What is the recommended vaccination schedule for horses in North Carolina?

Annual Vaccinations recommended for all horses (usually given in the spring):

  • Rabies

  • Tetanus 

Annual/Semi-Annual Vaccinations recommended for all horses:

  • West Nile Virus

  • Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis

Semi-Annual Vaccinations recommended for horses that leave the property or are exposed either directly or indirectly to other horses:

  • Equine Influenza

  • Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 & 4 

Please note - these are guidelines only and that specific vaccination programs may be designed based on your individual farm’s risk assessment by our veterinarians.

What is the recommended deworming strategy for horses in North Carolina?

In all cases, good pasture/dry lot management is necessary to reduce parasite burdens.

  • Pick up and dispose of manure droppings on a regular basis (at least twice weekly)

  • Mow and harrow pastures regularly to break up manure piles and expose parasite eggs and larvae to the elements

  • Rotate pastures by allowing other livestock, such as sheep or cattle, to graze them thereby interrupting the life cycles of equine parasites

  • Group horses by age to reduce exposure to certain parasites and maximize the deworming program geared to that group

  • Keep the number of horses per acre to a minimum to prevent overgrazing and reduce the fecal contamination per acre

  • Use a feeder for hay and grain rather than feeding on the ground

  • Remove bot eggs quickly and regularly from the horse's hair coat to prevent ingestion

Fecal Egg Count (FEC) based program:

Check individual fecal samples from each horse to identify most significant egg shedders and deworm those individuals with significant egg counts based on fecal results. Fecal egg counts should be preformed again 2 weeks after giving a product to determine if that product was effective. Fecal egg counts can then be taken every 2-3 months. If FECs are within acceptable limits, no deworming is needed until these counts begin to rise again.  Deworming at least once a year with Ivermectin and once a year with Moxidectin plus Praziquantel is advised.

What are the recommendations for vaccinating & deworming sheep & goats in North Carolina?

Vaccinations for all adult sheep & goats:

Clostridium perfringens type C & D plus tetanus (CD&T)

  • Injection given initially at 3 months of age and again 3-4 weeks later, then annually.

Rabies (sheep)

  • One vaccination given at 3 months of age, then repeated in 1-year, then every 3 years after that.

Rabies (goats)

  • One vaccination given at 3 months of age, then repeated annually.

  • Please note - this vaccine is NOT approved/licensed in goats. We still recommend that all goats be vaccinated, but they will not be considered legally protected. It is our feeling that some protection to you and your animals is better than nothing. 

Deworming:

Control programs are based on proper management of pastures, maximizing nutrition, and limited, proper use of dewormers. Sound pasture management consists of minimizing stocking rates and the use of “safe” pastures. Safe pastures are those used for forage crops, those grazed by horses or cattle, or those not grazed by sheep or goats for 3 months in the warm season and 6 months in the cool season. Intensive pasture rotation systems that maximize forage utilization and provide browse to goats also help. It should be noted that deworming all animals at the time of movement to safe pasture is not recommended. Keeping animals in a dry-lot for 48-72 hours after deworming allows the eggs (which aren’t killed by dewormers) that have already been laid to pass in feces and remain on the dry-lot instead of contaminating pasture.

We recommend a deworming program based on Fecal Egg Counts and the FAMACHA system:

  1. Test feces prior to deworming (in large commercial herds, animals with consistently high fecal egg counts should be culled from the herd)

  2. Deworm based on fecal egg counts/species of parasites found

  3. Re-test feces 3-5 weeks after administration of deworming product

  4. In some cases, administration of a dewormer may not be needed

  5. Fecal testing should be performed prior to pasture rotation (every 3 months) – may combine a herd sample if all animals are doing well

Pregnant animals: 

Fecal tests should be done 1 month prior to lambing/kidding and lambs/kids should be kept with ewes/does on separate pasture from the rest of the herd.

New additions to the farm:

Fecal samples should be taken on any new additions to the herd prior to introduction. Any animals with signs of diarrhea should be isolated, fecal tested & dewormed immediately. A coccidiostat in the feed may be necessary with kids/lambs as they are very susceptible to coccidiosis. Coccidiostats should be given prophylactically for 28 days in a row after lambs are put into a new environment. Oocysts can be killed by heat, direct sunlight, and drying. Cleaning at high temperatures and allowing area to dry is recommended.

Please note - these are guidelines only and our veterinarians may have specific recommendations for your farm or a particular animal.