vaccinate

Question
We would like to know when to start vaccinate a colt

Answer
Hi Cindy,

Thank you for your questions and I apologize for taking so long to get back to you...this line of storms has kept me without internet service for the week.

This is perhaps not my area of expertise and I would strongly urge you to consult your veterinarian for some more precise suggestions.  I can, however, give you my 2 cents worth.

Each vaccine available has a specific recommendation for the earliest possible administration time, and each region has a specific list of vaccines that are most beneficial to your horse.  Having said that...horse owners choose to lump vaccinations into one or two vet visits to keep costs to a minimum.

Foals will gain some immunity from their mothers...before they are born and then later through colostrum and mare's milk.  So a good vaccine program for your colt starts (started) with a good vaccination program for Mom.  You can technically begin vaccinating foals at the age of 3 months although some hold off to closer to 6 months.  If your barn is a high traffic area, with a lot of horses coming and going, I would suggest you start your vaccinating early...closer to the 3 months time frame.  A lot of foot traffic increases your foal's exposure to disease and immune stresses.  If yours is a closed herd, you can safely wait until a little later to start vaccinating especially if everyone else in the barn is up to date.  Keep  in mind that if the mare is passing along immunity to disease through milk, that will end with weaning.  And since the act of weaning creates a lot of stress on the foal's immune system, you want to have already vaccinated so that your foal is at less risk of contracting disease in this time of low natural defense.  Also, most vaccines need to have a secondary booster 4-6 weeks after initial dosing to ensure adequate protection...this is also the case for adult horses encountering a vaccine for the first time.  

All of this to say that you need to choose your own vaccinating schedule around you management system.  You're pretty safe to start between 3 and 6 months of age, and again consult your vet as there may be significant regional influences.

Hope this helps a bit.

Thanks, Corlena