RE: [RC] WNV Question for Susan G. - Susan E. Garlinghouse, D.V.M.
From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Suvut@xxxxxxx Sent: Friday, April 22, 2005 8:03 PM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] WNV Question for
Susan G.
Susan,
should I go ahead and vaccinate my 29 year old Cushing's mare this year for
WNV? She was vaccinated last year and the year before will no problem.
But this
year, she is very thin and has VERY VERY long, curly hair covering her entire
body -- including her face and legs. I am feeding her Senior and beet
pulp and she has access to good pasture 24/7, but does not seem to be picking
up weight. I have also started her on the Chaste Tree Berries (per the
Cushing's website). I will shave her next week. She shows no signs
yet of laminitis (thank GOD).
I did
give her the normal yearly booster (4 in 1) shot a few weeks ago with no ill
effects. Do you think the WNV vaccination will hurt her immune
system? I feel very ignorant about this and would love your opinion.
Susan in
Louisville
No, I do NOT believe that vaccinating
harms the immune system if done correctly. Don’t want to get into a
huge ridecamp brouhaha over the concept, and everyone is welcome to do what
they like--- but for my money, horses should be vaccinated at the very least
against diseases with a reasonably likelihood of death, including West Nile, at
a reasonable interval (at least annually, twice a year in naïve populations).
If your girl didn’t have any adverse
reactions to the four-way, then it’s even more unlikely the WNV will
cause a problem. I strongly prefer the Fort Dodge product over the Merial
product. As previously discussed, I like vaccinating in the pectoral
muscles. If she does get a little sore, then a gram of bute for a day or
so should ease the speed bumps.
