Re: [RC] Need advice--Vaccines (OT, long) - Darlene
HI Lynn,
I sure don't envy you. I wouldn't vaccinate
him. I nearly losts my QH gelding. I vacc. him two years in a row
for WNV. It got progessively worse, this year he darn near died. I
thought he was colicking and he was all parked out like he was foundering.
His neck was so stiff he coldn't lift it off the ground for 5 days.
I will never vacc. him again. I will take a chance on him getting
WNV. I know that doesn't help you in your boarding situation.
I board 7 horses here plus my own. I
understand the barn manager's mind set, why vacc. or worm some if the others are
not done. But I would think he could make an exception in your guys
case. Maybe you could have your vet talk to him? As far as him
making you use his vet, that is totally wrong!
I was reading the posts about the reactions to the
West Nile vaccine. My horse had a bad reaction to it this year for the first
time. He was really not feeling well, laying down for long periods of time,
not eating, and generally not his usual perky self. This lasted for 5 days.
This is how he reacts to a lot of the other vaccines, but he never had a
problem with WNV before this year. When I got him 9 years ago he had the
same type of reaction to the Rhino, then the next year Rhino and Rabies. Since
then he has had reactions to the those plus EEE/WEE and later even Tetanus.
Originally when it became obvious that he was sensitive to vaccines I started
having my vet give him the shots individually one every few months. And I have
been keeping records as to which ones he reacts to any given time and which
brand of vaccine was used. Needless to say he only got the ones that my vet
thought were absolutely necessary and some of those we went every two years
instead of every year. He gets Banamine with the vaccines that he always
reacts badly to. My big problem now is that I moved him to a boarding
stable 3 years ago and the owner is all of a sudden requiring vaccinations for
9 different diseases in the spring and again for 3 diseases in the fall. I am
trying to convince him that my horse doesn't need all those every year, let
alone twice a year. And I told him that my vet recommends that the
vaccinations be given individually, no combo shots. Unfortunately, the owner
wants control of the situation and has pretty much said that I use his vet and
get all of the vaccines by May 3rd. My horse has already had the WNV as I
mentioned before, but I am afraid to have him get the other 8 all at one time.
The owner has told me that it's "his way or the highway". Everyone else I have
talked to says not to worry, horses get vaccinated 4 time a year at show
barns. Does anyone have any advice for me? Should I not be concerned? I
would hate to have to move my horse--it's a really great place. I have heard
that light exercise right after the shot helps. Anyone else have a horse that
is so sensitive? What do you do? I'm afraid that down the line my horse's
immune system may be compromised by all these vaccines. He is 19 now. Oh, and
the first ten years of his life he lived on a breeding farm as a pet so I was
thinking that maybe he was vaccinated all the time with the mares and that
caused his sensitivity. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for any
ideas/help. Lynette
