Hey everyone,

I was just looking through my vet records & STILL debating whether or not to give vaccinations myself. But anyways... that was a topic on a whole different post!

So... my question is this. Who vaccinates for Strangles (STREP) and how often?

Also, I used a different vet on my mare last spring when I was still boarding. Looking back at the receipt I noticed he vaccinated for EPM and did not for strangles? Do you vaccinate for EPM and I was just curious why my other vet never did?

Just wanting some more info on these two vaccinations!

As always, thank you!!!!!!!!! I love this board!

I was doing some research on the EPM vaccine & there is some cause for concern, which is why I was wondering if anyone else vaccinated for this? I wasn't at the barn the day when the vaccines were given & I know this is all "after the fact" but this is from "The Horse" website:
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At this point, the Western blot test cannot distinguish between natural exposure to Sarcocystis neurona--the parasite that causes EPM--and immunization with the new EPM vaccine. Consequently, horses which are given the vaccine will test positive, and this appears to include testing of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

This has been a major concern to both researchers and equine veterinarians, since it will negate the negative predictive value of the test. In other words, the test will not be useful for ruling out EPM in horses which have been vaccinated. However, if we assume that the new vaccine provides at least some protection against EPM (difficult to determine at this point), the benefits of vaccinating probably far outweigh the value of getting an accurate result from the Western blot test. You should discuss your situation with your veterinarian.

My vet does not recommend the EPM vaccine at this time. I only do strangles if I have a horse that's showing heavily or going into training/boarding (all of which happen very rarely). Most recommendations are 2-4x a year if the horse is at risk. The intra-nasal is much more effective.

I vaccinate against strangles. The first year it was the first vaccine then boostered two weeks later. Since then it is yearly. I use the intranasal form. I don't vaccinate against EPM. I stay away from the new vaccines until they work the bugs out.

I vaccinate for strangles as we go on camp out and ride with horses who are not in our barn. I do not do EPM. However vaccine or no vaccine most horses like 80% will test positive for epm without ever neccessarily haveing it as they have been exposed to it so they have the antibodies and have been able to fight it off, while then those who test positive and they cant fight it off hence doing the test in the first place. I say keep your barn as free of outside critters like oppossums and racoons and make sure you have clean hay and not worry about EPM vaccine.