Minimum time for quarantining auction horse

[lolalola]

Several friends chipped in and rescued a nice horse from the local feedlot. What is the minimum time he should be quarantined? A vet told us ten days, but that doesn't seem long enough to me ... the problem is he can't stay in his temporary quarantine place much longer, and the place he will be going he may have trouble keeping him separate for long.

[BuddyRoo]

IMHO, 30 days is ideal...but most viruses will show themselves in 7-10 days post exposure.

In all honesty, the horse being MOVED is at greater risk of developing complications because he/she is stressed and immunocompromised.

If the other horses are in good health and vaccinated...10 days is less than I'd want but more than I'd get at most barns.

[Bluey]

Guess that your vet knows what works in your area.

Here, we give sale barn or horses from other stables that move many horses in and out, or that have been traveling, three weeks and better four.
We also give them their vaccines, deworming, float teeth, all that asap.

Immunologically naive horses, like weanlings and yearlings from one farm, we quarantine for their own safety, not only what they may bring in.
Takes most vaccines 21 days to become effective.

[LauraKY]

Take temp every day. We usually do at least 2 weeks. Then they are in a private paddock for 2 more. Ditto on the vaccinations, floating, worming, etc.

[alteringwego]

2 weeks minimum

[fivehorses]

3 weeks minimum, but I do 60 days due to having an immune compromised mare, and don't want to risk anything.

I wait 4 weeks to do vaccines. Vaccines stress the system, and not advisable by my vets until 3-4 weeks. Definitely do not do strangles until you test the titre...you could kill the horse if they do have strep equi brewing or recently recovered in their system.

I prefer playing it safe than sorry. Sorry costs money, and can cause loss of life.

[Bluey]

We don't use strangles vaccine at all, but yes, if you do use it, don't use it before you know if the horse is coming down with it.

The other basic vaccines, our vet thinks are ok to use, because the immune system, in an infection, will be battling it partly thru a different pathway that is using to react to most vaccines.
The basic vaccines won't make the horse sick or sicker, but while fighting the infection, the horse may not end up vaccinated properly and that may give a false sense of security.
Weighing all the concerns present, our vet thinks vaccinating with the basic vaccines a new horse that is not obviously sick, the sooner the better, is ok.

[FatPalomino]

I usually can tell if they are sick at about 10-12 days. Keep an eye on the general demeanor. A lot of them will get perkier and perkier... just feeling better overall.

Were there any sick horses where he came from that you knew about?

Good job with the new horse ;)