Owners would vaccinate horses against EHV if vets advised it

Most horse owners who are not currently vaccinating their horse against equine herpesvirus (EHV) would do so if their vet advised it, a Zoetis survey has found. It also found that a quarter of owners did not understand how the disease was transmitted or the risks of disease to their horse, despite 98 per cent recognising equine gatherings as a risk factor for the spread of EHV, and 75 per cent reporting that they frequently left their home premises with their horses. Of the 2256 owners who completed the survey, 95 per cent said their horse was vaccinated against flu and tetanus, while only 17 per cent reported vaccinating for EHV, despite most believing that vaccination significantly reduced the spread of the disease. The most common reason for owners not vaccinating was that their vet had not recommended it (65 per cent), or that they did not know there was a vaccine.The survey aimed to discover the current rate of EHV vaccination, owners' understanding of EHV, the impact to their horse and the barriers and drivers for vaccination. Survey results are available from Zoetis equine account managers or by emailing: [email protected] or [email protected]