Pets: Reining in diseases with jabs

OWNING a horse is not an easy task but it is certainly a rewarding one – as well as a long-term one, as with all the right vaccinations, your horse could live to the ripe old age of 40. But which infections do you need to vaccinate against and how often? And on top of all the other upkeep, will vaccinating your horse be a costly procedure?

Kirstie Pickles, 36, one of the equine vets at the Equine Centre for the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, has treated horses for 13 years.

She says: "The knowledge that horse owners have is very variable and they must be informed in order to properly care for their horse".

With the right advice, it is easy to keep your horse healthy and protected from common infections.

In horses, tetanus is so common that it should be vaccinated against from a young age. If it is not then the virus could prove fatal despite later treatment.

The first tetanus vaccine should be given when the foal is only four months old.

A booster should follow one year later and then approximately every two to three years afterwards.

The illness is caused by bacteria found in soil so even horses kept individually in enclosed areas should be vaccinated. The equine vets at the Dick Vets Clinic offer the vaccine for 10.

Horses that frequently come into contact with other horses on livery yards, at shows or in transit, should also be vaccinated against equine flu. In fact, many shows and yards insist on horses being vaccinated before entry on to their property.

Just like the human strain of influenza, the virus is constantly adapting and new boosters must be administered to keep your horse immune.

The most frequent booster is demanded by the International Equestrian Federation, who ask that competing race horses receive a vaccine every six months. For other horses, a booster is necessary only once a year. The flu vaccine alone costs 25 but the Dick Vet Clinic offers a dual vaccine of flu and tetanus for 30.

The symptoms of equine flu are just the same as in humans: fever, lethargy, coughing and a watery or snotty nose. Between unprotected horses the disease can spread very quickly, but for owners who keep their horses at home and away from the contact of other horses, a vaccination should not be necessary.

Kirstie, who worked on the equestrian events in Hong Kong for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, says: "I don't think you ever get to the stage when you know all there is to know as these viruses are constantly changing. For an owner, it's just about vaccinating your horses regularly to keep them immune".

The Dick Vet Equine Practice covers Peebles and East Lothian, as well as a 15-mile radius from the practice at Easter Bush in Midlothian. The practice runs an Equine Health Scheme, which costs 120 plus VAT annually. Contact the Dick Vet Equine Practice on 0131-445 4468. Kirstie is speaking at a lecture as part of the vet school's preventative health care series. "Why the Long Face? Preventative Healthcare for Horses" takes place on 24 March, 7-8pm, at the Lecture Theatre G.08, William Robertson Building, George Square. Free but ticketed, bookings can be made on www.ed.ac.uk/vet/events