Most horse owners trust their veterinarians for the preventative health needs of their horses. Many veterinarians rely on vaccinations to prevent diseases. Vaccination schedules were learned in vet school. These yearly and biannual vaccination schedules are recommended by the drug companies that manufacture the vaccines. Vaccine research is often done at the universities where veterinarians are educated. Large drug companies often fund research at these universities. 40 to 50% of veterinary clinic income comes from vaccinations. The side effects from vaccines may be the cause of many different illnesses. Some can be life-long or fatal.
Mercury Poisoning From Vaccines
Some veterinarians and owners are considering that vaccination side effects may be the cause of different illnesses in their horses. Since equine vaccines still use mercury (thimerosal, banned in human vaccines) as a preservative, frequent vaccination can cause mercury to accumulate in the horse's body. Mercury is a lethal neurotoxin. Mercury poisoning can cause neurologic disorders.
The immune system is composed primarily of nerves. One of the first things to be damaged by over-vaccinating is the immune system. Mercury poisoning symptoms are systemic and inhibit the immune system, allowing other diseases to affect the horse.
The reason why the immediate link between vaccines and illness is not often made is because of the length of time between the onset of the illness. Most veterinarians and owners expect a side-effect to occur within 48 hours. But sometimes a vaccinated horse will show signs of colic, laminitis or other illness, that may be permanently debilitating, as much as 30 to 45 days later. These negative side-effects are known as "vaccinosis".
Side Effects of Vaccinations
Due to the common practice of over-vaccinating or combination vaccines, the immune system of the horse's body has to mount a defense to disease every time the vaccinations are administered, sometimes as often as 6 times a year. Many horse owners have believed that these vaccines are innocuous (doing no harm). But new evidence is showing that vaccines cause many of these side effects:
- laminitis and allergic reactions
- nasal discharge, coughing
- colic chronic digestive diseases
- pain, swelling and abscessing at the vaccine site
- failures (clinical signs of disease caused by the vaccine)
- anaphylactic reactions and seizures resulting in death
- fever, anorexia, lethargy, irritability, aggression
- autoimmune diseases, organ diseases
- sarcoid tumors, warts, skin problems and cancer
- neurologic problems, head shaking syndrome
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) warned that:
- administration of multiple vaccines may increase the risk of adverse reactions
- safety and efficacy data are not available for concurrent use of multiple vaccines
- adverse reactions are not predictable and are inherent risks of vaccinating
Vaccination reactions may go unreported due to the length of time side effects take place. Since many vaccines can be given by horse owners bought through equine supply companies or feed stores, over-vaccinating by the owner may also contribute to the problems of vaccinosis. Even many veterinarians may not have a clear idea of the impact of the side effects of vaccines or make the connection that vaccines cause a specific disease.
Consider the Horse's Health Before Vaccinating
Since areas of the USA have states that may pose risks of severe diseases like encephalitis, it may be a consideration for the owner to have his horse vaccinated for these specific diseases. Vaccine manufacturers clearly state on their packaging that vaccines should only be given to healthy horses. They should not be given to horses that have any health problems such as:
- Cushings
- Insulin Resistance
- Thyroid disease
- COPD ("Heaves")
- Allergies
- Eye problems
- Skin problems, scratches
- Founder
- Digestive problems like ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, or history of colic
- Transitioning from shoes to barefoot
Even a healthy horse should have his titers checked before vaccinating. Vaccinations should not be given less than 3 weeks prior to shipping, horse shows or events. Titers only measure humeral immunity, that is the antibody levels in the blood. Cellular immunity cannot be measured. It usually accompanies humeral immunity but humeral immunity only lasts a short while. Cellular immunity is almost always life-long, making repeated vaccinations unnecessary.
Horses live constantly exposed to environmental toxins that occur naturally and manmade, both in the water, air and feed. Compromising their immune systems by frequent and unnecessary vaccination may hasten the onset of other diseases. Trusting the drug companies, whose income is dependent upon selling vaccines and drugs to treat diseases caused by them, is a little like having the fox guard the hen house.
Sources:
Depaolo Equine Concepts Health Library
Mercury Poisoning Symptoms by Jayashree Pakhare
Problems with Vaccinations by Madalyn Ward, DVM
Sandra Judy - An avid horse woman for all of her life, Sandra has providedholistic hoofcare education through clinics and her website. She began with ...
