Zoetis has provided the American Quarter Horse Association with material about preparing horses for the risks of fall season. Annual spring vaccinations help offer disease protection and can activate an immune response. Now that it’s almost fall, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) vaccination guidelines recommend at-risk horses be vaccinated for equine influenza and equine herpesvirus, also called rhinopneumonitis, every six months.
Source: AQHA Daily, September 6, 2017.
Equine influenza and equine herpesvirus aren’t your horse’s only threats this fall. This a key time for equine deworming in many parts of the country. Parasite transmission decreases with cold weather and the conclusion of grazing season. Key parasites to target with fall deworming include tapeworms and bots. Horses may harbor tapeworm infections without showing signs of discomfort; however, the parasite can cause mild to severe colic episodes sometimes requiring surgical treatment.