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Post by Skye Pilot on Aug 1, 2008 10:04:41 GMT -5
Has anyone heard of an increase in Potomac Horse Fever ?
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Post by Smay on Aug 1, 2008 13:04:41 GMT -5
Yes, I have actually, in our area(s) OH/MI.... my vet had me vax for it both last year and this year....
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Post by Majors Minor on Aug 1, 2008 13:25:21 GMT -5
I vax as well
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Post by Dawn on Aug 1, 2008 15:05:48 GMT -5
Hey sue, have heard of a few cases online on the michigan boards but nothing out of the oridnary for this time of year.
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Post by Goalie on Aug 1, 2008 17:46:39 GMT -5
Not an increase of cases, but we do have a few in this area.
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Post by Skye Pilot on Aug 2, 2008 19:30:54 GMT -5
It is almost unheard of in this area unless you are traveling and showing. I heard of 3 cases a couple of counties away. I will be ordering the shots!
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Post by Goalie on Aug 3, 2008 12:13:40 GMT -5
My vet has always included it in our round of shots in the spring. then the boys are also given a booster for West Nile in the fall.
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Post by abowls on Aug 11, 2008 8:57:03 GMT -5
There have been a few here at the hospital (I hear from friends, I'm not working there at the moment) but I'm not sure if it's more than usual. We're in the hotbed area for PHF. FYI the vaccine sucks. It's the best available prevention but most of the cases I've seen come through the hospital WERE vaccinated, some of them excessively. It's just not that efficacious a vaccine.
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Post by TeachU2Ride on Aug 11, 2008 9:51:43 GMT -5
It's just not that efficacious a vaccine. Yep. My vets leave it off the list unless the owner requests it. I haven't given it for years. |
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Post by abowls on Aug 12, 2008 10:08:09 GMT -5
Yeah I think most vets here (right on the potomac) give it with the hope that it will lessen the severity if the horse gets PHF not necessarily prevent them from getting it.
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Post by Smay on Aug 12, 2008 13:18:35 GMT -5
Yeah I think most vets here (right on the potomac) give it with the hope that it will lessen the severity well, then I think it's worth the small cost for it, personally. |
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Post by abowls on Aug 12, 2008 13:41:24 GMT -5
I agree. I vaccinate despite knowing that the vaccine sucks. I just sometimes worry that vets don't tell people that vaccinated does not equal 100% protected. This is especially true with this vaccine.
The reason that I know that most of the cases we see at the hospital were vaccinated is that people immediately want to tell us that it can't be that b/c their horse is vaccinated. I believe very strongly in a vets responsibility to educate their clients about things like this.
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Post by Goalie on Aug 13, 2008 8:29:37 GMT -5
I agree abowls. My vet keeps me informed on vacc. like this and we still vacinate for it as it is a fact of life that here in Michigan we have cases of Potomac. I'm lucky my guys have a good immune system going and don't seem to have any bad reactions to any of the shots my vet gives. Another reason why I love, love, love my vet, is he doesn't try to make you give all shots possible. Only what your individual horses need.
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Post by CC on Aug 19, 2008 9:14:29 GMT -5
In MD we definitely vaccinate. I had a horse with PHF years ago and yes, he was vaccinated but he survived without needing to be hospitalized or receive fluids. My vet recognized the symptoms and started him on tetracycline immediately. In 24 hours, he was already improving.
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