Equine Tetanus: A Preventable Disease

The spasms are made worse when the horse is stimulated. Any sudden noise or movement can be enough to set off bouts of muscle spasms. Often there is spasm of the muscle of the third eyelid, causing it to protrude across the eye. Eventually, horses with tetanus are unable to stand. Their respiratory muscles become affected and so they have difficulty breathing. Most cases will die.

What can you do if you think your horse has tetanus? Call the veterinarian straight away! Some affected animals may respond to treatment, and their chances of survival are much better if treatment is started as early as possible. Keep the horse in a cool dark stable. Avoid any sudden noises or movements. Putting plugs of cotton wool in the ears may help.

What is the likely outcome? Unfortunately many cases of tetanus will die. Some horses that only show mild signs when they are first recognized may respond to aggressive treatment. Even so, they will need careful nursing for two weeks or longer if they are to survive.

So, how can you prevent your horse getting tetanus? An effective vaccine is available. There is initial course of two injections, followed by a booster after a year. Current vaccines require boosters at up to three year intervals. Tetanus is often included with the influenza vaccine, so horses that have been vaccinated against `flu will probably be covered against tetanus as well. However, it is well worth checking to make sure.

In the vast majority of horses there are no adverse effects of vaccination. The occasional horse may develop a small lump after vaccination.

If your horse suffers an injury and has not been vaccinated, the veterinarian can administer tetanus antitoxin - the “antidote” to tetanus. But this only provides temporary protection for a couple of weeks. By far the most reliable way of protecting your horse from this frequently fatal disease is to make sure that he or she is fully vaccinated.

There is no excuse for any horse or pony not to be fully vaccinated against this disease. Prevention is always better than the cure - certainly for the horse - and for your pocket!