happy appy
Well-Known Member
What does every one use as a guide for their foals first year of shots?
Maybe because of living here in Florida, we started our "mosquito shots" a month earlier at 3 months, than a second at 4 months. Usually the foals left here at that point, or I would have given another dose at 5 months (did to a few I kept for a while).Funny how we all do things differently!
I follow our vet's protocol. It has changed recently. Current one is starting with the "mosquito shots" (WNV, EEE, WEE & Tetanus) at 4 months, again at 5 & 6 months (I've never given so many so close together before - but may very well be due to our current weather. Mosquitos have been active since MARCH and we just had 3 horses die not 20 miles from us from EEE - 2 no vax, 1 not regular, histories).
She has them also receiving the flu/rhino shots at 8, 9 & 11 months. I don't typically give these unless I know that those ponies/babies are being hauled.
Rabies at 6, 8 & 11 months. That caught me by surprise - I've ALWAYS had Rabies done by the vet (can't get it here in our state w/o vet) - and no mention has ever been made that they needed more than one dose. She does our foals usually in the fall - not always at the earliest month that this new protocol states.
All of our ponies receive Rabies shots annually. The vet gives them. I have rotating groups that get them at various times of the year - when their coggins is due. Rabies is an active disease here in our county with both fox and raccoons recently found infected with rabies. I do worry more about the cats than the ponies....
Based on breeding dates, I give the mares their "foal vax" 4 - 6 weeks out from foaling (thanx for the reminder - I didn't have the two due now on my calendar!). Everyone else always gets their annual shots in the spring - March/April time frame. The last couple of years, we haven't done shots in the fall on older than yearlings - this year due to the heavy infestation of mosquitos, we are doing them again next month....
The thought of giving a 100 lb mini foal a full sized horse dose scares me. It just seems wrong that they should have the same dosage as a 1200 lb QH... I had every intentions of doing a shot schedule like that of a QH foal, but then after my mini was born, I just can't do it to her when she's so young. Do you aunties use a partial dose or do you use the whole doses? My vet clinic gets excited when I bring in my mini mare, because they never get to see a mini (a bad sign, but then they always take good care of her). I just don't think they are informed enough on minis for shot questions.
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