Equine Influenza -
Protecting Your Horse The Easy Way
Equine Influenza or "Horse Flu" is a disease that affects horses in much the same way as human influenza affects us. It can strike unexpectedly and is highly contagious among equines.
The virus takes two forms, the first is a strain known as H7N7 while the second strain is called H3N8. Both types can transmit from animal to animal very quickly and will almost certainly affect any animal exposed to the virus if they have not previously been immunised. Apart from spreading by animal contact, the virus is sufficiently robust to transmit itself via bacteria in faeces of infected animals that contaminate the stables and surroundings of healthy but non-immunised animals. Unfortunately, the disease will be particularly hard to treat in older horses and those of a young age whose immune systems are perhaps not functioning as efficiently as they could. Symptoms much like the human version include high temperature, runny nose, loss of appetite and general poorly demeanour.The symptoms subside in approximately 10-14 days after becoming visible. Because the incubation period is between 1-5 days, it is often hard to trace the source of the outbreak and this is particularly true in the Horse Racing industry where animals are routinely transported from one location to another.
Vaccination Is Vital
Equine Influenza has been around since the times of Ancient Greek records but is much less common nowadays thanks to much stricter cross border quarantine regulations and a programme of education among horse owners. 
Vaccinating your horse against Equine Flu is the ONLY way to avoid them becoming a victim of the virus. It will also contribute to slowing down the spread of disease among vulnerable animals. Most competitions except perhaps those at a local level will require sight of your horse's vaccination certificate before becoming eligible to compete. The Jockey Club among other organisations have made vaccination against Equine Influenza a mandatory requirement and impose heavy penalties for owners who contravene such rules. The International Governing Body for Equestrian Disciplines (the FEI) has imposed new guidelines regarding Equine Influenza. They are now recommending twice yearly booster vaccinations for all competing equines in order to ensure immunity is maintained throughout the period covered by the vaccination, such is the risk posed to animals transported from one jurisdiction to another. We will cover in more detail below the timeframes and frequency of a recommended vaccination programme.
Equine Influenza Vaccination -
How Much Does It Cost?
The Vaccination for Equine Influenza is often administered at the same time as the vaccination for
Equine Tetanus
and should be given only by a qualified Veterinary Surgeon. An initial course of vaccinations for Equine Flu and Tetanus combined cost approximately £100 - £120 for the first year (presuming that the horse has not been immunised previously). This will be in addition to the usual call-out charge levied by your Veterinary Practice. Of course, some Vets have on-site facilities for Equine Treatment so you could limit the cost by transporting your vet to the Practice, thus avoiding the call-out charge altogether. Some owners combine their vaccination appointments to share the cost of the call-out and this is a cost-effective way to reduce your expenditure. We would add that it is always advisable to make sure you are within the timeframes advised by your vet for second and subsequent immunisations as waiting too long could render immunisation in-effective.
How Often Should Immunisation Take Place?
If you have recently purchased a horse and are unsure whether the animal has been vaccinated previously, speak to your Veterinary Surgeon as they may recommend starting a course of vaccinations immediately in order to immunise your horse successfully. Vaccinations can be given to any animal over the age of 3 months and should always be administered by a qualified Veterinary Surgeon. The timetable for vaccination is shown below: Repeat vaccines are given 5-7 months and again 12-18 months after the initial course. Thereafter a booster vaccine is advised every 12 months, although horses exposed to the virus may be vaccinated at 6 monthly intervals. Pregnant mares can be vaccinated and it is usually recommended that they be vaccinated 4-8 weeks before the foal is due to be bo - Primary dose by injection into the neck muscle of the horse
- Secondary dose by injection 4 - 6 weeks later again by injection into the horse's neck
- Follow up or Booster injection to be administered 5 - 7 months after the initial dose
- Booster jabs should be given on or before the 12 month anniversary of the initial dose thereafter. However, as shown above, horses in competition or indeed those that come into contact with the disease can recieve their booster vaccine at 6 monthly intervals if required.
This timetable is only provided as a guide, we recommend taking your vet's advice on the frequency of booster vaccinations, based on the manufacturers' recommendations for the vaccine he or she chooses to use. However, it is important to point out that if the recommended timetable for vaccinations is not followed correctly - perhaps you forget the date for the booster vaccination, your horse will not receive effective immunisation and therefore will be at risk of contracting the virus.
Return from Equine Influenza to our Horse Health page
for more practical tips on routine preventative health care.
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