Who gives 5-way? Who gives 3-way?

[little lady]

I give the 4 way(east/west, flu/tetnus), west nile. A few years ago when we were over run with varmits I also gave rabies. I do not show, do not have strange horses coming and going either. I figure for the cost of the vaccines is far cheaper than the cost of treating any of the diseases.

 

[loveminis]

I have given shots before but would rather have my vet do it.

 

[Matt73]

Hey Karla...Giving proper IM injections is really really easy. Once you feel comfortable doing it, you'll wonder why you didn't do it yourself earlier.

I actually started doing my own because the vet I had at the time was a complete butt (in a needle-giving way, anyway). He terrified them; he'd basically come up from behind and surprise them or physically hold them down. He almost got kicked once. That's what I get for using a mainly cattle vet

Now, I do my guys by myself (and I have an awesome vet now, too

) and they don't even know it's been done; they're very calm and get a treat afterwards (so they think it's actually FUN!).

 

[MOJO]

I would strongly suggest having your vet show you how to give the vaccinations before attempting to do it yourself. I have worked with an equine vet for over 10 yrs and have seen too many dead horses from owners doing it them self. If you get the vaccine in the bloodstream they will (as my former employer would tell them) fall dead off the needle. Watching a horse die this way is not something anyone wants to see, penicillin in the bloostream will also kill them. If you are confident, and know how to it is great to be able to do it yourself. Just want you to be fully aware of the risks before hearing a very sad story.

 

[barnbum]

MOJO--that is exactly why I keep having them out to do it. I don't care what it costs... peace of mind is priceless.

 

[Matt73]

Well, of course I didn't mean to run to the barn and stick a needle in you horses' neck without knowing how to do it properly

But there is a proper way to do it that is very safe and also a way to make sure you're not in a vein (pulling back on the plunger/syringe). I think it's pretty important to know how to do it yourself (even if you don't always give them yourself); what if you need to give medication IM over 7 days or more? Are you going to have the vet out every day? Needless waste of money IMHO. There is a great article that Jill posted a while back in the info section on how to give an IM injection. It's great

The main thing to have on hand if you do your own IM injections is epinephrine in case of anaphylactic shock and to know the symptoms of that. I've been giving IM injections for well over 20 years (horses, dogs, cats etc.) and have never had a reaction or anything go wrong...and if/when it does I know that it won't be because of my injection technique but rather a case of anaphylactic shock that would have happened even if a vet did it

 

[Shari]

I don't show.. however...

I give a 5 way once a year and their WNV once a year too but on a different month. They don't do Rabies in this area but when I lived in NH I did give that vaccine too.

Was shown how to properly give shots over 24+ years ago by a great Vet. As DH and I traveled when he was in the Navy, the Vet told me not all Vets are good, or should be practicing and I should know as much as possible, including giving my own shots. That Vet was a great teacher and ended up heading the San Diego Equine Hospital.

I do keep epinephrine on hand but knock on wood, I have never had to use it.

Have also seen horses that did not get any vaccines, and I have seen a couple die of Tetanus,another die of E and a couple from the flu. Pus a number of horses that got the Flu and ended up with a big spendy Vet bill for their owners to get them healthy again.

So I rather have some kind of protection for my animals than none at all.

 

[Margo_C-T]

I give a 5 way(for years, I did a 6 way,which included Venezuelan Enceph, ut didn't this year), along with a West Nile(using Prevenile this year).Rabies is not required for horses here, and since it is seldon an issue in this part of the country, I don't vaccinate the horses for it, nor do I know of anyone who does, here. I did order only a three way for the old retired mare this year. I no longer show(except very infrequently), but do occasionally take some of the horses 'out' to trail drives,parades,clinics,and the like, so best to have the protection. If it is later in the season and I plan a trip away, or perhaps, to show somewhere, I can always booster with a rhino/flu at least two weeks ahead of that occasion.

I would never do completely without vaccinating; IMO, the only reason that many of these diseases are infrequent today is that most DO vaccinate.This may 'enable' those who don't/won't vaccinate to 'get by', but eventually, could lead to the reemergence of some very serious diseases. I think it is understood that the very occasional individual may be adversely affected by some vaccine(s),but this can be the case with nearly every generally beneficial medication/preventive, which is of demostrable benefit to the vast MAJORITY!

Little story: Polio was still a serious problem in my youth; where I lived, we had a river 'beach park', enjoyed and beloved by many...but I can also recall the years when we didn't dare use it, out of fear of contracting polio. A good friend's older brother (we were pre-teens, he was a high school sophomore, the same as my own older sister)contracted bulbar polio, suffered in an iron lung, but died anyway. You think I wasn't one of the first in line when the Salk, and later, the Sabin, vaccine, was developed? And my then small children, too?! I caught mumps as an adult, most likely from one of my students(I taught 7th graders at the time)...was hospitalized, for several days...sickest I EVER was in my life, till this day! You think I didn't get the measles/mumps, etc? shot for my kids??

JMHO.

Margo

 

[Double T]

Well, of course I didn't mean to run to the barn and stick a needle in you horses' neck without knowing how to do it properly

But there is a proper way to do it that is very safe and also a way to make sure you're not in a vein (pulling back on the plunger/syringe). I think it's pretty important to know how to do it yourself (even if you don't always give them yourself); what if you need to give medication IM over 7 days or more? Are you going to have the vet out every day? Needless waste of money IMHO. There is a great article that Jill posted a while back in the info section on how to give an IM injection. It's great

The main thing to have on hand if you do your own IM injections is epinephrine in case of anaphylactic shock and to know the symptoms of that. I've been giving IM injections for well over 20 years (horses, dogs, cats etc.) and have never had a reaction or anything go wrong...and if/when it does I know that it won't be because of my injection technique but rather a case of anaphylactic shock that would have happened even if a vet did it

Agree! I also raise JRT's and do all the vaxin'g myself, it's not hard when you figure it out/are shown how to. And many many times it's more practical. Our nearest vet is nearly 2 hours away, we have an emergency or one colicing or tying up and we can't afford to trailer to him, time wise, and you betcha we don't get the luxury of ranch calls unless he's out testing bulls or vaxing heifers, and as one knows they never get sick or hurt 9-5 it's always after hours. But we do live on a ranch and have cattle as well as big horses and the dogs and mini's. So there's plenty to get practice on cause some one is gonna need a shot it seems. We've gotten to where we do keep all the essientals handy too, jsut becuase of hte distance and such to the vet.

 

[Jill]

Karla, if you can get comfortable with the idea, you might want to get the vet to teach you to do shots. I've been doing them for 15 years I guess, and I HATE it. I get neverous each time because some of my horses do not behave well for shots and I'm sure part of that is they know I'm upset about what's getting ready to happen. However, my vet expects ME to do the shots and honestly, it's faster than if the vet has to give them. The practice expects every horse owner to know how to give IM injections... The reason I was thinking you may want to consider learning isn't so much to save money (with just a few horses, that's not very material) but sometimes I've had to give a horse this or that sort of medical shot (antibiotics, tranquilizers, pain killers, etc.) If you are comfortable beforehand, that helps make it less rattling if you have a sick horse that needs something a couple times a day, etc. Plus, if you do get a comfort level, a shot from the vet is not any better than a shot you give yourself. A shot's a shot.

PS for those who may be interested, this is a PDF report and diagram that helps you learn how to give a shot (I would also recommend an in person demonstration from a vet or a knowledgable friend):

http://www.whinny4me.com/Horse-Info/horse%20shot%20how%20to.pdf

 

[barnbum]

Hmmm--thanks. I'll have to consider this. The new barn buddy I have is almost 16 and she's been giving her own shots for years. She wants to be a vet. I'll talk to my vet next time she's here--I can see knowing how in case of an emergency or series of shots would be important.

Thanks, again.

Sorry I haven't replied--esp Matt--since you were adding to a previous reply--I didn't see the comments after my last one!

 

[Michelle@wescofarms]

There isn't really a great blanket answer for what to give. You do need to consider your situation and risk for exposure.

1. Do you have alot of neighboring horses, board, breeding facility, wild life about, show extensively? That would definitely indicate using something different than a stable herd that does not have neighboring horses, or traffic in and out.

Our situation - we're located on large acreage with large acreage around us, and no horses within a mile or more. We haven't shown in a few years. All horses brought in are quarentined and monitored for 2-4 weeks depending on where they come from (breeding horses come with vaccine record and clean culture). So what I would do, is vastly different then someone on 1-2 acres or boarding with multiple horses (and who knows what care they're getting nearby).

So, our 'normal' vaccine is Ft. Dodge EEE,WEE & Tetanus annually. Personally 5 & 6 ways are easier to administer but they're taxing a horses system. I would break it up into multiple vaccines over a two-three week period and keep them on immune booster and probiotic for a week or more.

You can have a blood draw and immunity levels checked (expensive), if you want to know if your horse is protected. It's generally cheaper to booster them annually. Personally I'd love to stop vaccinating as I think its overused (as rabies vaccines in dogs have proven to be with rabies miasma), but I haven't yet.