Colic or Ulcers?

Colic is a common concern for many horse owners and we are trained from an early age to recognize the signs. Gastric ulcers however can present similar symptoms as colic, but the problem occurs in an entirely different part of the digestive system. Not eating or drinking is a shared symptom of both colic and gastric ulcers but there are many other signs that are more unique to each problem.

Colic is a complication in the hindgut of the horse. The hindgut refers to the section of the digestive tract that includes the cecum, large colon, small colon and rectum. This section digests the forage that makes up the majority of the horse’s diet. A severe case of colic can result in a need for emergency surgery, so it is important to watch for those beginning signs to stop it when possible. Repeatedly lying down and getting back up, biting at abdomen, pawing, and lip curling are all warning signs of colic in the horse.

Gastric ulcers occur in the foregut of the horse, essentially the stomach. When your horse’s stomach is empty for periods of time the stomach lining becomes more susceptible to harsh gastric acids, which in turn can cause ulcers. Adding the stress of show, training, travel, etc. can irritate the stomach even more so with performance horses it is important to understand some warning signs. A lack of energy, dull hair coat, teeth grinding, weight loss, and agitation at feeding time can all be indicative of gastric ulcers. The only way to accurately diagnose an ulcer is from a veterinarian exam. 

Watch your horse closely for any signs of abdominal pain or any behavior that’s out of the norm, it may be a sign that something is wrong with the GI tract. As with humans, this system is often overlooked but is vital to proper health and development. Check with your veterinarian if you have questions!

                

How to Avoid Unwanted Behavior in Horses

Horses are naturally very social animals that live in herds and spend the majority of their time consuming small meals throughout the day.  Today, a lot of horses are confined to living in a stall with minimal pasture/social time and given large infrequent meals high in concentrates.  This type of modern management system does not allow the horse to express natural behavior like it normally would in more of a pasture-based system within a herd.  As a result, horses may develop unwanted behavior such as cribbing, weaving, stall/fence walking, separation anxiety, and even aggression.  There are four key areas to address when trying to avoid unwanted behavior in horses.

The first area to address is the amount of time your horse has outdoors.  This may sound simple and truthfully it is- horses need to spend as much time outside of their stall as possible.  Turnout time can include a pasture, dry lot, or exercise paddock.   If this time can include grazing that is ideal for your horse so that they can consume fresh forage which in return makes for a healthy digestive tract.

Next area to evaluate is how much time does your horse spend alone?  If your answer is all the time then you may have noticed that your horse is eager to be with other horses and may act out in certain situations.  Horses are naturally very social animals and want to be with other horses.  A herd size of 4-10 horses of the same sex works best (with the exception of stallions).  If your horse cannot be in a herd consider getting another animal as a companion such as a goat, donkey, or sheep.  Horses spend time establishing dominance and relationships so try to minimize introducing new horses frequently to the herd.

Another important area to consider is your horse’s diet.  Is your horse getting enough forage in its diet for its weight, age, and activity level?  Forage (pasture or hay) is the basis of a horse diet and when not given enough horses can start unwanted behavior such as cribbing and wind sucking.  Also, when forage is limited or large amounts of grain are fed horses are more likely to colic.  Horses need small frequent meals to mimic their natural behavior of grazing rather than a couple of large meals a day. 

Lastly, training can have a lasting effect on how your horse behaves.  Make sure that your horse is receiving the kind of training that allows the horse to rest, eat, and socialize.  Certain training methods can be abusive and pushy resulting in unwanted behavior.

Source: University of Minnesota Extension

Original Article: http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/horse/care/horse-behavior-and-stable-vices/

Understanding Low Sugar Forages

Adapted from: Low Sugar Forages by Ron Genrick and Stephanie Valberg, Minnesota Extension

 

Sugars supply forages with energy required for re-growth, and are a nutritional component needed by both forages and horses. However, some horses, likes some humans, are sensitive to the sugar content of hay and pasture forages, which can lead to potential health problems.

These problems include: laminitis (founder), equine metabolic syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, or forms of tying-up. In general, horses with obesity, metabolic syndrome, Cushing's disease, and pasture-associated laminitis are unable to take up sugar in the form of glucose into their tissues because they have developed a diminished response to the hormone insulin ("insulin resistance"). Obese or fat horses, and horses over 15 years of age are more predisposed to insulin resistance. Because some forages can contain high sugar content, whether hay or pasture, they may be problematic for horses with these specific conditions. These sugars are in the form of fructans as well as simple sugars like glucose. When basic techniques were developed to analyze forages for "sugar", most did not distinguish between the proportions of fructan and simple sugar. The differences may be important for horses because glucose is absorbed in the small intestine and triggers an insulin response, whereas fructans are passed to the horses' hindgut and fermented without triggering insulin.

Diets high in simple sugars, and the type of starch found in grain, are not good for horses with insulin resistance as they result in very persistently high blood sugar. Horses with a predisposition to laminitis should not be fed forages high in fructans. This is because fermentation of fructans in the large intestines by microbes can upset the microbial balance, and makes the gut environment more acidic which releases toxins into the bloodstream which exacerbate laminitis. Unfortunately, there is no grass that is consistently low in sugar. Most cool-season grasses, like orchardgrass and fescue, can have high sugar content. Timothy and crested wheatgrass tend to be medium in sugar content, as are most warm season (native) grasses. Alfalfa hay/pasture is not the solution for horses that are sensitive to sugar content. Alfalfa tends to be higher in digestible energy, calories, and protein content than grass. More calories can result in weight gain, and high levels of protein can lead to glucose production in the liver.

Currently, it is thought that a safe sugar content for sensitive horses is 10% or less. Testing is a good starting point for determining sugar content in hay, but caution should be used to ensure that a representative sample is taken.

The below analyses can be very useful in helping to select a suitable feed for horses, especially those that show sensitivity to starch and sugar.

Non-fiber Carbohydrate (NFC): is a mathematical estimate of noncell wall (non-fiber) carbohydrates consisting of starch, sugar, pectin and fermentation acids that can serve as energy sources for the animal. Although not always perfect, the NFC value is often used as an indicator of the level of starches and sugar in a forage sample.

Non Structural Carbohydrates (NSC): an analysis of the non structural carbohydrates (starches and sugars) in the forage. Not to be confused with NFC, which is calculated, not actually analyzed for. Since some horses can be very sensitive to dietary starch and sugar (i.e. horses with Cushings Disease or laminitis), the NSC level can be helpful in selecting hay choices. Hay containing greater than 10% NSC should not be fed to these horses. Unfortunately, neither NFC nor NSC can give an exact measure of fructans, the complex sugar correlated with founder and other horse health issues.

Just looking at a forage sample or knowing the species will not give you an estimate of sugar content. As a last resort, up to 30% of the sugar content can be flushed from most grasses by soaking in water (60 minutes in cold water and 30 minutes in hot water). Care should be taken to ensure all soaked hay is eaten, as unconsumed damp hay will eventually mold.

Determining sugar levels in pastures is extremely difficult because of the many factors that must be considered. Currently, a hay feeding research project at the University of Minnesota is underway to better understand the role sugars play in sensitive horses. The feeding of insulin resistant horses can be very tricky, please consult your local extension agent for more information.

Hoof Abscesses

          One morning you head to the barn to feed and your favorite horse comes up three-legged lame.  I’m not talking a little limp but fully, hardly weight bearing lame!  He was perfectly fine and 100% sound just the evening before. One of my most embarrassing memories (yet most educational moments) was when I called the vet to the barn absolutely certain the mare I had just brought in had broken her hip during the night out in the pasture.  The vet watched her hop out of her stall, picked up her foot, dug around for about fifteen seconds and told me to pack her a few days.  And magically the mare (who I was adamant had a broken hip) was miraculously standing weight-bearing on that foot now! Lesson learned – always start examining a lame horse from the hoof up. 

           Hoof abscesses happen when bacteria becomes trapped in the sensitive hoof tissue and develops a build-up of infection that causes painful pressure against the solid hoof wall or sole. There are different ways this can occur:

•            Foreign matter such as gravel, dirt or even sand penetrates and travels through the sole-wall junction (the white line) or the sole of the foot
•       A deep sole bruise from stepping on a sharp object such as a stone or stick or glass
•          A horseshoe nail, often called a “hot”  or “close” nail, that is driven inside or close to the white line area of the hoof wall
•         Wet weather or wet dirty stalls that cause hoof walls to soften for bacteria to enter
•         Dry weather that create brittle feet that may crack
•           Untrimmed feet that have long toes or crushed heels that stress the white line area

      Initial signs of an abscess other than lameness include a pounding fetlock pulse, that foot being warmer than another, and even swelling in the pastern and fetlock area.  Using hoof testers, your veterinarian can usually locate the area of the abscess and open that area to allow just enough room for drainage and relieve the pressure. It is then important to encourage drainage of the infection and prevent any dirt or debris to enter the opened tract by keeping the foot wrapped with a medicated dressing such as Animalintex Poultice or a povidone pack with Epsom Salts.  Ichthammol or Magna Paste are other good products that can be used as drawing salves.  It is important to keep the hoof packed until the draining stops and the tract is dry to prevent further infection.  (Duct tape is a good choice to keep the hoof dry and the packing material in place.) On occasion, a stubborn abscess may require soaking in a mixture of warm water and Epsom salts to encourage drainage but that should be used only as necessary to prevent the hoof wall and sole from becoming too soft.

           

By the time a horse exhibits signs of an abscess, the infection has already developed and is sitting there festering. If left unattended, hoof abscesses can spread into other areas of the hoof such as the coffin bone or navicular area.  Very serious issues then quickly develop so it’s best to consult with your veterinarian even in the simplest of abscesses to avoid a more serious and costly problem that may even result in long term unsoundness in your horse.

Hitching and Unhitching Farm Equipment – A Good Time to be Careful!

Kent McGuire of the Ohio State University Extension Ag Safety and Heath Program has put together a list of safety do’s and don’ts to pay attention to when hitching and unhitching farm equipment and trucks and trailers.  That list can be found online at http://agsafety.osu.edu/newsletter/ag-safety-stat/may-2016/injury-prevention/hitchingunhitching-safety-farm-equipment.  I’ll summarize some of the points he makes here.

Most farm safety concerns are a matter of common sense, and we all are cautious when first encountering or dealing with something unfamiliar.  However, if we repeat something over and over again, folks tend to ease up on being cautious and not be as safety conscious.  Also, at times we tend to get in a hurry, like when rain is threatening and we need to unhitch the hay rake and hitch up the baler quickly.  Corners will get cut now and then in order to save a few minutes of time.  Most of the time, this works out OK, but when it doesn’t, lets just say that farm equipment is not very forgiving and will cause serious injury.  Time saved doesn’t mean much in these cases.  Please review this list of safety items as a reminder that we all can practice safety and incorporate smooth thinking into our safety practices.  Remember the slogan: "slow is smooth and smooth is fast" and think about how to apply that in practicing safety on the horse farm.

As Mr. McGuire points out, hitching and unhitching equipment is one of the most common tasks on a farm.  The operator has to perform a lot of little tasks in order to get the tractor and equipment hooked together correctly to perform work.  Those little tasks include inserting hitch pins, adjusting a jack stand, attaching safety chains, connecting hydraulic lines, connecting a PTO shaft, and/or plugging in electrical components.  Common injuries sustained when hitching/unhitching are caused by pinch points, crush points, blunt trauma, and run-over.  Muscle strain can also be sustained by trying to move equipment to line up hitch points.  Cuts and scrapes are common when working to hitch or unhitch equipment.

Safety guidelines to follow include:

• Read the owners manual before use.
• Make sure the hitch category of the equipment matches the tractor hitch category.
• Use low gears and low engine RPMs to reduce sudden movements when approaching of pulling away from an implement.
• Tractor operators and ground assistants should keep visual contact and communicate at all times.
• Ground assistants should stay clear of wheels until the tractor and implement are lined up ready to be hitched.  Leave an escape route in case of unexpected movement of the tractor or implement.
• Use only approved hitch pins.  Replace hitch pins that are worn, bent, or broken.
• Lock or secure hitch pins with retainer clips.
• Shut off the engine, place transmission in park (if equipped), and set the parking brake on the tractor before connecting hydraulic lines, electrical lines, and/or PTO shafts.
• Make sure pressure is released before connecting/disconnecting hydraulic lines.
• Use proper lifting techniques to reduce sprains/ strains when moving or lifting the implement tongue.
• Use an approved size tongue jack that is attached to the implement to support the implement.  Temporary jacks can kick out or fail if the implement moves.
• Remove all connections before moving the tractor away from an implement after unhitching.
• Hitch/unhitch on level sites.  If a sloped area must be used, chock the wheels of wheeled implements to prevent movement.

Ohio State University Extension has more fact sheets and youtube videos on farm safety available at www.agsafety.osu.edu.

Vaccination schedule for your horse

Most horse owners are aware that there are certain vaccines required to be able to compete in events with your horse or even travel.  There are a set of core vaccines that every horse should receive regardless of if they ever leave your farm or not.  The mosquitoes seem especially bad this year, likely due to all of the rain we have received and since a lot of our really nasty equine diseases are carried by the mosquito it is important to make sure your horses are up to date on all of their vaccines.  Make sure you talk to your vet about what risk-based vaccines they recommend for your area.

Vaccination timing is a little different for horses in different life stages.  Broodmares, adult horses and foals all have different vaccination requirements and schedules.  Below are tables broken down into these life stage categories as well as core vaccines and risk-based vaccines.

***ALL VACCINATION PROGRAMS SHOULD BE DEVELOPED IN CONSULTATION WITH A LICENSED VETERINARIAN***

Broodmares:

CORE VACCINATIONS protect against diseases that are endemic to a region, are virulent/highly contagious, pose a risk of severe disease, those having potential public health significance, and

/or are required by law. Core vaccines have clearly demonstrable efficacy and safety, with a high

enough level of patient benefit and low enough level of risk to justify their use in all equids.

Disease	Previously vaccinated against the disease indicated	Previously unvaccinated or having and unknown vaccination history
Tetanus	Annual, 4 - 6 weeks pre-partum	2-dose series  ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st Revaccinate 4-6 weeks pre-partum
Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE)	Annual, 4 - 6 weeks pre-partum	2-dose series ·         2nd dose-4 weeks after 1st Revaccinate 4-6 weeks pre-partum
West Nile Virus (WNV)	Annual, 4 - 6 weeks pre-partum	It is preferable to vaccinate naïve mares when open.
Rabies	Annual, 4 - 6 weeks pre-partum OR Prior to breeding	Annual, 4 - 6 weeks pre-partum OR Prior to breeding

RISK-BASED VACCINES Note: Vaccines are listed in this table in alphabetical order, not in order of priority or use are selected for use based on risk assessment performed by, or in consultation with, a licensed Veterinarian.   Use of these vaccines may vary between individuals, populations, and/or geographic regions

Disease	Previously vaccinated against the disease indicated	Previously unvaccinated or having an unknown vaccination history
Anthrax	Not recommended during gestation	Not recommended during gestation
Botulism	Annual, 4 - 6 weeks pre-partum	3-dose series ·         1st dose-at 8 months gestation ·         2nd dose-4 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-4 weeks after 2nd dose
Equine Herpesvirus (EHV)	3-dose series with product labeled for protection against EHV abortion.      Give at 5, 7 and 9 months of gestation.	3-dose series with product labeled for protection against EHV abortion.      Give at 5, 7 and 9 months of gestation.
Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA)	Not recommended unless high risk	Not recommended unless high risk
Influenza	Inactivated vaccine:  Semi-annual with one dose administered 4-6 weeks pre-partum. Canary pox vector vaccine:  Semi-annual with one dose administered 4-6 weeks pre-partum	Inactivated vaccine:  3-dose series ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-4-6 weeks pre-partum Canary pox vector vaccine: 2-dose series ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st but no later than 4 weeks pre-partum
Potomac Horse Fever (PHF)	Semi-annual, with one dose given 4-6 weeks pre-partum	2-dose series ·         1st dose-7-9 weeks pre-partum ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks pre-partum
Rotavirus	3-dose series ·         1st dose-at 8 months gestation ·         2nd and 3rd doses-at 4-week intervals thereafter	3-dose series ·         1st dose-at 8 months gestation 2nd and 3rd doses-at 4-week intervals thereafter
Strangles (Streptococcus equi)	Killed vaccine containing M-protein:  Semi-annual with one dose given at 4-6 weeks pre-partum	Killed vaccine containing M-protein:  3-dose series ·         2nd dose-2-4 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-4-6 weeks pre-partum

Non-pregnant Adult Horses:

CORE VACCINATIONS protect against diseases that are endemic to a region, are virulent/highly contagious, pose a risk of severe disease, those having potential public health significance, and

/or are required by law. Core vaccines have clearly demonstrable efficacy and safety, with a high

enough level of patient benefit and low enough level of risk to justify their use in all equids.

Disease	Previously vaccinated against the disease indicated (>1 year of age)	Unvaccinated or having unknown vaccination history (>1 year of age)
Tetanus	Annual	2-dose series ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose. Annual revaccination
Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE)	Annual-spring, prior to onset of vector season	2-dose series ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose Revaccinate prior to onset of the next vector season
West Nile Virus (WNV)	Annual-spring, prior to onset of vector season	Inactivated whole virus vaccine:  2-dose series ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose Revaccinate prior to onset of the next vector season Recombinant canary pox vaccine: 2-dose series ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose Revaccinate prior to onset of the next vector season Inactivated flavivirus chimera vaccine: 2-dose series ·         2nd dose-3-4 weeks after 1st dose Revaccinate prior to onset of the next vector season
Rabies	Annual	Single dose Annual revaccination

RISK-BASED VACCINES Note: Vaccines are listed in this table in alphabetical order, not in order of priority or use are selected for use based on risk assessment** performed by, or in consultation with, a licensed Veterinarian.   Use of these vaccines may vary between individuals, populations, and/or geographic regions

Disease	Previously vaccinated against the disease indicated (>1 year of age)	Unvaccinated or having unknown vaccination history (>1 year of age)
Anthrax	Annual	2-dose series ·         2nd dose-3-4 weeks after 1st dose Annual revaccination
Botulism	Annual	3-dose series ·         2nd dose-4 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-4 weeks after 2nd dose Annual revaccination
Equine Herpesvirus (EHV)	Annual	3-dose series ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-4-6 weeks after 2nd dose
Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA)	Annual Stallion, teasers: Vaccinate 2-4 weeks before breeding season Mares:  Vaccinate when open	Single dose* *Prior to initial vaccination, intact males and any horses potentially intended for export should undergo serologic testing and be confirmed negative for antibodies to EAV. Testing should be performed shortly prior to, or preferably at, the time of vaccination.
Influenza	Horses with ongoing risk of exposure: Semi-annual Horses at low risk of exposure: Annual	Modified live vaccine: Single dose administered intranasally. Revaccinate semi-annually to annually Inactivated vaccine: 3-dose series ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-3-6 months after 2nd dose Revaccinate semi-annually Canary pox vector vaccine: 2-dose series ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose Revaccinate semi-annually
Potomac Horse Fever (PHF)	Semi-annual to annual	2-dose series ·         2nd dose 3-4 weeks after 1st dose Semi-annual or annual booster
Strangles (Streptococcus equi)	Semi-annual to annual	Killed vaccine containing M-protein: 2-3-dose series ·         2nd dose-2-4 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose(where recommended by manufacturer)-2-4 weeks after 2nd dose Revaccinate semi-annually Modified live vaccine: 2-dose series-administered intranasally ·         2nd dose-3 weeks after 1st dose Revaccinate semi-annually

Foals and Weanlings

CORE VACCINATIONS protect against diseases that are endemic to a region, those with potential public health significance, required by law, virulent/highly infectious, and/or those posing a risk of severe disease. Core vaccines have clearly demonstrated efficacy and safety, and thus exhibit a high enough level of patient benefit and low enough level of risk to justify their use in all equids.

Disease	Of mares vaccinated in the pre-partum period against the disease indicated (<12 months of age)	Of unvaccinated mare (<12 months of age)
Tetanus	3-dose series ·         1st dose-4-6 months of age ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-10-12 months of age	3-dose series ·         1st dose-1-4 months of age ·         2nd dose-4 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-4 weeks after 2nd dose
Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE)	3-dose series ·         1st dose-4-6 months of age* ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-10-12 months of age, prior to the onset of the next vector season *Foals born in the Southeastern USA:  The primary vaccination series should be initiated with an additional dose at 3 months of age due to early seasonal vector presence	3-dose series ·         1st dose-3-4 months of age* ·         2nd dose-4 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-60 day interval after 2nd dose *Foals born in Southeastern USA:  The primary vaccination series should be initiated at 3 months of age due to early seasonal vector presence
Rabies	2-dose series ·         1st dose-6 months of age ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose	2-dose series ·         1st dose-3-4 months of age ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose
West Nile Virus (WNV)	Inactivated whole virus vaccine: 3-dose series ·         1st dose-4-6 months of age ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-10-12 months of age, prior to the onset of the next vector season Recombinant canary pox vaccine: 3-dose series ·         1st dose-4-6 months of age ·         2nd dose-4 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-10-12 months of age, prior to the onset of the next vector season Inactivated flavivirus chimera vaccine: 3-dose series ·         1st dose-4-6 months of age ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-10-12 months of age, prior to the onset of the next vector season Foals in the Southeast USA:  Due to early seasonal vector presence, the primary vaccination series should be initiated earlier with the addition of a dose at 3 months of age	Inactivated whole virus vaccine: 3-dose series ·         1st dose-3-4 months of age ·         2nd dose-30 days after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-60 day interval after 2nd dose Recombinant canary pox vaccine: 3-dose series ·         1st dose-3-4 months of age ·         2nd dose-30 days after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-60 day interval after 2nd dose Inactivated flavivirus chimera vaccine: 3-dose series ·         1st dose-3-4 months of age ·         2nd dose-30 days after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-60 day interval after 2nd dose (If primary series initiated during mosquito vector season, an interval of 3-4 weeks between the 2nd and 3rd doses is preferable to the above described 8 week interval.) Foals in the Southeast USA:  Due to early seasonal vector presence, the primary vaccination series should be initiated at 3 months of age

RISK-BASED VACCINATIONS are those having applications which may vary between individuals, populations, and geographic regions. Risk assessment should be performed by, or in consultation with, a licensed veterinarian to identify which vaccines are appropriate for a given horse or population of horses. The listing of a vaccine here is not a recommendation for its inclusion into a vaccination program. Vaccine scheduling is provided for use after it has been determined which, if any, risk-based vaccines are indicated. Note: vaccines are listed in this table in alphabetical order not in order of priority for use.

Disease	Of mares vaccinated in the pre-partum period against the disease indicated (<12 months of age)	Of unvaccinated mare (<12 months of age)
Anthrax	Not applicable as it is not recommended to vaccinate mare during pregnancy  there will be no foals of mares vaccinated pre-partum	No age specific guidelines are available for this vaccine. Manufacturer’s recommendations is primary series of 2 doses administered subcutaneously at 2-3 week interval
Botulism	3-dose series ·         1st dose-2-3 months of age ·         2nd dose-4 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-4 weeks after 2nd dose	3-dose series ·         1st dose-1-3 months of age ·         2nd dose-4 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-4 weeks after 2nd dose
Equine Herpesvirus (EHV)	Inactivated or modified live vaccine 3-dose series ·         1st dose-4-6 months of age ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-10-12 months of age Revaccinate at 6-month intervals	Inactivated or modified live vaccine 3-dose series ·         1st dose-4-6 months of age ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-10-12 months of age Revaccinate at 6-month intervals
Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA)	Colt (male) foals:  Single dose at 6-12 months of age* Prior to initial vaccination, colt foals should undergo serologic testing and be confirmed negative for antibodies to EAV.  Testing should be performed shortly prior to, or preferably at, the time of vaccination. As foals can carry colostral derived antibodies to EAV for up to 6 months, testing and vaccination should not be performed prior to 6 months of age.	Colt (male) foals:  Single dose at 6-12 months of age* Prior to initial vaccination, colt foals should undergo serologic testing and be confirmed negative for antibodies to EAV.  Testing should be performed shortly prior to, or preferably at, the time of vaccination. As foals can carry colostral derived antibodies to EAV for up to 6 months, testing and vaccination should not be performed prior to 6 months of age.
Equine Influenza	Inactivated vaccine: 3-dose series ·         1st dose-6 months of age ·         2nd dose-3-4 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-10-12 months of age Modified live vaccine: 2-dose series administered intranasally ·         1st dose-6-7 months of age ·         2nd dose-11-12 months of age Canary pox vector vaccine: 2-dose series ·         1st dose-6 months ·         2nd dose-5 weeks after 1st dose Revaccinate at 6-month interval	Inactivated vaccine: 3-dose series 1st dose-6 months of age 2nd dose-3-4 weeks after 1st dose 3rd dose-10-12 months of age Modified live vaccine: 2-dose series administered intranasally 1st dose-6-7 months of age 2nd dose-11-12 months of age Canary pox vector vaccine: 2-dose series 1st dose-6 months 2nd dose-5 weeks after 1st dose Revaccinate at 6-month interval
Potomac Horse Fever (PHF)	2-dose series ·         1st dose-5 months of age ·         2nd dose-3-4 weeks after 1st dose	2-dose series ·         1st dose-5 months of age ·         2nd dose-3-4 weeks after 1st dose
Rotavirus	Not recommended in foals	Not recommended in foals
Strangles (Streptococcus equi)	Killed vaccine: 3-dose series ·         1st dose-4-6 months of age ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-4-6 weeks after 2nd dose Modified live vaccine: 3-dose series administered intranasally ·         1st dose-6-9 months of age ·         2nd dose-3-4 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-11-12 months of age	Killed vaccine: 3-dose series ·         1st dose-4-6 months of age ·         2nd dose-4-6 weeks after 1st dose ·         3rd dose-4-6 weeks after 2nd dose Modified live vaccine: 3-dose series administered intranasally ·         1st dose-6-9 months of age ·         2nd dose-3-4 weeks after 1st dose 3rd dose-11-12 months of age

--All tables and vaccination timing information taken from the American Association of Equine Practitioners