Discussion on Tetanus
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| Author |
Message |
    
Salt Fork Ranch
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005 - 2:30 pm: |   |
Our 8 mo old colt got into a cattle panel yesterday and was cut between the mouth and cheek. It looks like a deeper cut toward cheek and as he pulled away it cut almost to the corner of his mouth. It bled on his lower front feet for a little while and then clotted. He has been weaned from his tetanus protected mother for 2 mos and has not yet had his first flu-tetanus shot. I err on the side of no meds like West Nile because of what I have heard it does to breeding horses - - and like tetanus antitoxin because of the risk of liver failure (serum hepititas)and shock at time of injection. What is the risk of a healthy colt in large bermuda grass pasture getting tetanus? We are watching him closely, have antitoxin in syringe ready to administer. Please advise. |
Karen Nolte
Member
Username: Morg1
Post Number: 82
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005 - 5:39 pm: | |
What have you heard the West Nile Vaccine does to breeding horses? I've never heard of any problems with the vaccine. I would give the antitoxin, because giving the shot has (in my opinion) less risk than not. I've always been diligent in giving vaccinations to my horses and foals and have not seen any problems other than localized swelling. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 14232
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, Dec 1, 2005 - 8:06 am: | |
First let's comment on the fiction that West Nile vaccination adversely effects breeding or pregnancy. This well researched question got started with a misleading newspaper article and spread through the internet. However your concerns about tetanus antitoxin are real but your lack of tetanus vaccination, which is not the same thing as the antitoxin, makes it more likely you might have to administer the antitoxin. For more on this see the article on tetanus.
No one can produce a number of what the chances are but over the years I have had to put down a few unvaccinated yearlings because their tetanus got so bad it was inhumane to continue to allow them to suffer. On the other hand I have never seen a serious reaction to a tetanus vaccination.
It it were me I would give the tetanus vaccination and the follow up in 21 days but some would say that this colt may not be protected fast enough and you should give the antitoxin and the vaccine.
DrO |
Salt Fork Ranch
New Member
Username: Maverick
Post Number: 2
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, Dec 1, 2005 - 8:21 am: | |
Dr. O
Thank you so much for the time you spend teaching people how to care for the beloved equine. The knowledge you share is priceless.
Maril |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 14249
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 2, 2005 - 6:24 am: | |
Thanks for the kudos and the lovely photo, it makes my morning better.
DrO |
