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Today, horses are one animal (apart from dogs) which are petted and cosseted by their owners. Horses are pets for only those who can afford them, and that makes them extremely valuable. Millions of dollars are spent in horse breeding and grooming. Horses are bred carefully according to what they are meant for - performance horses, race horses, riding horses etc. But at the end of the day, horses are animals and are as susceptible to infections as any other. In fact, they are as susceptible to illness as humans are, and since humans spend a lot of time around horses, this puts them at the risk of infection too. Just as with humans, vaccinations are available for horses too. One of the core vaccinations that must be given to horses is the 5-way horse vaccination. The 5-way horse vaccination is a combination of the 5 vaccines that are considered a must for all horses - Tetanus toxoid, Eastern Encephalomyelitis (EEE), Western Encephalomyelitis (WEE), Influenza and Rhinopneumonitis. Tetanus Toxoid is one of the most basic shots given to horses. The toxin lives in the intestinal tract of the horse and lives in the ground and can be potentially fatal to
the horses. The number of doses that are given depends on whether the mare was vaccinated (3 doses) or not vaccinated (2 doses) before she gave birth to the foal. The timings of the doses also varies. Annual boosters have to be given. Eastern Encephalomyelitis (EEE) and Western Encephalomyelitis (WEE) are 2 of the components of the 5-way horse vaccination. Encephalomyelitis is sleeping sickness which is transmitted by insects. It is fatal in 90% of cases. Three doses of these vaccinations are required irrespective of the immunization of the mare. For most horses, boosters are given annually for these vaccines. Influenza is a very contagious common infection. The vaccines can be either be in inactivated virus form that is injected (3 doses) or in a nasal insertion form. Again the timings of the doses differ depending on the vaccination status of the mare. The influenza shot is given every 3-4 months as a booster. The last component of the 5-way horse vaccination is the Rhinopneumonitis vaccine. Rhinopneumonitis is the effect of the herpes virus. It can cause respiratory diseases and also abortion in pregnant mares. It is given in 3 doses to foals with booster shots every 3 months. It is recommended for horses when they mingle with new horses, and also at the 5th, 7th and 9th months of pregnancy. So just as humans need vaccines to remain healthy, horses also need vaccinations to ensure good health. And no other vaccination is as comprehensive as the 5-way horse vaccination in providing this protection. Childhood Vaccination
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