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Re: [RC] Vaccinations - heidiNow the flu-rhino I give to foals and their dams every month stating at one month of age to 6 months as this practice has completely eliminated the risk of foal pneumonia up here--- it is very common up in Paso and I had 2 foals die of it one year. I had a vet who had a theory that it was caused by herpes (rhino) latent in the mare at birth and so we experimented by giving the shots every month to both mare and foal--- never one sick baby since, even though we were boarding horses at that time and there were epidemics at other neighboring ranches during a few years. Yikes! The doc is likely right that it is the rhino causing the problem, not the flu. But in fact, early vaccination for flu can greatly impair the youngster's ability to ever build immunity to flu--AAEP has some great studies about that, and last I checked, their recommendation is that influenza vaccination not be started until foals are at least 15 months of age. Good vaccination of dams prior to foaling will give them passive immunity for awhile, and that is the best way to go to protect young horses from influenza. Given the scenario you suggest, it makes sense to do the rhino vaccinations that way--but NOT the influenza! Heidi ============================================================ Why should I look good if I don`t smell good? ~ author unknown ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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