Owner Given Vaccines

[pandorasmom]

For those who give their own vaccines to their horses (besides Rabies in most states) where do you get them from, and what brand?

Panda gets the EEE/WEE & Tetanus in one shot, Rabies in one shot, and West Nile in one shot. I'm having the vet out to do teeth floating and the rabies, but it's alot cheaper giving the other two on my own. I can cut the price almost in half on the Tetanus Triple E one. Have to research the west nile a little more first, but wanted to see what y'all said.

[ImaBronsonBear]

I get them from my local feed store, i looked into ordering them online but with shipping and the chance of them warming up and not being effective it just wasn't worth it.

Last year i gave them both West Nile in one shot and the Fluvac Innovator 5 in another shot which has:
EEE, WEE, Rhino types 1 & 4, Influenza and Tetanus.

[pandorasmom]

Is this ( Rhino types 1 & 4, Influenza ) something recommended that is given? My vet hasn't said anything, but I know Panda was given a 5 way before I got her from the previous owner.

[pandorasmom]

http://www.allivet.com/West-Nile-Innovator-EWT-p/10304.htm

I found this that has West Nile in it, Tetanus and the EEE and WEE. I'll probably pick it up at TSC. They have them If I'm not mistaken. Shipping for refer. items is 25.00 so it'll cost me the same as if he gave them.

[RipSpark]

I got mine from jeffers or a friend gets theres from valleyvet. I gave my guys a 5way tetnus, Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis, Flu, Rhino, and WNV, and the vet did rabies.

I have to say though I won't be doing that again. It was such a pain in the butt. I had to order the vaccines from diff places because everywhere was out. Then in certain states they wouldn't sell me WNV. Everyone always told me how much money I would save. Well when I got done with the calculations it wasn't worth the hassel. I have to get the vet out anyway so I think it is just easier to have her do it.

[pandorasmom]

Well I may let him do it, but want to check on the prices at TSC, and see if they have it.
He just charges you an arm and a leg and if I can do it on my own cheaper and it still do the same thing I'd rather do that.

Thanks for the input! Anyone else has any, I'd love to hear it too. :)

[Cat]

My vet gives my guys the West Nile + EWT for $25 each. Not worth buying it online with the extra shipping costs (usually costs extra with those styrafoam boxes they require) for just 4 or 5 horses. Now if you had 10 horses and could use one of those 10-dose vials, sure.

I do get my own vaccines for my cats, but I have several kitties to do if you include bengals and barn cats, so I can buy in bulk and use them all.

[Lynn_70]

I give a 5 way usually from Valley Vet, Jeffers, or American Livestock Supply. Usually they run around $18 each plus shipping. However, it's still much cheaper than buying them from my vet and giving them myself. I have the vet out to do West Nile and Rabies since I havent' been able to buy those in MN.
If you order them in the early spring here, the chances of warming in a cooler pack are VERY slim since it's still cold until May or so. I also contacted the manufacturer once to ask about it and was told as long as it's less than 8 hours they will be fine even if warmed.
LC

[carla]

I just gave Jack his 5-way today.. it was $22/23 at TSC. :)

[CrazyManda]

I vaccinate for Tetanus, Influenza, EEE, WEE and VEE and the vaccine is called Encevac TC-4 and it costs 19.95 per dose but you get the syringe and everything. I order from Jeffers because it's cheapest. I don't vaccinate against Rabies or West Nile.

[pandorasmom]

Thanks for alll of the input from all of you, and for the price information from TSC too Carla!

I really appreciate it. I think I'll see what our local TSC has.

I also thought everyone vaccinated for West Nile and Rabies, or does some areas not need it?

[mare]

There is some controversy about giving WNV, I do it, though. I can also get rabies from vet for dogs, cats and horses, but then I can't get animals licensed in town, which I don't care about.

When I give my own vaccines, I tear or cut the part of the package that has the batch number, expiration date, etc. I then write the animal's name and the date given on it and keep it in a file, in case I need the info later. Like a notice that some vaccine was bad, or someone gets scratched by one of the cats at the barn. Neither of those things have happened, but then I have a record, besides having the date for reference the next year.

[carla]

Sure thing! The 4-way at TSC was only $13, but I went ahead with the 5-way anyways..

[RipSpark]

Yeah there is some debate about WNV but I give it. Especially down here in the south. IMO no matter where you are rabies should be given. I know there is some talk about are yearly shots actually being bad for the animals, etc. I always give rabies though, that is such a risk for you as well, it just seems safer to give the horse a shot. Dusty and Soldier only got rabies shots. They weren't exposed to other horses(except maybe mine) and the vet said it wouldn't be worth giving the other shots. I probably wouldn't do a few of the shots with my other guys but since horses come on and off the place sometimes I feel it is much safer for them to have a few shots and not worry about the risks of them being exposed to things like flu/rhino.

[carla]

When I give my own vaccines, I tear or cut the part of the package that has the batch number, expiration date, etc. I then write the animal's name and the date given on it and keep it in a file, in case I need the info later. Like a notice that some vaccine was bad, or someone gets scratched by one of the cats at the barn. Neither of those things have happened, but then I have a record, besides having the date for reference the next year.


Hey- this is exactly what I did.. just wrote his name and the date on the plastic wrap, and filed it in my cabinet. Good that you mentioned it. :)

[luckydoublesranch]

Thanks for alll of the input from all of you, and for the price information from TSC too Carla!

I really appreciate it. I think I'll see what our local TSC has.

I also thought everyone vaccinated for West Nile and Rabies, or does some areas not need it?

I order mine through work and get the multi-dose bottles, but the vaccines are readily available online and at places as mentioned like TSC. :) Just make sure you have someone show you how to administer them correctly and write your batch numbers down with your records. A lot of bottles will even have little peel off stickers to put in your files. :)

There is a lot of debate over several of the vaccines given routinely on a yearly schedule. Some say the risks outweigh the benefits for various reasons. (There are a lot of variables to consider though...ie..travel, exposure, etc). As for rabies...most state laws require vaccination every year. We only vaccinate every 2-3 and I work with a state vet...shhhhh! Reason being is, no studies have been done on how often vaccines should be given to horses and only limited research for other animals. The problem they are finding is that horses are beginning to show blood titers that have VERY high rabies (and other disease) antibody counts present. A lot of people say the pharmeceutical companies have a big influence on the reasons we vaccinate yearly for all disease including rabies. Some are also stating that various afflictions such as serious reactions, auto-immune diseases, Headshaking Syndrome, skin disorders, allergies, and asthma, are being directly linked to vaccines and that cases are on the increase. If you are doing a lot of traveling and your risks are high for exposure, than by all means use your best judgement. In addition to the fact that most shows, organized events etc have vaccine requirements. It's all pretty interesting info. to research though... :)

[gaited07]

I also give all my vaccines for my horses.
The only one that I do not give is the rabies. I do not have a license and my connection had retired.
As for logs: I have a log sheet for both horses with dates, descriptions of shots and I also keep the cardboard insert with important product numbers/information with each horses name on the back of one given.

[mtnmollie]

For those who give their own vaccines to their horses (besides Rabies in most states) where do you get them from, and what brand?



I get WNV plus (4 way ?) from my vet.
Hubby Gene gives the shots. LOL>

[mtnmollie]

Thanks for alll of the input from all of you, and for the price information from TSC too Carla!

I really appreciate it. I think I'll see what our local TSC has.

I also thought everyone vaccinated for West Nile and Rabies, or does some areas not need it?

I began to do WNV yearly because i read alot of Amish horses were dieing from it.

One of my horses reacted funny from WNV vac. He never trusted me after his first shot.
I have read WN does that to some horses.

[missdixie]

I give to Fort Dodge 5 way in the spring, and I get it from my feed store for like $25.

[Ryle]

Core vaccines that all horses should recieve at least yearly---EEE, WEE, WNV, Tetanus and Rabies.
Risk based vaccines---Rhino, Influenza, Strangles, PHF, EVA, Botulism These vaccines may or may not need to be given based upon the use, location, situation. And they may need to be given more than once a year.

Timing is also important in giving vaccinations. EEE, WEE, WNV should all be given at least 2 weeks prior to the onset of mosquito season in your area. All vaccines should be given at least 2 weeks prior to travel to allow time for build up of a good immunity.

Always consult your vet about your exact circumstances to plan a vaccination program for your horse. It is not "one-size-fits-all".

Ordering online should be carefully considered becaues timing is also important. You want to order vaccines when it is not too cold and not too hot. Freezing is damaging to vaccines and will result in more adverse reactions to the vaccine. Getting too warm can inactivate vaccines. So you want to have vaccines shipped when temperatures are moderately cold but not in the below freezing range nor when it is really hot. If you do have vaccines shipped during really hot weather you need to be sure to ask for extra ice packs because it is very possible for vaccines to get to warm during shipping. You should also check the vaccines as soon as they arrive to make sure that they are cool and get them in a refridgerator as soon as possible.

Brand choice depends on exactly what you are looking for---both the diseases you want to cover and the number of shots you want to have to give. You also need to factor in if your horse has ever had a reaction to a specific vaccination because changing brands may prevent further reactions. This is because it is often the adjuvant (substance added to vaccines to induce a more pronounced immune response) that causes a bad reaction. Different drug companies use different adjuvants and some vaccines have no adjuvant at all.

The WNV controversy---thought this one was over. There was a huge uproar right after the WNV vaccine hit the market about it affecting preg. mares and breeding stallions. Owners claiming this didn't follow up and have it actually verified and many of them were using the vaccine in a manner not according to the label--like vaccinating during the first 45 days of pregnancy which is not recommended with ANY vaccine because that is the most likely time for fetal loss to occur. There were also many other factors that could account for the loss of the foals. Since then there have been multiple studies that have shown that the WNV vaccines are safe in pregnant mares and breeding stallions. There is no reason not to vaccinate against WNV.

[mare]

Ryle -- "The WNV controversy---thought this one was over."

You know bad news travels faster than good news! :rolleyes:

[FrogInABlender]

I order the Fort Dodge 6-way from Jeffers. If you order $50 or more the shipping is free. They don't carry the WNV though so I order that from Allivet. Their shipping is kinda high at $25, but 5 of us got together last year and ordered 4 10-dose vials plus some singles and the shipping was still just $25, so when we split that on a per-dose basis it wasn't that bad. We've got around 25 horses between us and some of them were being vaccinated for it for the first time so they needed two doses each. I just make sure I order in the early spring so it's not so hot and have never had a problem. The ice packs are always still frozen when I get them.

[gaited07]

The 5 way is about 20.00 on sale at IFA and the WNV is about 25.00 = 90.00 for two horses verse 200.00+ that a vet would charge.

[mtnmollie]

I have a cowboy vet I guess. He charges $15.00- 25 for shots I give per horse.
9 - 12 horses so my yearly prices vary. And everything goes up - up - up .

I get the best price on wormer through my vet.

I nearly killed the dog getting wormer through the catalog...
that cured me of catalog shopping ...

except for tack.