Yes, but many horses are vaccinated against it. Horses are actually more prone to tetanus than most other animals! It is caused by a toxin which is released from the bacteria called Clostridium tetani. This bacteria is found in the intestinal tract of horses and therefore is passed through the feces. This means that spores of the bacteria is present in the soil IN ANY AREA WHERE HORSES ARE. Even small cuts on your horse can be easily infected with tetanus and the mortality rate has been reported as high as 50 percent! (I have also seen estimated death rates of 75 to 80 percent!) It is EXTREMELY important to keep your horse(s) vaccinated against tetanus. Since it is a very quick shot and extremely inexpensive, (normally around $15 dollars) it is well worth every penny. A lot of vets will let you buy the vaccine and give the shot yourself, (if you are comfortable with giving injections), which will save you even more money on the vet making a house call. **ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE: If your unvaccinated horse gets a cut that heals up and shows no signs of tetanus, don't be fooled. Tetanus can lie dormant in a horse's system for as long as six months before they show any signs of having contracted the disease. Because of this, the only way to ensure your horse doesn't get tetanus is to stop it from happening in the first place. Waiting until they get a wound may be too late. Please protect your horses and keep them on a schedule of REGULAR tetanus vaccinations! === === Tetanus does not come from rusty nails, staples, or metal items. As the above author states, it runs in the GI tract and is thus apparent in feces. The "nail" simply cuts the foot and allows entrance to the bacteria.
It is not known what makes horses more susceptible to Tetanus.
Horses are vaccinated with a tetanus toxoid that is marketed for use in horses.
Horses are one of the most susceptible species to the bacterial toxins that cause Tetanus. They also are accident prone and shed the bacteria that cause Tetanus in their feces, which means that the opportunities to contract Tetanus are more frequent with horses.
All horses should be vaccinated against tetanus.
Tetanus is caused by infections in cuts and not only horses can get it but all animals, including people. You can buy tetanus shots, a lot like worming pastes but it prevents and helps treat tetanus. Consult your local equine vet for more information.
Horses need a tetanus shot once at year and probably a booster if they are injured with cuts or open wounds.
Horses need a booster shot for Tetanus because the bacteria could have gotten into the wound and cause and infection which would be fatal to the horse.
Horses are one of the most susceptible creatures to tetanus. They also shed the bacteria that causes tetanus in their feces so they live in constantly contaminated surroundings. Horses are also very prone to injuries on the lower legs and hooves and these wounds are at high risk of contamination with the bacteria through exposure to soil.
Tetanus requires an anerobic environment to produce the toxins that result in disease which doesn't include ingestion.
Horses can carry tetanus bacteria, specifically Clostridium tetani, in their intestines without showing symptoms, as the bacteria are naturally found in soil and the gastrointestinal tracts of many animals. When horses sustain injuries, especially deep puncture wounds, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and produce a toxin that leads to tetanus. The anaerobic conditions in deep wounds facilitate the growth of the bacteria, making horses particularly susceptible to this potentially fatal disease. Vaccination is essential to protect them from tetanus infection.
Answer:Yes they can. In fact they are one of the species that is most susceptible to the bacteria that causes tetanus. Thus it is recommended that they be vaccinated yearly against tetanus.
Every year, a horse should be getting a tetanus vaccination.