Our Stillwater vets will develop a preventive vaccination schedule designed for your horse to help maintain their health and well-being.
Protection & Prevention
At Stillwater Equine Veterinary Clinic, we want to make sure that your horse is protected from diseases and illnesses that can sweep through a herd without warning. In combination with general health checkups, vaccinations and dewormers form the foundation of your horse's routine healthcare.
Preventive care, such as routine vaccinations and deworming, protects your horse from diseases that reduce their quality of life and harm their ability to perform at their best.
Our team will work with you to create a custom preventive care plan based on your horse's unique needs, lifestyle, and potential risk factors.
Vaccinations for Horses
Our veterinarians regularly review the vaccines available to select the products that are the safest and most effective for your horse.
Types of Horse Vaccinations
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Core Vaccinations
The five core diseases that all have significant fatality rates in horse horses are:
- Rabies
- West Nile virus
- Eastern equine encephalomyelitis
- Western equine encephalomyelitis
- Tetanus
All horses can be exposed to these potentially fatal diseases. Because of this, all horses need to be given the annual vaccinations above to protect them, according to the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
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Risk Based Vaccinations
The vaccinations below are given if your horse's lifestyle may put them at risk:
- Equine influenza virus
- Herpesvirus
- Strangles
- Equine viral arteritis
- Leptospirosis
- Rotaviral diarrhea
- Potomac horse fever
- Botulism
Necessary vaccinations will vary depending on your horse’s unique lifestyle and environment.
Vaccine Schedule
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Broodmares
Tetanus - Annual or after an injury.
Sleep Sickness - Annual.
West Nile Virus - Early spring +/- Fall booster.
Influenza - Every 6 months.
Rhinopneumonitis - 5, 7 & 9 months of pregnancy.
Rabies - Annual.
Strangles - Optional / Annual.
Potomac Horse Fever - Risk based; consult with your vet.
Leptospirosis - Risk based; consult with your vet.
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Performance & Large Stables
Tetanus - Annual or after an injury.
Sleep Sickness - Annual.
West Nile Virus - Early spring +/- Fall booster.
Influenza - Every 6 months.
Rhinopneumonitis - Every 6 months.
Rabies - Annual.
Strangles - Optional / Annual.
Potomac Horse Fever - Risk based; consult with your vet.
Leptospirosis - Risk based; consult with your vet.
Foals - If the mare was vaccinated per recommendations, then the foal's first vaccines should be given at 5 - 6 months of age with a booster 4 weeks later. If the mare was not vaccinated, then the foal should be given its first vaccines at 3 - 4 months of age with a booster 4 weeks later, and another booster at 6 months of age.
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Pleasure & Small Herds
Tetanus - Annual or after an injury
Sleep Sickness - Annual
West Nile Virus - Early spring +/- Fall booster
Influenza - Every 6 months
Rhinopneumonitis - Every 6 months
Rabies - Annual
Strangles - Optional / Annual
Potomac Horse Fever - Risk based; consult with your vet.
Leptospirosis - Risk based; consult with your vet.
Foals - If the mare was vaccinated per recommendations, then the foal's first vaccines should be given at 5 - 6 months of age with a booster 4 weeks later. If the mare was not vaccinated, then the foal should be given its first vaccines at 3 - 4 months of age with a booster 4 weeks later, and another booster at 6 months of age.
Deworming for Horses
Our veterinarians consult with leading experts to select products that are safe and effective.
Deworming Strategies
There are two common deworming strategies:
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Fecal Egg Count
Fecal egg count, or strategic deworming, relies on fecal egg counts to identify which horses are high-shedders and are responsible for the majority of parasite transmission. The goal is not to eliminate all parasites from every horse, but to maintain the health of horses and reduce environmental contamination of parasite eggs and larvae.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) recommends this approach for parasite control as it targets the horses that need deworming the most and helps prevent further resistance to current deworming medications. This can help reduce the number of treatments required for the low-shedders of the herd.
Fecal egg counts should be performed in the early spring (March to April) before peak parasite transmission season. Every horse in a herd should be tested to identify them as low, moderate, or high shedders to provide the appropriate treatment.
Low-shedding horses may not require additional treatments. Moderate to high shedders will receive more treatments to reduce environmental contamination of parasite eggs and larvae.
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Traditional Rotational Deworming
Traditional rotational deworming relies on using different deworming medications at regular intervals to control parasites. This strategy assumes that all horses carry a similar parasite burden and equally contribute to environmental contamination.
It is convenient for many large barns and boarding facilities as it does not require fecal egg counts of every horse to identify high and low shedders. This approach is thought to contribute to parasite resistance of our current deworming medications. Contact your veterinarian to determine which parasite control program best fits your horse’s needs.
Deworming Schedule
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Large Herds
January - Panacur or Anthelcide
March - Ivermectin
May - Strongid
July - Panacur or Anthelcide
September - Strongid
October - Ivermectin Gold or Equimax or Quest Plus
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Small Herds
January - Strongid
April - Ivermectin
July - Panacur or Anthelcide
October - Ivermectin Gold or Equimax or Quest Plus
New Patients Welcome
Stillwater Equine Veterinary Clinic is accepting new patients! Whether you bring your horse to our Stillwater hospital or we are providing mobile care, trust that we have the tools and skills to meet your horse's every need.
Contact
Hours
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- Monday:08:00 am - 04:30 pm
- Tuesday:08:00 am - 04:30 pm
- Wednesday:08:00 am - 04:30 pm
- Thursday:08:00 am - 04:30 pm
- Friday:08:00 am - 04:30 pm
- Saturday:08:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Sunday:Closed