Post by Leesa on Oct 11, 2008 8:45:36 GMT -5
Thanks Michelle for addressing my question so throughly. All of the information, you and others, have posted is extremely helpful when pondering this issue. I do vaccinate my horses and have never had a problem (they are the picutre of health IMO) except for the one that came out of the wild as a yearling. She rubs her mane and tail and gets the dandruff which we treat with M-T-G.
To vaccinate or not is a tough decision for anyone who is a parent or a horse owner. I clearly remember when my daughters were very young and during the vaccinating years read an interesting article about a child that had developed polio even after receving the vaccine. When I questioned my peditriacian about the safety of vaccinating our children he explained that with ALL medical treatments there is always the potential of side effects. We as a society don't really want to hear or may not even be aware of this as we expect cures and ease of discomfort and have pretty much been lead into putting control of our physical lives and well being into the hands of our esteemed doctors. He went on to say that while there are the potentials for risks and reactions to all drugs (heck just read the lables and watch the disclaimers on the drug commericals now days) in his opinion (which I valued highly as I knew he always had MY childrens best interest in mind) he felt the benefits far out weighted the risks. That as a society if we did not vaccinate our children there would be more sick and dying children and that is one of the reasons why some of these dieaseas have been pretty much eradicated from this country at least.
I guess I would have to use the same rational when it comes to my horses. There are far too many dieases down here in FL that my horses could get either just by grazing in their pastures or by being in contact with other horses at a show or trail ride. We have the birds, the posseums, the flies and the mosquitoes that carry or transmit many of them. I believe you are in TX and most likely have similiar conditions so if your horses are doing well without vaccinations for the last 18 years then that is certainly something for me to consider. We have,however, seen horses that have died or been euthanized down here for rabies, tetnus and more; the other side of the coin.
IMO the bottom line is each and everyone of us should try and be as informed as we possibly can and then make the decision, as to whether to vaccinate or not, based on that information, our horses and geographical location. I'm not sure whether is is do to our new internet age or the increase in equine medical research but the tools are now available to do this where the information was either limited or not in existance say 25 years ago. Thank you for sending the web sites as I intend to read them and do more research on the topic. Can't say as of yet if I will change my mind on the issue or not but I will try to become more informed.
To vaccinate or not is a tough decision for anyone who is a parent or a horse owner. I clearly remember when my daughters were very young and during the vaccinating years read an interesting article about a child that had developed polio even after receving the vaccine. When I questioned my peditriacian about the safety of vaccinating our children he explained that with ALL medical treatments there is always the potential of side effects. We as a society don't really want to hear or may not even be aware of this as we expect cures and ease of discomfort and have pretty much been lead into putting control of our physical lives and well being into the hands of our esteemed doctors. He went on to say that while there are the potentials for risks and reactions to all drugs (heck just read the lables and watch the disclaimers on the drug commericals now days) in his opinion (which I valued highly as I knew he always had MY childrens best interest in mind) he felt the benefits far out weighted the risks. That as a society if we did not vaccinate our children there would be more sick and dying children and that is one of the reasons why some of these dieaseas have been pretty much eradicated from this country at least.
I guess I would have to use the same rational when it comes to my horses. There are far too many dieases down here in FL that my horses could get either just by grazing in their pastures or by being in contact with other horses at a show or trail ride. We have the birds, the posseums, the flies and the mosquitoes that carry or transmit many of them. I believe you are in TX and most likely have similiar conditions so if your horses are doing well without vaccinations for the last 18 years then that is certainly something for me to consider. We have,however, seen horses that have died or been euthanized down here for rabies, tetnus and more; the other side of the coin.
IMO the bottom line is each and everyone of us should try and be as informed as we possibly can and then make the decision, as to whether to vaccinate or not, based on that information, our horses and geographical location. I'm not sure whether is is do to our new internet age or the increase in equine medical research but the tools are now available to do this where the information was either limited or not in existance say 25 years ago. Thank you for sending the web sites as I intend to read them and do more research on the topic. Can't say as of yet if I will change my mind on the issue or not but I will try to become more informed.
