Move Away from that Needle!

Most horse owners want to do the best that they can to protect their animals from disease, so they believe in regular vaccinations.  This is common practice and it is usually a good idea. 

However, if you are in the USA and you are thinking about the possibility of selling your horse or donkey to a buyer overseas, please ask an export facility's advice before you vaccinate.  Certain vaccinations can cause inconclusive (aka "toxic") results for some of the blood tests that are required for export.  Some vaccinations can cause a delay of six months.  And some can keep your horse from ever being exported.

Your quarantine station is responsible for all required vaccinations - usually given a day or two prior to the beginning of quarantine.  Some are given during quarantine.   Let the professional export facility take care of this.  They know which vaccinations to give - and which ones to avoid.

Vaccinations to avoid are:

1)  Rabies.  Rabies and Vesicular Stomatitis have some similiarities - and as such, they can give similar results on blood tests.  Right now, because there was an incident of Vesicular Stomatitis in the USA earlier this year, every animal that is being exported to just about any country in the world must be tested for this disease while in pre-export quarantine.  So when a horse comes into quarantine after receiving a recent rabies vaccination, it is likely that the test results are going to come back inconclusive or worse - with a false positive reading.  This means that the horse cannot ship on schedule - and may not be ever able to ship.  It can also create huge problems for the quarantine station and all the other horse owners who have animals in quarantine, because false positive readings automatically shut down the quarantine facility's operation until the state and federal veterinarians have determined that the horse is disease free.  We have seen this happen on more than one occasion - and it is never a pleasant surprise to the  buyer when he or she is told that her horse or donkey cannot be shipped.

2)  West Nile. Some countries want horses to be vaccinated for this disease.  Some do not. If your horse is going to a country that does not require this, it creates special challenges for shipping.   It is best just to avoid it and let your quarantine station give it, if needed.

3)  Venezuelan Equine Encephalomylitis (VEE).  For many places in the world, horses that have been vaccinated for VEE cannot be shipped for at least six months after the date of the vaccination.  Some countries require this vaccination.  Again, ask your quarantine station before you vaccinate so that you can prevent needless delays.

4)  Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA):  Sometimes people think that vaccinating their stallions for EVA is a good idea.  If this is you, please be aware of the fact that there are very specific requirements regarding when and how this vaccine is given if the horse is going to be exported.  If the specific requirements for the importing country were not met when the horse was vaccinated, the horse will be unshippable.  Not delayed, but unshippable at any time, under any circumstances.  If you have a stallion and you are considering exporting him at some time in his life, ask a quarantine station for guidance.  They can help you avoid a mistake that will have a lifelong impact on where your stallion can and can't go.

Other vaccines can also impact test results - so the best course of action for all prospective overseas sales is to simply move away from that needle until you know what impact the vaccinations might have on your horse's ability to be shipped overseas!