Save do-it-yourself projects for crafting and home remodeling. When it comes to administering your horse’s vaccinations to protect against grave equine diseases, there simply is no room for error.
Yet recent reports from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) revealed many horse owners and trainers were willing to accept some risk with their horse’s vaccinations, with 50% administering their horse’s vaccinations themselves. The leading reason for self-administration of the vaccines was cost.
Benefits for Your Horse When a Veterinarian Administers Vaccines
1. Proper Vaccine Handling
Vaccines require special handling and storage needs. Your veterinarian will be familiar with proper storage, handling and expiration dates to best preserve a vaccine’s effectiveness.
2. Safe, Accurate Administration
Safe administration of vaccines requires a clean environment and injection site. This is crucial because, without both, you could introduce harmful pathogens rather than protect against them.
3. Tailored Vaccination Program
Every horse is unique. Your veterinarian can work with you to customize a vaccine program based on your horse’s geography, age, reproductive status and level of exposure from co-mingling and travel. Help your horse achieve the highest level of equine wellness by working closely with your veterinarian to meet your horse’s individual needs.
Core Vaccines
Ensure your horse is protected through annual vaccination against the five core equine diseases—rabies, West Nile virus, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, and tetanus—and ask your veterinarian about Core EQ Innovator. The vaccine helps protect against each core equine disease and has been field tested in more than 1,000 horses, with 99.7% of horses being reaction-free.
At Zoetis, we confidently stand behind our Innovator vaccines with the Equine Immunization Support Guarantee, which is the most comprehensive guarantee available to horse owners. To be eligible for the Equine Immunization Support Guarantee, a horse must be vaccinated by a veterinarian. Find peace of mind knowing your horse’s vaccinations were administered correctly by your veterinarian. Visit CoreEQInnovator.com to learn more.
This article was authored by Jacquelin Boggs, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Senior Veterinarian, Equine Technical Services, with Zoetis.
About Zoetis
Zoetis (NYSE: ZTS) is the leading animal health company, dedicated to supporting its customers and their businesses. Building on more than 60 years of experience in animal health, Zoetis discovers, develops, manufactures and markets veterinary vaccines and medicines, complemented by diagnostic products, genetic tests, biodevices and a range of services. Zoetis serves veterinarians, livestock producers and people who raise and care for farm and companion animals with sales of its products in more than 100 countries. In 2017, the company generated annual revenue of $5.3 billion with approximately 9,000 employees. For more information, visit zoetisUS.com.
