Your Full-Service Veterinary Clinic

Pre-Surgical Information

Spaying or neutering your pet is a big step! There is a lot to consider when we are planning your pet’s surgery. Here is some information to help you make wise decisions. Click here . . .

Special Library

Our Special Library is a collection of informative articles on a variety of health topics. Click here . . .

Discharge Instructions

Click here for information on how to care for your pet at home. Click here . . .

Equine Vaccines

It seems like a lot of folks will come in and want a "Four-way" for their horse. If you do, you may just get a blank stare from the reception crew, because they may not know what you want. The classic "Four-Way" is a remnant of the 1980's. Back then, there were only four things to vaccinate horses for, so it seemed natural to lump them all together in one shot. Now-a-days, there are vaccines with four things in them, but they are not always the same four things. So when you say "four-way," we really don't know what it is you really want.

In the 21st century, there are more diseases that we need to vaccinate for.
They are listed in the table below, along with a handy abbreviation. For example, instead of saying (or typing) "Eastern Sleeping Sickness," we will just say "E." "West Nile Virus" becomes "N," etc. In the right-hand column is a brief description of the symptoms.

Eastern Sleeping Sickness	E	Depression, Fever, Incoordination, Death
Western Sleeping Sickness	W	Depression, Fever, Incoordination, Death
Tetanus	T	Stiffness, Muscle Spasms, Death
Rhino	R	Fever, Depression, Nasal Discharge
Flu	F	Fever, Nasal Discharge, Muscle Aches
Potomac Horse Fever	P	Fever, Diarrhea, Toxemia,Laminitis, Death
West Nile Virus	N	Incoordination, Paralysis, Death
Strangles	S	Nasal Discharge, Abcesses
Rabies	R	Depression or aggression, Salivation
EHV-1	PNK	Abortion

As you can see, this is a much more extensive list than is in the old "four-way." Not every horse needs all these vaccines. However, many of the diseases above are common in this area. We recommend that every horse be vaccinated for EWTNRFP from the list above.

Some horses may have special needs. For instance, young horses boarded at barns or stables, or that show, may need S. Horses ridden in high-rabies areas may need R. Pregnant mares may need PNK.

These days the various vaccines are grouped in many different ways, and the groupings change over time. This year there is one shot with EWTN, a second with RF, and a third with P. Last year it was different. It may be different next year. It does not matter how the various vaccines are grouped, as long as you get everything you need.

The best time to vaccinate is in the spring. Many of the diseases are insect-born, and it makes sense to vaccinate in the spring just before insect season rather than in the fall. If horses have never been vaccinated before, they need a series of two sets of shots four weeks apart to achieve immunity. Spring is also a great time to have dental work done for your horse, as well as to start the deworming program.

Keep your vaccines at refrigerator temperature. If they have sat for any length of time, they will need to be shaken. Draw up 1cc of air into the syringe with the needle cap on, shake vigorously, then push the air back out.

Inject the vaccines deep into a muscle. I suggest the neck. Look at the image at the top of this page. You will note that the horse has an "X" and a "Y" drawn on his neck. Those are the injection sites. The "X" is one hands-breadth below the mane and one hands-breadth in front of the shoulder. The "Y" is a second injection site one hands-breadth in front of the "X," and a hands-breadth below the mane.

Moisten the injection site with alcohol. Take the needle off the syringe. Thump vigorously on the injection site with your hand to de-sensitize the area, then plunge the needle into the muscle all the way to the hub. Replace the syringe, then draw back on the plunger. If you observe blood, withdraw the needle and choose another site. If there is no blood, inject the vaccine.