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How Horses Handle Vaccines: Side Effects Rare, But Know What To Look For

As more humans begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, discussion of vaccine side effects seems to be everywhere. Vaccinations are a key component of proper horse care, but luckily for horses, adverse reactions to a vaccine are fairly rare. When they do happen in horses, adverse reactions are often in response to the antigens, which are foreign proteins, and adjuvants, which are added to vaccines to enhance the immune response.

A horse experiencing an adverse reaction to a vaccine may seem “off.” He may stand with his head down and seem to have no energy. He may have a decreased appetite or have a fever. Additionally, he may seem body sore or there may be increased sensitivity at the actual injection site—or even swelling—that may cause him to hold his head and neck oddly.

Most vaccination reactions ease in 48 to 96 hours. A dose or two of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories can be given (with veterinary permission) to help him through the pain, but doing nothing is also an option. If the horse's neck is sore, it may be harder for him to graze or eat if he's fed on the ground. A hanging hay net and elevated water source may help him until his discomfort eases.

In rare instances, a horse can have an anaphylactic reaction to a vaccine. This is a life-threatening situation that requires immediate veterinary intervention.

To preempt a vaccination issue, it's helpful to keep track of what vaccines, including brand, the horse is given each year. If the horse has had reactions in the past, he can be given a dose of an NSAID just before or at the time of vaccination to prevent or reduce the adverse response.

Another Positive For Pasture: Equine Eyes Benefit From Turnout

A recent study has found yet another reason to turnout horses as much as possible: It keeps their eyes healthy. The diversity of fungal species found in the eye is greater in horses that spend time outside.

Drs. Mary Walsh, Courtney Meason-Smith, Carolyn Arnold, Jan Suchodolski and Erin Scott used molecular-based DNA testing to identify what type of fungi were present in the eyes of 12 horses: five mares that lived outside and seven stallions that lived in stalls.

The scientists took eye swabs from each eye of the 12 horses, then extracted and sequenced the genomic DNA from the swab.

The scientists found that the equine eye is host to many fungal, bacterial and viral organisms, and that the composition and structure of fungi varied significantly between pastured and stabled horses. Though many horse owners associate these organisms with eye issues, previous studies have shown that fungi may occur naturally on the eye: between 13 and 95 percent of eye swabs performed on healthy horses were positive for fungal growth.

The team determined that horses that were exposed to a variety of plant matter, like grasses, as well as to fluctuations in temperature and humidity, are more likely to have a wider range of fungal organisms in their eyes than horses that live in stalls, where the environment is more controlled. The differences in composition, structure, and richness of fungi inhabiting the equine ocular surface is most likely affected by the housing environment in which a horse lives, they concluded.

They also noted that horses that live on pasture may be more at risk of fungal infections if their eye is injured.

Read the full study here.

Promising OTC Ulcer Treatment Identified

Omeprazole is the drug of choice for ulcer treatment in horses. It is particularly helpful in the treatment of ulcers in the squamous regions of the stomach.

Short-term omeprazole use typically doesn't cause any long-lasting issues, particularly if horses are weaned from it carefully to avoid a rebound acid effect. Using omeprazole for longer than four weeks can cause complications though, particularly the complete elimination of stomach acid, which is crucial for protein digestion.

Lack of protein can cause muscle loss, a depressed immune system, hormonal imbalances, and poor digestion in horses. Omeprazole also inhibits the absorption of magnesium and calcium, which can potentially damage bone health.

Veterinarians are beginning to look at lecithin, used in conjunction with apple pectin, as a potential new treatment for ulcers. It has recently been used on racehorses and on horses that have had their forage restricted. This combination can also be used after a traditional course of omeprazole has been administered for additional healing effects.

Lecithin occurs naturally and is commonly derived from soybeans and other plants. When lecithin is combined with pectin, a water-soluble fiber, a hydrophobic barrier is created, which can protect the stomach's mucosal membranes against stomach acid.

Lecithin granules and apple pectin can be bought at most health food stores and are helpful for horses that are on NSAIDs or firocoxib, as well as for horses that are travelling, on stall rest or are stressed for other reasons.

Proposed Kentucky Legislation Would Help Lighten Financial Strain From Animal Control In Abuse Cases

Animal cruelty and neglect cases are often fraught with legal and logistical challenges for the law enforcement or animal control officers handling them – not the least of which is what to do with animals that must be seized. A 2016 case of large-scale equine neglect in Mercer County, Ky., highlighted many of those challenges as dozens of horses had to be kept in place and fed by volunteers with donated hay while authorities investigated and worked to determine their ownership. One of the challenges in that case was finding someplace for the horses to go once volunteers received clearance to move them.

That case received plenty of publicity and horses were dispersed to rightful owners or to rescue facilities quickly, but in many lesser-known cases in more outlying areas, animal control officers don't have many resources to care for seized animals. Animals seized in the course of a cruelty investigation cannot be adopted out or sold until the case is closed or unless the owner gives consent, sticking already-strapped local law enforcement with months' worth of bills. When horses are involved, a seizure can be even more expensive than a case limited to dogs or cats.

Kentucky State Rep. Cherylynn Stevenson (D-District 88) is hoping new legislation could make that burden lighter. HB100 could make the owner of an animal seized during the course of a cruelty investigation responsible for the cost of the animal's care during the course of the criminal case or until the animal is relinquished.

The bill was born from a discussion Stevenson had with an animal control officer in her home district of Lexington, but improving Kentucky's animal care laws has been on her radar for some time.

“As I was campaigning and going door to door canvassing, we realized that nine out of ten houses in my district had an animal, so we started carrying cat treats and dog treats with us,” said Stevenson. “We realized that it was a really great bridge for the political divide. A lot of people care about animals and want to see [animal welfare] improve here in our state.”

For many years the Animal Legal Defense Fund placed Kentucky last on its rankings of states based on the strength of their animal welfare laws. Stevenson said that ranking may improve slightly after the state amended a law last year that had previously prohibited veterinarians from reporting suspected animal cruelty.

The cost of seized animals is no small consideration – Stevenson recalled one seizure of over 100 cats where board bills for the animals topped $80,000. Many local authorities don't have facilities to house horses at all and are reliant on non-profits to find a stall or pasture space. Then they're faced with the fact that horses are even more expensive to feed and maintain.

“I think we'll see a greater number of animals be saved if this goes through, because there will be a recourse then for all the upkeep, any vet care,” she said. “Ultimately if shelters aren't doing this and taxpayers aren't paying for it, that's a win for everybody.”

Legislation on other types of animal welfare topics has sometimes faced an uphill battle in Kentucky, where agriculture is prevalent and many residents have strong feelings about private property rights. Stevenson admitted this bill could face some opposition from those factions, as well as from defense attorneys who might bristle at the idea their clients could face financial judgments in addition to fines or other sanctions. It's not uncommon for attorneys or clients to prolong cases a part of their legal strategy, which would result in a higher care bill for the animal's owner under the proposed legislation. Sometimes, Stevenson said, animals are returned to their owner prior to the end of a case because the county can no longer afford to care for them.

The bill does have bipartisan support however, and the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) has placed its support behind the language.

“I think getting that equine stamp of approval is very helpful,” she said. “I think there's going to always be some folks out there who look at that property rights issue and they're not going to budge. And that's ok – not everyone has to agree all the time … we're trying to be as transparent as we can and have conversations with folks before it comes up before committee.”

Stevenson expects the bill to come before committee on Feb. 17.

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