The influenza virus tends to cause sporadic outbreaks of flu symptoms which can be very severe in unvaccinated horses. Typical signs of infection are depression, discharge from the nostrils and eyes, a cough, swollen glands, inappetance and a fever. The influenza virus can also affect the heart. The virus has the capacity to mutate and this limits the efficacy of vaccination. Manufacturers of the vaccine try to counter this by altering the vaccine in line with natural changes in the virus. A regular annual vaccination after the initial booster course is advisable for all horses.
We recommend a vaccination protocol in line with the Jockey Club guidelines. This protocol is usually combined with the tetanus vaccination and it is listed below.
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