R.E. Nieper, formerly Animal Health Bureau Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Department of Primary Industries Queensland has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate inquiries to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter.
Horses are extremely susceptible to tetanus.
Eighty percent of horses showing clinical signs die. Tetanus can be prevented by cheap, effective vaccinations. Cause Tetanus is caused by the bacterial contamination of wounds with Clostridium tetani . A by-product of this growth is a toxin which causes tetanus. Closed wounds as caused by punctures, nail pricks, stake wounds and surgical incisions are especially susceptible.