When do you vaccinate??

[Candice]

I had read that mares should be vaccinated a month prior to foaling so I asked our regular vet about this some time ago and he said "no we'll vaccinate at delivery". Last weekend we had an emergency and the on call vet (really like him a lot) says its better to vaccinate prior to foaling as the mare has been thru so much. I tend to agree with that thinking, however I have two mares about to foal any second and one that lost her foal last weekend so we'll do what we have to now this year but what is best?

 

[Buckskin gal]

Our Vet wants the mares vaccinated a month before they foal so the foal has immunity also. We vaccinate only in the spring and foal only in the spring. Mary

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

I think it is one of those questions that there is no "right" answer to. I have some vets that go with the old school of thought 1 month prior to delivery I have others that say vaccinate the mare right after foaling and the immunities will pass thru the milk

 

[Lauralee]

This question DOES have a right and wrong answer. I'm sorry but your vet is going against AAEP recommendations. AAEP is the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and it sets the standard for all equine practice vets.

To vaccinate the mare at the time of foaling leaves the foal without the proper immunity. The immune response takes time to build and pass to the foal. The amount of time is days to weeks. By the time the mare develops this immunity the foal cannot receive it thru the milk.

The biggest risk is Tetanus, which is a danger to both the mare and the foal at the time of birth. This cannot be accomplished by vaccinating after the birth or even on the day of the birth. It takes more time than this to build the proper immune response to tetanus.

And this is not just my opinion. It has been proven scientifically and established thru much research.

The recommended procedure is to vaccinate the mare about 30 days prior to foaling. Not just for the mares sake, but primarily for the sake of the foal.

 

[frekles93]

[SIZE=14pt]I work at a vet clinic and MY personal protacol is Vaccinate in the spring right before mares foal to boost the colostrum for the foal. I DO NOT vaccinate foals till the spring following thier birth. If a foal is born to a HEALTHY VACCINATED mother then she SHOULD pass this on to the baby. I think we over vaccinate foals. The colostrum is there for that reason. Foals get the first shot in the Spring following their birth then a booster in 3 weeks and yearly boosters after.[/SIZE]

April

 

[Candice]

Now I'm really worried. I've got two mares ready to go any second. If we hadn't had the emergency I never would have questioned our regular vets decision further.

 

[Lauralee]

Then I would vaccinate them NOW. If they hold out 2 weeks, you're probably okay.

If they deliver in just a few days, then I'd consider vaccinating the foal at 4 months instead of 6 months.