Cathy Barnette, DVM, a paid consultant for Covetrus®

As you walk down the aisles of your local feed store, you might be tempted by the selection of vaccines available to administer at home. However, this is a risky gamble. Vaccines should always be administered by a veterinarian, for a number of reasons.

1. Vaccines should not be administered without a physical examination.

   Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system. They should be given to a healthy animal with a healthy immune system. This allows your horse to receive the full benefits of a vaccine, while reducing the risk of adverse effects.

   Physical examinations also play a key role in keeping your horse healthy. A thorough physical examination can be used to detect a variety of health conditions, ranging from lameness to dental disease. All horses should have an annual wellness examination, with vaccines administered at this time.

2. Vaccines require an individual risk assessment.

   Equine vaccination strategies are not one-size-fits all. Kevin Hankins, DVM, MBA, senior technical services veterinarian at Zoetis Animal Health,² emphasizes to Covetrus in an interview, that horse owners should “communicate with their veterinarian to develop a preventive health program that is designed specifically for their region, farm and horse.” Working together to create a vaccine strategy ensures that “the horse is receiving the appropriate vaccine at the appropriate time for the appropriate disease risk,” adds Dr. Hankins.

   The American Association of Equine Practitioners recommends that all horses be vaccinated for Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE), Western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE), tetanus, rabies, and West Nile virus (WNV).¹  Other vaccines, such as Potomac horse fever, influenza, and strangles,³ are given on the basis of individual risk assessment. Veterinarians must carefully evaluate a horse’s risk factors, using their training and expertise to determine whether the benefits of a given vaccine outweigh the potential risks.

3. Veterinarians offer follow-up care in case of vaccine reactions.

   Although vaccines are very safe, adverse reactions can occur. Most reactions are mild and short-lived. Your horse may be sore or lethargic for a day or two after vaccination. This is normal and expected, as your horse’s immune system responds to the vaccine.

   Rarely, however, horses may experience an anaphylactic reaction to vaccination. These reactions can occur quickly and require immediate treatment. Your veterinarian has direct knowledge of your horses vaccination history and can provide emergency treatment for anaphylactic reaction which may make a significant difference in the horse’s prognosis.

4. Veterinarians are trained to administer vaccines.

   Veterinarians are trained to carefully select vaccine manufacturers and formulations, based on efficacy and safety studies. They also have systems in place to ensure that vaccines are administered before their expiration date, to help ensure that the vaccine your horse receives is both safe and effective.

   Finally, veterinarians are trained to ensure that vaccines are handled and stored appropriately. This “assures the horse owner that the vaccine has remained in a distribution chain that keeps the vaccine at the appropriate storage and refrigeration requirements that are necessary so that the vaccine can stimulate a proper immune response,” says Dr. Hankins When you purchase vaccines from a local feed store or other provider, there is less assurance that all employees handled the vaccine correctly.

5. Veterinarian-administered vaccines are often covered by manufacturer guarantees and equine insurance policies.

   If your veterinarian administered a vaccine that leads to a serious reaction, vaccine manufacturers are available to assist you and your veterinarian in handling the reaction. According to Dr. Hankins, “all Zoetis products are supported by the Zoetis Veterinary Medical Information & Product Support (VMIPS) Team.” This team, comprised of experienced veterinarians and technicians, provides support for veterinarians and horse owners in the case of any questions or concerns.

   Many equine insurance policies require vaccines to be administered by a veterinarian. If an insured horse experiences career-ending complications associated with vaccination, an insurance claim is more likely to be paid out if the vaccine was administered by a veterinarian.

   The same is true for rare breaks in vaccine coverage. For example, if your horse is vaccinated appropriately against WNV using a Zoetis Innovator vaccine but develops a breakthrough case of this condition, Zoetis will reimburse up to $5,000 in expenses associated with the diagnosis or treatment of the condition.⁴ If you administer a WNV purchased at the feed store, you will not receive this protection. According to Dr. Hankins, “by using their veterinarian to vaccinate their horses, [clients] have the assurance that Zoetis stands behind the Veterinarian and the vaccines utilized so that their horse is protected.”

Summary

All vaccines are not created equal. While it may be tempting to save money by administering vaccines yourself, there are significant costs associated with the decision to do so. Ensure the best possible outcomes by having your horse vaccinated by your veterinarian, who is familiar with you, your barn, and your horse.

Read more about vaccinations for horses in the vector-borne diseases resource center. 

Download the infographic “Why get your veterinarian involved in immunization?” 

About the author: Cathy Barnette, DVM is a veterinarian and freelance writer, based in Southwest Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida in 2006, Dr. Barnette spent 14 years working in small animal general practice. Her current professional focus is veterinary writing, creating educational content for veterinary teams and their clients. Dr. Barnette is a paid Consultant for Covetrus.

References

1. American Association of Equine Practitioners. Core Vaccination Guidelines. Accessed April 25, 2023. https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/core-vaccination-guidelines
2. Kevin Hankins, DVM, MBA, email communication [interview], April 24, 2023.
3. American Association of Equine Practitioners. Risk-Based Vaccination Guidelines. Accessed April 25, 2023. https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/risk-based-vaccination-guidelines
4. Zoetis. Equine Immunization Support Guarantee. Accessed April 25, 2023. https://www.zoetisus.com/services-and-programs/guarantee-programs/equine-immunization-support-guarantee