Equine Influenza is both extremely infectious and contagious and so the best way of stopping both your horse and other horses from becoming infected is to vaccinate.
As a disease the signs of flu can vary from a few days of running a high temperature accompanied by the classic snotty nose and harsh dry cough, to serious life-threatening infections.
“Why should I vaccinate?”
Firstly, your horse will feel exactly the same as we do when we have the flu – rotten. Also, in becoming infected your horse stands a real chance of infecting many others with the virus. Finally, as you are all probably aware, to compete your horse you will need an up to date passport demonstrating your horse’s up to date vaccination status.
We are often complacent about this disease because we expect horses to be vaccinated. However, the proportion of horses vaccinated in the UK falls well below that which is required to prevent a major disease outbreak. Should a major outbreak occur with a new virus strain then unvaccinated horses will suffer severe and potentially fatal diseases and vaccinated horses may also be affected. Multiple small outbreaks occur every year in the UK, and major outbreaks have occurred before and may well occur again.
In February, we will be running a vaccination amnesty campaign to help protect as many unvaccinated/overdue horses as possible.
During the month of February, all horses, ponies and donkeys starting their vaccination course will receive the 2nd vaccination FREE OF CHARGE!***
To book an appointment or for further information, please call our reception team on 01428 723594
***Vaccine cost only, visit fees still apply. The offer is only open to horses that are over 9 months of age and have not yet been vaccinated against equine influenza or are overdue an annual booster. First vaccination to take place in February.
