Officials say vaccines can help protect horses from mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis virus. | Photo: Erica Larson/The Horse

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is advising horse owners to plan “spring shots” with their veterinarians to ensure proper protection from mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE).

“Getting these vaccines at the right time of year can provide horses protection for the whole mosquito season,” said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux. “As West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis virus pose serious risks to horses, I encourage all owners to get their animals vaccinated promptly.”

Annual vaccinations should be administered during this time of year to ensure their animals are protected prior to the peak arboviral season beginning in late July, and to remain protective through the first hard frost. Owners are urged not to wait until positive cases are reported in their area, since it can take several weeks for an animal to be fully protected by a vaccine