More Research Needed to Ensure Horses Stay Safe From Tetanus

An Australian veterinarian is researching the role tetanus vaccine has in preventing disease in horses in that country.
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Tetanus is a devastating disease, in most cases resulting in the death of an affected animal. Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA) member Steve Dennis, BVSc(Hons), MRCVSc, is spearheading a new research project to identify the role tetanus antitoxin has in the prevention of this fatal disease in horses in that country.

Dennis has been working with colleagues at Melbourne University and the University of Sydney to determine correct dosage and the effectiveness of tetanus antitoxin, and tetanus toxoid (vaccine).

“We’ve surveyed EVA members to help us understand what vets know about tetanus antitoxin and the tetanus vaccine and how it works in horses,” he said. “Animals are susceptible to contracting tetanus through open wounds, so for me, it has been routine to offer tetanus antitoxin at the time of any surgical procedures to protect unvaccinated horses from contracting this deadly disease.”

Through his discussions with other equine veterinarians, Dennis has discovered that not everyone follows this practice

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