How to Vaccinate Equines for Rabies

The triangle created by the horse's neck is the preferred injection site.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners recommends that horses be inoculated against rabies, as part of the animal's core vaccination program. Even though rabies is rarely diagnosed in horses, the AAEP considers it of considerable health significance because it transfers to humans through bites, and equestrians inevitably need to work with the horse's mouth. Because the domestic horse is considered livestock, many states allow horse owners to administer the rabies vaccine themselves.

Things You'll Need

• 22-gauge, 1-1/2-inch sterile needle
• 3-cc syringe

Instructions

1. Purchase a vile of the rabies vaccine from your veterinarian -- or order it online from a veterinary pharmacy. Note that some online pharmacies require a veterinarian's prescription, and others will not ship to all states because of restrictive pharmacy regulations.

2. Halter your horse and place it in cross-ties, or tie it in its stall.

3. Attach a 22-gauge, 1-1/2-inch sterile needle to a 3-cc syringe. Remove the plastic cap from the needle, and withdraw one milliliter -- 1-cc -- of vaccine into the syringe barrel. Do not allow the needle to touch anything except the vial's rubber stopper.

4. Remove air from the syringe. Slowly push the plunger to the desired level and replace the cap on the needle. Tap any remaining air bubbles in the barrel with your fingernail, to move them up the syringe and into the needle.

5. Find the triangular, muscular area on your horse's neck: It's formed by the crest or top of the neck -- the scapula -- the horse's shoulder blades -- and the deep groove of the jugular vein. Brush this area with a hard grooming brush, to remove any dirt or caked mud.

6. Take the cap off the needle and carefully remove the needle from the syringe, without touching anything.

7. Plunge the needle straight into the horse's muscle at the base of the neck -- approximately 4 inches above the scapula. Check the needle for any blood accumulating in the hub.

8. Insert the vaccine-filled syringe securely onto the needle: Withdraw the plunger to check for blood -- if no blood is found -- inject the vaccine. If you see blood in the syringe, you will need to reposition the needle to another spot on your horse's neck.

Tips & Warnings

• Refrigerate any unused rabies vaccine. Check the expiration date on the vial before using it again.

• To find the correct injection site, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System recommends placing the heel of your hand at the spot on the horse's neck where it meets the shoulder, approximately halfway between the bottom of the neck and the crest. Your palm covers the appropriate injection area.

• Tapping with the palm or the heel of your hand several times at the injection site gives your horse notice that it is being touched in this area, and keeps it from being startled when you place the needle.

• If your horse is one of those animals that won't stand still for injections, have a friend walk the horse on a lead rope in circles in a round pen while you follow at the horse's shoulder. Inject the needle and vaccine when your horse is moving and distracted, and you are able to get quickly out of the way.

• For horses that show vaccine reactions, veterinarians Dennis McCurnin and Joanna Bassert suggest spacing out multiple vaccines over the period of a week in their book, "Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians."

References

• American Association of Equine Practitioners: Rabies
• Alabama Cooperative Extension System: How to Give your Horse an Intramuscular Injection
• "Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians"; Dennis McCurnin, DVM; Joanna Bassert, DVM; 2002

Resources

• American Association of Equine Practitioners: Vaccination Guidelines
• Equine Vet Services: Vaccinations
• TheHorse.com: New Equine Rabies Vaccine Introduced