Equine diseases

I am constantly being reminded by veterinarians who are in the know that vaccinations against core diseases are so important. Here is Dr. Bonnie R. Rush, at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, highlights the core equine diseases which all horses should be vaccinated for annually: rabies, West Nile, tetanus and Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis.

You love your horse like a family member; however, your horse is facing grave disease dangers that you may have overlooked, which could cost him his life. The threat of deadly equine diseases like rabies and West Nile is closer than you think. Don't leave your horse exposed — help protect him through annual vaccinations against the five core diseases: rabies, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, tetanus and West Nile. "A horse that is alone out in the pasture can still get rabies, can still get tetanus, can still get West Nile, and can still get Eastern and Western [equine encephalomyelitis]," said Bonnie R. Rush, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Interim Dean at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. "It's important for horse owners to understand the consequences of not vaccinating their horse for these diseases."

Core diseases can be a death sentence.

The fatality rates are grim. With the statistics outlined below, horse owners should strongly reconsider leaving their horse's survival to chance.