Vaccination and Microchipping for Horses
Tetanus and Influenza are the two diseases that are routinely vaccinated against.
Tetanus vaccination is essential for every horse. Horses are particularly susceptible to tetanus due to their environment and also because they are frequently injured. The bacteria which causes tetanus is found in the soil and if this bacteria contaminates a wound it can be the perfect environment for the bacteria to multiply and produce the fatal toxin which cause the clinical signs of tetanus. The toxin causes stiffness and then muscle spasms eventually progressing to paralysis. Vaccination easily prevents this risk.
Influenza is caused by a virus and will spread rapidly between horses. It causes lethargy, a cough and fever, a nasal discharge and loss of appetite. Vaccination is recommended for any horse that will be in contact with other horses and is essential for horses that are competing at most organised events.
We use ProteqFlu/ProteqFlu-Te for our influenza and tetanus vaccinations. This vaccination contains the most up to date viral strains and is compliant with current OIE recommendations. We follow datasheet recommendations for this vaccine to reduce the risk of a gap in immunity between vaccinations.
Foals and horses being vaccinated for the first time should be vaccinated from five to six months of age with two doses four to six weeks apart. The third dose should be given after five months.
Annual vaccinations are yearly for flu and every second year for tetanus.
Microchipping
Since 28 March 2021 all horses in Scotland must be microchipped. Failure to have your horse chipped is an offence and could result in a fine. Your horse’s microchip can be checked at any time we are seeing your horse so just request this if you would like to be sure your horse’s chip is working.
Foals need to be microchipped as well as getting a passport before the foal is six months old or by 30 November in the year it is born, whichever is later. The microchip is a small implant approximately the size of a grain of rice which is inserted into the fibrous ligament which runs along the top of the neck (the nuchal ligament).
Once your horse is microchipped you can register on ScotEquine which is a pilot being developed to perform a census of all equines in Scotland. For further details see the links on our Equine Information page.
Tetanus vaccination is essential for every horse. Horses are particularly susceptible to tetanus due to their environment and also because they are frequently injured. The bacteria which causes tetanus is found in the soil and if this bacteria contaminates a wound it can be the perfect environment for the bacteria to multiply and produce the fatal toxin which cause the clinical signs of tetanus. The toxin causes stiffness and then muscle spasms eventually progressing to paralysis. Vaccination easily prevents this risk.
Influenza is caused by a virus and will spread rapidly between horses. It causes lethargy, a cough and fever, a nasal discharge and loss of appetite. Vaccination is recommended for any horse that will be in contact with other horses and is essential for horses that are competing at most organised events.
We use ProteqFlu/ProteqFlu-Te for our influenza and tetanus vaccinations. This vaccination contains the most up to date viral strains and is compliant with current OIE recommendations. We follow datasheet recommendations for this vaccine to reduce the risk of a gap in immunity between vaccinations.
Foals and horses being vaccinated for the first time should be vaccinated from five to six months of age with two doses four to six weeks apart. The third dose should be given after five months.
Annual vaccinations are yearly for flu and every second year for tetanus.
Microchipping
Since 28 March 2021 all horses in Scotland must be microchipped. Failure to have your horse chipped is an offence and could result in a fine. Your horse’s microchip can be checked at any time we are seeing your horse so just request this if you would like to be sure your horse’s chip is working.
Foals need to be microchipped as well as getting a passport before the foal is six months old or by 30 November in the year it is born, whichever is later. The microchip is a small implant approximately the size of a grain of rice which is inserted into the fibrous ligament which runs along the top of the neck (the nuchal ligament).
Once your horse is microchipped you can register on ScotEquine which is a pilot being developed to perform a census of all equines in Scotland. For further details see the links on our Equine Information page.