As we move into warmer weather, protecting your horses from vector borne diseases should be at the front of your mind. A vector borne disease is a disease that is transmitted by biting or blood sucking insects such as mosquitos, flies and ticks.
Making sure your horse is up to date on their core vaccines is a great place to start. The core vaccines for horses are Rabies, Tetanus, Eastern/Western/Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis(EEE/WEE/VEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV). Of these vaccines, EEE/WEE/VEE and WNV are vector borne. Your veterinarian may also recommend additional risk-based vaccines for your area. To learn more about the core equine vaccines click here --> https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/core-vaccination-guidelines or about the other risk-based vaccines click here -->https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/risk-based-vaccination-guidelines. You should always work with your vet to develop a vaccine schedule that suits your farm and horses’ specific needs.
Another way to protect your horse is to make sure every horse on your farm, or at the facility where you board your horse, has an up-to-date negative Coggins test. A Coggins test is a blood test done by your veterinarian to test for Equine Infectious Anemia(EIA) and is typically a requirement to enter a horse show or to travel across state lines. EIA can be transmitted by insects as well as contaminated needles or instruments. To learn more about Equine Infectious Anemia and how to prevent it click here-->https://cvm.ncsu.edu/equine-infectious-anemia-facts/.
Fun Fact: Did you know that the Coggins test was developed by a veterinarian at NC State University? To read more about Dr Coggins click here-->https://cvm.ncsu.edu/remembering-dr-coggins-pioneer-in-equine-health-creator-of-coggins-test/.
Have a wonderful Spring and stay safe!
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