Foal Vaccinations

[pasorider]

Viseaux will be 4 months old next month and I am planning on separating him and his mom. When should he have his Vaccinations? I gave Mela her shots, including West Nile about a week before he was born. Can I start him on his now? Should he have regular shots and then boosters in 4 to 6 weeks?

[Abejita]

My vets dont really recommend vaccinating a foal before 4 months unless there is some major outbreak in your area Something about their bodies not being able to build titer -I dont remember for sure..some shots need more than one booster to be totally effective (I am thinking WNV..but that might be the 'old' WNV You need to check with your vet.) I would get him vaccinated and wait a few weeks for him to get over that stress..then wean..

[CarolU]

Also, they have immunity from their mother through the milk until you wean. I would wean and then vaccinate UNLESS you are having some kind of outbreak in your area or WNV or one of E-diseases is present.

[PasoVicki]

I just recently asked my vet about that, thinking that Capri would be due for vaccinations soon. (He's three months.) The vet said they now wait until six months to vaccinate, because recent studies have shown that before six months, the antibodies the foal got through the colostrum interfered with the effectiveness of vaccinations. The vet seemed quite sure of himself . . . but I'm not really comfortable with it . . . .

[pasorider]

One reason I was asking is that where I normally board them, they had a case of West Nile here last week. It was a new horse, they just got him about 3 weeks ago, I am pretty sure he wasn't vaccinated. I really don't want to bring Viseaux back here ( he is at some friends place right now along with his mom). She has started weaning him, only letting him nurse a couple of times a day. I called the Vet today to ask, but only got one of his helpers, and really didn't get a straight answer out of her. I don't want to bring Viseaux back here till he has been vaccinted, so I will bring Mela here when the time comes to wean, and then start him on his shots after he is weaned. I will try to talk directly to my Vet. and see what he recommends, but I have found that in most cases, you fellow BB's know as much or more than most Vets.

[Laura S]

My vet told me give foal shots at 5 months old and after the baby is weaned.