Is there a Lyme disease vaccine approved for use in horses?
No! Currently, there is no USDA approved Lyme disease vaccine for use in horses. Some horse owners have elected to vaccinate their horses using one of three Lyme disease vaccines approved for use in dogs. However, there is no research or clinical information to support the use of any dog vaccine for Lyme disease prevention in the horse. In fact, use of the vaccine will make interpretation of the diagnostic tests more difficult should this disease be suspected. In addition, researchers have reported finding the spirochete organism in clinically ill horses who had previously been given the dog vaccine! Insect control is probably the best method of preventive medicine for horse owners to decrease their horses= exposure to ticks. Talk with your veterinarian and ask for some recommendations on appropriate insecticides to use on your horse to minimize contact with ticks.
