccinations, horses get stiff, sore, off their feed, and I worry about the pregnant mares that get them within 30 days of foaling.

Last year they were ALL miserable for at least a week, (Fort dodge, I know lots of people use them, without a problem, they say) I thought it was ridiculous.

This year we changed brands of vaccines.

Out of 16 horses not ONE got stiff or sore and absolutely no one lost their appetite for sure.

Geez that feels good.

We had to order it but switched to Intervet.

I think I'll stick with this one! (pun intended)

Anne

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

Each brand contains a different "adjunct", the base in which the rest of the vaccine is added. Your horses must have had a bad reaction to the adjunct used in Fort Dodge's products. As a note, Fort Dodge also changed their vaccines last year, upping the concentration to make them more effective. It ended up giving a LOT of reactions in a lot of horses. I guess they've fixed it, cuz I've seen a lot less reactions lately.

 

[Gena]

We have always used Intervet and have also been very pleased with never a problem.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

I have had the exact same experience as you over the years and now do my best to avoid Ft Dodge

 

[MeadowRidge Farm]

I have used Intervet and Prestige, both I have had excellent results with and no reactions. I will not use a Fort Dodge shot of any kind. Intervet is also a very reasonable shot, where Prestige is on the "pricier" side. Corinne

 

[Marty]

You do not want to get me started on Fort Dodge.

I'd say they could kiss my rear but then, my rear would become infected.

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

Interesting... I've vaccinated hundreds (literally) of horses with Fort Dodge products in the last two years alone, and never had a reaction that was worth noting. I don't LIKE Fort Dodge's products due to efficacy issues, but reactions haven't been an problem with me.

 

[frekles93]

[SIZE=14pt]I have used Prestige 5 for the last 2 years. Not sure why I switched, but I havent had a problem with it.... but I will know this AM cause I gave shots yesterday and had trouble with some of htem...... well out of 8 - 3 stood there OK.[/SIZE]

April

 

[Michelle@wescofarms]

We've used Ft. Dodge products for years without any problem and do give conservatively 70+ vaccinations a year.

You have to use what you're comfortable with for your horses.

We don't ovetax their immune system either with 5-6 way vaccines. They're more convenient for us to give, but personally I do not feel they're great for a horse (or dog or cats) immune system. If anyone has ever travelled overseas where you have to get 5-6 injections at one time - well that is a contributor to the pain/swelling. Tetanus injections for humans are a bit painful, now imagine adding 4, 5 or so other things on top of that.

If your horse is having that bad of a reaction, I would work with a vet to set up a series appropriately spaced out to give injections based on your horse's specific needs.