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Horses are very susceptible to tetanus, which is caused by a ubiquitous environmental bacteria called Clostridium tetani. Tetanus develops when a horse (or any mammal, including a human) gets a deep puncture wound from an unclean surface - the classic example is stepping on a rusty nail. The bacteria only live in anaerobic conditions, so the wound has to be deep and thin enough that the surface seals over and keep atmospheric air out. If a horse becomes sick with tetanus, it is very rare for the horse to survive.

The good news is the vaccine is very effective, widely available and has minimal short or long term side effects. The tetanus vaccine is usually made available as a combination vaccine with several other diseases.

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14y ago

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