We may be in the thick of winter at press time, but spring will be here before we know it—and with it the traditional spring vaccines. You might have noticed some equine vaccines are available over the counter for anyone to purchase and administer. However, when a veterinarian is not involved, this approach to preventive care can be seriously detrimental to the overall health of the horse for several important reasons.

First and foremost, the relationship between an equine owner and her veterinarian is an important bond and one that should be established on a routine basis, not in an emergency. Equine veterinarians are becoming few and far between, meaning that those who are still in practice might not be able to take on new clients during emergency hours. Building a good working relationship with a veterinarian you trust ensures that emergency care is available and that the practitioner is familiar with your horse and his unique medical needs and history.

Annual Wellness Exams

Second, vaccinations are only part of your veterinarian’s annual visit. Just like annual exams for children, complete physical examinations at these visits can help the practitioner pick up on changes in your horse’s health, such as new heart murmurs, hair and coat changes, weight gain or loss, or the development of or change in abnormal lumps or bumps. Problems are easier to manage or treat when identified early, as opposed to waiting until they are an emergency. This visit is the perfect time to discuss concerns you have, including diet, exercise, and temperament, follow up on previous emergency or sick visits, or clear up rumors you’ve heard floating around on social media. This is where you, your horse, and your veterinarian build camaraderie—again, the relationship necessary for quality emergency care from a friendly face when you need it!

Parasite Control

Third, annual visits from your veterinarian allow discussion and completion of other components of preventive care. Our understanding of parasites has changed the way we approach deworming—fecal egg counts enable us to give more specific recommendations for parasite control programs for individual horses and herd situations. Traditional rotational deworming and other programs have fallen out of favor, and veterinarians are the most knowledgeable on this topic.

Dental Care

At the other end of the horse, it’s important to have a veterinarian perform dental care; it is otherwise illegal in many states (Google your state’s stance on licensed dental care professionals and veterinarian supervision). Proper speculum examinations allow a veterinarian to evaluate the entire mouth and carry out any procedures they find necessary at that time, such as floating or extractions. Your practitioner might recommend specific sedation, local anesthesia, or antibiotics that are safe for your specific horse based on the physical exam.

Vaccinations

Finally, veterinarians can indeed administer vaccines. But, more importantly, they can recommend a specific vaccine program that is appropriate for your horse in your area. Not every horse needs every vaccine. For example, horses that travel need more vaccines than ones that stay at home. Maybe there is an outbreak of a disease in the area. Some horses react poorly or inefficiently to specific vaccinations and need medication ahead of time or afterward. No one knows the medical needs of your horse and your herd better than your veterinarian … not the feed store cashier.

Additionally, many vaccine companies are confident enough in their products that they offer financial support for diagnosis and/or treatment in the case of a vaccine failure. However, they will only provide this if a veterinarian administered the vaccine. This is to ensure proper handling (you’d be surprised how many expired vaccines—or vaccines stored at incorrect temperatures—I’ve found) and administration.

So, while you’re huddled under a blanket with your calendar planning your spring riding activities, I encourage you to consider the benefits of including veterinarians in your horse’s preventive care. They’d really like to see you during daylight hours when your horse isn’t sick!