Top 5 Tetanus Vaccines for Horses in Canada (2025): An Expert Guide to Zoetis, Merck & Boehringer for Safer, Longer-Lasting Protection
Published on Monday, August 25, 2025
Vaccines designed to prevent Clostridium tetani infection and tetanus in horses are a core component of equine preventive care in Canada. This category covers single-antigen tetanus toxoid products and multivalent combination vaccines used for primary series and booster schedules in foals and adult horses. Canadian buyers typically choose products based on documented efficacy, safety profiles, duration of immunity, ease of dosing (single versus combination vaccines), label indications for foals and pregnant mares, local availability, and veterinary recommendations. Rising interest in combination vaccines that reduce handling stress and clinic visits, plus attention to cold-chain reliability and manufacturer support in Canada, also shape consumer preferences for 2025.
Top Picks Summary
Zoetis Tetanus Toxoid
Zoetis Tetanus Toxoid is a focused, monovalent vaccine favored for targeted tetanus prevention in horses; its simplicity makes it cost-effective for clinics and owners who only need tetanus protection rather than broad-spectrum coverage. Compared with the multivalent products in this list, it typically offers lower per-dose cost and a straightforward administration profile, making it the practical choice when tetanus is the sole concern.
Merck Animal Health Prestige Tetanus Toxoid
Merck's Prestige Tetanus Toxoid combines a strong company reputation and wide distribution with a single-antigen formulation tailored for equine tetanus control, often chosen by practices that value consistent supply and established manufacturing quality. Relative to Zoetis's tetanus-only option it competes on brand trust and program integration, while remaining less complex and generally less expensive than combination vaccines when tetanus-only protection is desired.
Boehringer Ingelheim Ultrabac 8
Ultrabac 8 is a Zoetis multivalent clostridial vaccine for cattle and sheep that covers blackleg (C. chauvoei), malignant edema (C. septicum), black disease (C. novyi), bacillary hemoglobinuria (C. haemolyticum), gas gangrene (C. sordellii) and enterotoxemia/enteritis (C. perfringens Types C & D). Importantly, Ultrabac 8 does NOT contain a tetanus (C. tetani) antigen, so it does not provide tetanus protection for horses on its own; it is included here only as a clostridial reference point and any equine use would be off-label and is not a substitute for a dedicated equine tetanus toxoid.
Zoetis Cavalry 9
Bovilis Cavalry 9 is a multivalent clostridial vaccine for cattle that aids in preventing blackleg (C. chauvoei), malignant edema (C. septicum), red water (C. haemolyticum), black disease (C. novyi), gas gangrene (C. sordellii), enterotoxemia (C. perfringens Types C & D) and tetanus (C. tetani). It is a livestock 9-way clostridial product rather than an equine respiratory vaccine; while it does include a tetanus toxoid component, it is labeled for cattle, so equine use would be off-label and a dedicated equine tetanus toxoid is the appropriate choice for horses.
Merck Animal Health Prestige V with Havlogen
Prestige V with Havlogen is Merck's combination equine vaccine, covering tetanus alongside Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, equine herpesvirus types 1 and 4, and equine influenza H3N8. It is labelled for healthy horses six months and older. The Havlogen adjuvant is what sets it apart: it is formulated to drive a strong immune response while keeping injection-site and systemic reactions low, which is why it is a common choice for barns vaccinating a lot of horses at once. It costs more per dose than a plain tetanus toxoid, but replaces several separate shots.
What the Research Shows About Equine Tetanus Vaccination
Tetanus vaccines for horses are usually inactivated toxoid vaccines that stimulate production of neutralizing antitoxin antibodies to protect against the neurotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani. Scientific literature and field trials demonstrate that properly timed primary immunization followed by periodic boosters produces high rates of protective antibody titers, dramatically reducing tetanus morbidity and mortality. Research also emphasizes the importance of maternal vaccination timing to transfer passive immunity to foals and the need to adjust schedules when maternal antibodies may interfere with active immunization.
Mechanism: Tetanus toxoid vaccines induce active immunity by prompting antitoxin antibody production; these antibodies neutralize circulating tetanus toxin.
Efficacy: Field studies and manufacturer-controlled trials report high seroconversion rates and strong protection against clinical tetanus when recommended primary and booster schedules are followed.
Foal strategy: Maternal vaccination during late gestation raises colostral antibody levels; foals receive a tailored primary series and boosters to overcome maternal antibody interference.
Duration of immunity: Most protocols call for an initial series in naïve horses followed by a 1-year booster, then boosters every 1–3 years depending on product labeling, risk factors, and veterinary guidance.
Safety: Inactivated toxoid vaccines have a well-established safety record; adverse events are uncommon and usually mild (local swelling, transient fever).
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Prestige Tetanus Toxoid price compare for value?
Merck Animal Health Prestige Tetanus Toxoid is a single-antigen tetanus toxoid sold in multi-dose vials that must be stored cold and administered under veterinary direction; with an average rating of 4.5, it competes on established manufacturing quality and reliable supply rather than being the lowest-cost option. Per-dose cost is generally comparable to other tetanus-only toxoids and lower than multivalent combination vaccines.
Do you need a prescription to buy a horse tetanus vaccine in Canada?
In most Canadian provinces, no. Equine tetanus toxoid is sold without a prescription through farm-supply outlets and licensed veterinary pharmacies. Quebec is the exception: a veterinary prescription is required there. Even where it is available over the counter, work out the schedule with your veterinarian, and keep the vaccine refrigerated at 2-8 °C from purchase to injection.
Does Ultrabac 8 protect a horse against tetanus?
No. Ultrabac 8 (Zoetis) is a cattle and sheep clostridial vaccine covering C. chauvoei, C. septicum, C. novyi, C. sordellii, C. haemolyticum and C. perfringens Types C and D. It contains no C. tetani antigen at all, so it gives a horse zero tetanus protection. Use a dedicated equine tetanus toxoid instead.
Is Cavalry 9 a horse vaccine?
No. Bovilis Cavalry 9 is made by Merck Animal Health and is labelled for healthy cattle. It does include a C. tetani component alongside eight other clostridial fractions, but any use in horses is off-label. For a horse, an equine-labelled tetanus toxoid is the correct product.
Conclusion
In Canada, the right tetanus vaccine choice depends on your horse population, foal management, and whether you prefer single-antigen protection or a multivalent equine vaccine. For dedicated equine tetanus protection, Zoetis Tetanus Toxoid and Merck Prestige Tetanus Toxoid are the targeted single-antigen choices, while Merck Prestige V with Havlogen bundles tetanus toxoid with other core equine antigens (EEE, WEE, EHV-1/4 and influenza) for owners who want broad equine coverage in one shot. Note that Boehringer/Zoetis Ultrabac 8 and Bovilis Cavalry 9 are clostridial vaccines labeled for cattle and sheep rather than horses, and Ultrabac 8 contains no tetanus antigen at all, so neither is a substitute for an equine tetanus toxoid. Always confirm the product label and schedule with your veterinarian. We hope you found what you were looking for — refine or expand your search using the site search to compare dosing schedules, Canadian label details, and local availability.