Horse Health Information
Normal Vital Signs:
Temperature: 99.0-100.5 F
Pulse: 32-40 beats per minute
Respiration: 12-16 breaths per minute
Mucous Membranes: Pale pink
Capillary Refill Time: Less than 2 seconds
It is recommended that horse owners become familiar with the normal parameters of their horses’ vital signs. Have your veterinarian show you how to take them properly and practice taking vital signs on a regular basis to accustom yourself to the procedures so you will be prepared when faced with taking them in a possible emergency situation.
Vaccination Schedules:
Vaccines are a safe and effective means of protecting your horse from serious, life threatening illnesses. Vaccination schedules should be developed with your veterinarian and can vary due to exposure risk, health of animal, and geographical location. Florida is considered an endemic area for EEE/WEE and WNV, due to the presence of mosquitoes year round.
The following schedule is a guideline for vaccination of adult horses, and is based off recommendations by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and by our practice in the Tampa Bay area.
| Vaccination | Unvaccinated or Questionable Vaccine History | Previously Vaccinated |
| Tetanus* | 2 dose series, 2nd dose 4-6 weeks after first dose. | Annually, plus booster at time of penetrating injury or surgery if last dose was >6 months ago. |
| Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE)* | 2 dose series, 2nd dose 4-6 weeks after first dose. | Booster every 6 months |
| Rabies* | Single dose | Annual booster |
| West Nile Virus (WNV)* | 2 dose series, 2nd dose 4-6 weeks after first dose. | Booster every 6 months |
| Influenza | 2 doses 4-6 weeks apart, 3rd dose 3-6months after 2nd dose | Booster every 6 months |
| Equine Herpes Virus (Rhino) | 3 dose series, each dose 4-6 weeks apart | Booster every 6 months |
| Strangles (Streptococcus equi) (risk based) | 2 doses, 3 weeks apart, intranasal | Annual booster |
| Potomac Horse Fever (PHF)
(for horses traveling throughout the state and the Northeast US.) |
2 dose series 3-4 weeks apart | Annual booster |
*Indicates those vaccines designated as core vaccines by the AAEP. Core vaccines protect against diseases that are endemic to a region, are highly contagious, pose a risk of severe disease, those having potential public health risk, and/or are required by law. Core vaccines have clearly demonstrable efficacy and safety, with a high enough level of patient benefit and low enough level of risk to justify their use in all equids.
Vaccination of foals should begin at 3 months of age. Consult with your veterinarian about specific vaccine schedules for foals and about special vaccine recommendations for pregnant broodmares.
