Tetanus Toxoid

Tetanus gets in through the places livestock and horses are most likely to get hurt: a puncture in the pasture, a cut from wire, a surgical incision or an open wound. Tetanus spores can persist in the environment for a long time, so vaccination is a standard part of the plan for many herds and horse barns.

This tetanus toxoid vaccine is shown to be effective for the vaccination of healthy horses, sheep and swine against tetanus. Each vial holds a single 1 mL dose. Protective antibody titers usually occur two weeks after the second injection of the initial series, so the timing of the series matters as much as the shot.

Highlights

• Vaccination against tetanus in healthy horses, sheep and swine
• 1 mL dose for horses
• Duration of immunity has not been established, so ask your vet about the schedule
• Safe for pregnant mares as a single dose during the third trimester

Why tetanus is worth a plan for the whole place

Tetanus is not something to wait out. The bacteria live in soil and manure, and they thrive in deep or dirty wounds where there is no air. Horses and livestock get puncture wounds in ordinary work, so a vaccination program is how you prepare for that risk before the cut happens, not after.

The first series is two doses given 4 to 8 weeks apart in healthy horses. Sheep, swine and smaller horses get two 0.5 mL doses on the same schedule. That first series is the part of the plan that sets up protection, so it is worth putting on the calendar when the animals are healthy and the handling is calm.

At a glance

How to use it

Shake well before use. Healthy horses receive two 1 mL doses given intramuscularly, 4 to 8 weeks apart. Sheep, swine and smaller horses, such as Shetland ponies or miniature breeds, receive two 0.5 mL doses given 4 to 8 weeks apart.

If an animal is injured during the initial vaccination program, a prophylactic dose of at least 1500 units of tetanus antitoxin should be given. Call your vet for that decision, and for revaccination, since the timing depends on the animal.

Use a clean needle and syringe for each dose, and give the injection at the site your vet recommends. Expect a small, temporary reaction at the injection site, and let your vet know if the swelling is large or lasting.

Good to know

• Vaccines must stay cold, so we don't ship them. Pick yours up at the store in Baker.
• Refrigerate it at 2 to 8 degrees C and don't freeze it. Heat and direct sunlight reduce potency, so keep it out of the sun and in a cooler on the drive home.
• Record every lot number, date and dose, and keep the record with the herd papers.
• Ask your vet about boosters and timing for each species on the place, because the schedule is set for each animal.

Cautions

Store at 2°-8°C. Prolonged exposure to higher temperatures and/or direct sunlight may adversely affect potency. Do not freeze. Use entire contents when first opened. Transient local reactions may occur at the injection site. Do not vaccinate within 21 days before slaughter. Contains formalin, thimerosal, neomycin and polymyxin B as preservatives. Do not mix with other products. In case of human exposure, contact a physician.

Put the next booster on the calendar now, so it is done before the fence work starts.