This article provides a refresher for equine veterinary teams. Veterinarians are uniquely positioned to understand the risks posed to individual horses because of where they live, the lifestyles to which owners expose them and the diseases that are active in a practice area. Reviewing the facts about equine diseases that can be prevented or minimized through vaccination is important for good decision making, as well as client education.
Source: EquiManagement, August 2, 2016.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) defines risk-based vaccines as those that are included in a vaccination program after the performance of a risk-benefit analysis by a veterinarian.
The use of risk-based vaccinations can vary geographically, from population to population within an area, or between individual horses within a given population. Disease risk might not be readily identified by lay persons; it is important that veterinarians are involved when vaccination programs are developed. Risk-based vaccines include those for anthrax, botulism, equine herpesvirus (EHV), equine influenza, equine arteritis virus, leptospirosis, Potomac horse fever, rotavirus, snakebite and strangles.
INSIGHTS: Consider using this article at a veterinary team meeting and include representatives to help you deliver the content and related product information.