SE Wisconsin Minis

Spring is in the air and that brings thoughts of spring vacinations.  This reprint of an article, by Dr. Rachel Jahnke, from our 2005 newsletter seems timely.

"Ask the Vet question:  What is recommended for spring immunizations for miniatures, and which ones can be safely combined...also, where on the horse should these shots be given?"

"Dr. Jahnke replies:  Miniature horses require the same vaccinations as do large breed horses.  Which ones you choose depends on your management practices.  If you are actively showing your minis or if they live in a barn where other horses are moving in and out I would recommend for Spring - Tetanue, EEE, WEE, flu, rhino, and west nile (strangles optional).  For Fall immunizations I recommend - flu, rhino and rabies.  If you will be traveling into the southern states where west nile and encephalitis is present year round, then consider boostering with a 3 in 1 (EEE, WEE, Tetanus) and west nile in the fall also.

If you have backyard minis that do not show or travel you may elect to vaccinate as above without rhino, flu and strangles as these diseases are all transmitted from other horses via aerosolized nasal secretions.

Recommendations for foals:  6 months - EEE, WEE, tetanus, flu, rhino, west nile.  7 months - same (strangles optional).  8 months - flu, rhino, rabies (booster strangles if done at 7 mos.).

I generally vaccinate small minis in the muscles that run  down the back of their hind legs.  Larger minis I may vaccinate in the muscle on the side of their neck, but be extremely careful as minis don't have a lot of muscle in their necks and you don't want to hit the nuchal ligament or get too close to the vertebrae.  Never vaccinate over the dorsal (top) muscles of the rump."