Injection Site Infections Are Uncommon For Routine Vaccines – Horse Racing News

Human skin is often first swabbed with alcohol before an injection is administered, in an effort to prevent bacteria from entering the wound made when the needle pierces the skin. Horses, however, rarely receive this cleaning procedure before an injection. 

This is because the horse’s hair coat reduces alcohol’s effect. If the horse is very dirty, a vet may ask the owner to clean the area in which the injection will be given, but often she will just swipe the bottle top with alcohol and administer the injection. 

Injection-site infections are uncommon in horses. A horse may develop localized swelling or a small abscess, but both of these often heal without treatment. 

However, a horse that develops a large, painful swelling may have contracted an infection caused by clostridial bacteria, which can be life-threatening. Injections that are given on the side of the neck are easier to treat and drain if needed than injections given in the hip area.

Unlike a horse getting routine vaccinations, a horse receiving a joint injection will be thoroughly scrubbed and disinfected to reduce the likelihood of joint infections. The vet may also opt to shave the area to further reduce the chance of tissue contamination. A horse’s immune system can’t easily reach the fluid and tissue inside a joint, making the infection harder to treat should one take hold. 

Read more at EQUUS magazine.