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VACCINATION TALK:
TIME-SAVING COMMUNICATION TIPS FOR BREEDING AND FOALING SEASONCONTENT SPONSORED BY MERCK
This quick guide to client-friendly vaccination information will help you cut visit times without cutting conversation that’s critical to mare and foal health.
BY BRYANT CRAIG, DVM,MERCK ANIMAL HEALTH EQUINE VETERINARY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Vaccination ins and outs may be second nature to you, but clients could have plenty of questions,
especially when it comes to vaccinating broodmares and foals. Even with an important topic like
this, your time talking with clients may get cut short during this busy time of year. Set yourself up for
effi cient – eff ective – conversations by proactively addressing common client queries. This handy
client-focused guide gives you a starting point for quick, critical vaccination information to share this
breeding and foaling season.
continued
OVERALL VACCINATION MESSAGE FOR CLIENTSWhether breeding or preparing for
delivery, vaccination plays a critical role
in maintaining the mare’s health and
protecting her unborn foal. Foals also
need a customized vaccination protocol
to protect their health.
PRIOR TO BREEDING: CORE AND AT-RISK VACCINESBefore breeding, make sure your mare
is current on all core vaccines. Core
vaccines, as defi ned by the American
Association of Equine Practitioners, are
justifi ed for use in all horses because
of their clearly demonstrated effi cacy
and safety along with their high level
of benefi t and low level of risk. Core
vaccines for all horses include:
♦ Eastern equineencephalomyelitis (EEE)
♦ Western equineencephalomyelitis (WEE)
♦ West Nile virus (WNV)
♦ Tetanus
♦ Rabies (should be administeredpre-breeding or pre-foaling)
For risk-based vaccines, ensure your
mare is current on equine infl uenza virus
(EIV) and equine herpesvirus types 1
and 4 (EHV-1&4). The need to vaccinate
against Streptococcus equi (strangles),
Potomac horse fever (PHF) and equine
viral arteritis (EVA) is determined on a
horse-by-horse basis.
DURING GESTATIONEHV-1 vaccination is a crucial
safeguard for your mare’s
pregnancy, since EHV-1 is the
leading cause of infectious viral
abortions in mares. To reduce the
risk of EHV-1 abortion, vaccinate
your mare with Prestige® Prodigy®
at the start of the fi fth, seventh and
ninth months of gestation. All horses
in close contact with broodmares,
including barren mares, stallions
and teaser stallions, should also
be maintained on a rigorous EHV-1
vaccination program. Reduce your
pregnant mare’s exposure to groups
of young horses and any new
arrivals that may be shedding EHV-1.
More in-depth EHV-1 info: EHV-1
is typically associated with late-
term abortions and the delivery of a
well-preserved fetus and outwardly
normal placenta. Most horses become
infected with EHV-1 during the fi rst
year of life. In the majority of cases,
the virus becomes latent, just waiting
for stress-induced reactivation.
Sources of infection for pregnant
broodmares include clinically ill
horses shedding the virus in nasal
secretions; asymptomatic horses
experiencing reactivation of latent
infection; or virus-laden uterine
secretions and placenta/fetus from
mares aborting due to EHV-1 infection.
Vaccination plays a critical role in maintaining the mare’s health and protecting her unborn foal.
Administering booster vaccinations 4 to 6 weeks before foaling is
important for stimulating the mare
to produce high levels of protective
antibodies at a time during late
pregnancy when she is also producing
antibody-rich colostrum. The newborn
foal relies on ingestion of colostrum
and absorption of these antibodies
during the first 12 to 24 hours of life for
protection against a wide variety of viral
and bacterial diseases during the early
post-natal period.
Booster your mare for equine
herpesvirus (EHV-1&4), Eastern and
Western encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE),
tetanus, influenza and West Nile virus
(Prestige® 5+WNV). Also add rabies if
not administered pre-breeding.
5 months of gestation
7 months of gestation
8 months of gestation
9 months of gestation
10 months of gestation (pre-foaling)
▲
Quick Guide to Vaccinating During Gestation1
EHV-1 (reproductive protection)
EHV-1 (reproductive protection)
EHV-1 (reproductive protection)
Rabies (if not given pre-breeding), EWT, WNV, EIV, EHV-1&4 (respiratory protection)
▲▲
▲
▲
Gestation Period Core Vaccines At-Risk Vaccines*
Rotavirus first dose (3-dose series)Botulism first dose, if mare is not current (3-dose series)
Rotavirus second dose Botulism second dose
Rotavirus third dose Botulism third dose Strangles intramuscular (IM) Potomac horse fever
*Client reminder: Vaccinations against strangles, Potomac horse fever, botulism
and rotavirus are recommended only if there is a high risk of disease in your region
or on your farm. If your mare will be sent to another farm for re-breeding, consider
the risk of disease on that farm to plan vaccinations accordingly.
FOAL VACCINATION 101 FOR CLIENTSWhen foals are born, they inherit
immediate disease protection through
the vaccinated dam’s colostrum. But
eventually those maternal antibodies
decline, and foals need the added
protection that only comes through
proper immunization. Preventing
disease through a strategic vaccination
program is safer, easier and more
economical than treating a sick foal.
Customized vaccination schedules
are important. The recommended
schedule takes into account your
region of the country, endemic
diseases on your farm and your foal’s
risk of disease exposure. Risk factors
include how many other mares and
foals your foal will contact during the
first year of life and whether your foal
will remain on your farm or travel to
other locations when his dam is rebred
or he is sent for training.
2-3 months
4-6 months
6 months
6-9 months
10-12 months
▲
Quick Guide to Recommended Foal Vaccination Timing2
EEE/WEE, tetanus, WNV (3-dose series); second dose 4-6 weeks later
Rabies first dose (2-dose series); second dose 4-6 weeks later
EEE/WEE, tetanus, WNV third dose
▲
▲
▲
▲
Age Core Vaccines At-Risk Vaccines*
Botulism first dose (3-dose series)
EHV-1&4 is recommended for all foals: EHV-1&4 first dose (3-dose series); second dose 4-6 weeks later Strangles, killed vaccine, intramuscular first dose (3-dose series)
Potomac horse fever first dose (3-dose series); second dose 4-6 weeks later
Equine influenza recommended for all older weanlings and yearlings:♦ Killed vaccine, intramuscular first dose
(3-dose series); second dose 4-6 weeks later♦ Modified live vaccine, intranasal first dose
(2-dose series)Strangles, modified live vaccine, intranasal first dose (3-dose series); second dose 3-4 weeks later
EHV-1&4 third dose Strangles, modified live vaccine, intranasal third dose Equine influenza♦ Killed vaccine, intramuscular third dose♦ Modified live vaccine, intranasal second dosePotomac horse fever third dose (at 12 months)
*Client reminder: Risk-based vaccines will be included in your foal’s customized
vaccination schedule based on your farm location and history, as well as the
foal’s lifestyle.
800.279.6452
This product has been shown to be e� ective for the vaccination of healthy horses 6 months of age or older against abortion and respiratory disease caused by EHV-1. Duration of immunity has not been established. For more information regarding safety and e� cacy data, go to productdata.aphis.usda.gov.
COPYRIGHT © 2020 INTERVET INC., D/B/A MERCK ANIMAL HEALTH, A SUBSIDIARY OF MERCK & CO., INC.
References
1. Adapted from AAEP core and risk-based vaccinationguidelines for broodmares (www.aaep.org).
2. Adapted from AAEP core and risk-based vaccinationguidelines for foals (www.aaep.org).
Timing of the fi rst vaccinations
is critical. The maternally derived
colostral antibodies that provide
the foal with temporary protection
are the same antibodies that
prevent the foal from mounting
an acceptable immune response
to vaccines that are administered
too early. Around 4 to 6 months of
age, foals are ready for their fi rst
core vaccinations (if their dam had
been vaccinated).
PARTING NOTE FOR VETERINARIANSClient communications are a critical part of
what you do every day. When it comes to
educating and preparing horse owners for
what to expect when it comes to vaccination,
you’re in the driver’s seat. It’s a busy time of
year, but with good health that leads to good
outcomes, the work is well worth it.