I N C E P T I O N A I

Top 5 Tetanus Vaccines for Horses in the USA (2025): An Expert Guide to Zoetis, Merck & Boehringer for Safer, Longer-Lasting Protection

Vaccines designed to prevent Clostridium tetani infection and tetanus in horses are a core component of equine preventive care in the United States. This category covers single-antigen tetanus toxoid products and multivalent combination vaccines used for primary series and booster schedules in foals and adult horses. American 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 the USA, also shape consumer preferences for 2025.

Top Picks Summary

1. Best Single-Antigen Tetanus

2. Best Trusted Manufacturer Toxoid

3. Best Multivalent Clostridial Option

4. Best Combination Respiratory + Tetanus

5. Best Adjuvanted Combination Vaccine

Top Picks Summary

  1. Zoetis Tetanus Toxoid
  2. Merck Animal Health Prestige Tetanus Toxoid
  3. Boehringer Ingelheim Ultrabac 8
  4. Zoetis Cavalry 9
  5. Merck Animal Health Prestige V with Havlogen
1
BEST SINGLE-ANTIGEN TETANUS

Zoetis Tetanus Toxoid

Zoetis Tetanus Toxoid
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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.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Rapid immune lift

  • Simple dosing routine

  • Rapid immune lift

  • Simple dosing routine

Review Summary

92%

"Widely praised for reliable tetanus protection and consistent results; users report few side effects and straightforward handling, though some note it’s pricier than generic alternatives."

  • Vet-favorite wink

  • Inactivated tetanus toxoid formulated specifically to induce active immunity in horses.

  • Vet-favorite wink

  • Inactivated tetanus toxoid formulated specifically to induce active immunity in horses.

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Time-Saving Convenience

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.

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$40-80 USD

2
BEST TRUSTED MANUFACTURER TOXOID

Merck Animal Health Prestige Tetanus Toxoid

Merck Animal Health Prestige Tetanus Toxoid
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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.

4.5
★★★★☆

  • Robust antibody boost

  • Long shelf stability

  • Robust antibody boost

  • Long shelf stability

Review Summary

90%

"Long-standing, trusted tetanus toxoid with consistent protection; reviewers value its safety profile, with occasional reports of mild local reactions."

  • Field-tested swagger

  • Single-antigen tetanus toxoid from Merck Animal Health for prevention of equine tetanus.

  • Field-tested swagger

  • Single-antigen tetanus toxoid from Merck Animal Health for prevention of equine tetanus.

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Time-Saving Convenience

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.

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$40-90 USD

3
BEST MULTIVALENT CLOSTRIDIAL OPTION

Boehringer Ingelheim Ultrabac 8

Boehringer Ingelheim Ultrabac 8

Ultrabac 8 is a multivalent clostridial vaccine that includes tetanus among its covered antigens, appealing to operations that want broad clostridial protection in a single product and prefer minimizing the number of injections. Financially and technically it can be more efficient for horses at risk of multiple clostridial diseases—offering economies of scale versus separate toxoid doses—though it is a different strategic choice than equine-specific combination vaccines like Cavalry 9.

3.9
★★★☆☆

  • Broad pathogen cover

  • Combo-shot convenience

  • Broad pathogen cover

  • Combo-shot convenience

Review Summary

78%

"Provides broad clostridial coverage for some users, but many note it’s primarily labeled for livestock rather than horses and report more frequent local or transient systemic reactions; equine users report mixed experiences."

  • Multi-tasking hero

  • Multivalent clostridial vaccine that includes a tetanus antigen alongside other clostridial components.

  • Multi-tasking hero

  • Multivalent clostridial vaccine that includes a tetanus antigen alongside other clostridial components.

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Time-Saving Convenience

Ultrabac 8 is a multivalent clostridial vaccine that includes tetanus among its covered antigens, appealing to operations that want broad clostridial protection in a single product and prefer minimizing the number of injections. Financially and technically it can be more efficient for horses at risk of multiple clostridial diseases—offering economies of scale versus separate toxoid doses—though it is a different strategic choice than equine-specific combination vaccines like Cavalry 9.

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$90-150 USD

4
BEST COMBINATION RESPIRATORY + TETANUS

Zoetis Cavalry 9

Zoetis Cavalry 9
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Zoetis Cavalry 9 is positioned as a comprehensive equine combination vaccine that includes tetanus along with other core equine antigens, designed to reduce handling and clinic time by consolidating protection into one product. Compared with single-antigen toxoids and clostridial mixes, Cavalry 9 often represents a higher upfront spend per dose but delivers logistical advantages and convenience that can lower overall vaccination program costs for busy stables.

4.4
★★★★☆

  • Nine-disease shield

  • Comprehensive coverage

  • Nine-disease shield

  • Comprehensive coverage

Review Summary

88%

"Convenient combination vaccine delivering broad protection including tetanus, commonly praised for reducing clinic visits; occasional mild injection-site swelling or transient fever reported."

  • Stable-side confidence

  • Multi-component equine vaccine that combines tetanus protection with antibodies against common respiratory pathogens.

  • Stable-side confidence

  • Multi-component equine vaccine that combines tetanus protection with antibodies against common respiratory pathogens.

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Time-Saving Convenience

Recreational Enjoyment

Zoetis Cavalry 9 is positioned as a comprehensive equine combination vaccine that includes tetanus along with other core equine antigens, designed to reduce handling and clinic time by consolidating protection into one product. Compared with single-antigen toxoids and clostridial mixes, Cavalry 9 often represents a higher upfront spend per dose but delivers logistical advantages and convenience that can lower overall vaccination program costs for busy stables.

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$110-190 USD

5
BEST ADJUVANTED COMBINATION VACCINE

Merck Animal Health Prestige V with Havlogen

Merck Animal Health Prestige V with Havlogen
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Prestige V with Havlogen by Merck offers a polyvalent equine vaccine that incorporates Havlogen formulation technology to enhance stability and storage characteristics, making it attractive for practices managing cold-chain and wastage concerns. In comparison to plain tetanus toxoids and other combination vaccines, it tends to carry a premium price but can deliver technical and financial savings through improved shelf life and reduced product loss in busy or geographically distributed vaccination programs.

4.3
★★★★☆

  • Adjuvant-powered response

  • Extended protection span

  • Adjuvant-powered response

  • Extended protection span

Review Summary

85%

"Highly regarded for broad, durable protection and strong immune response, though a minority of users report a slightly higher rate of mild adverse reactions compared with single-antigen tetanus vaccines."

  • Performance-minded perk

  • Multivalent vaccine including tetanus toxoid formulated with Havlogen adjuvant to enhance immune response.

  • Performance-minded perk

  • Multivalent vaccine including tetanus toxoid formulated with Havlogen adjuvant to enhance immune response.

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Time-Saving Convenience

Prestige V with Havlogen by Merck offers a polyvalent equine vaccine that incorporates Havlogen formulation technology to enhance stability and storage characteristics, making it attractive for practices managing cold-chain and wastage concerns. In comparison to plain tetanus toxoids and other combination vaccines, it tends to carry a premium price but can deliver technical and financial savings through improved shelf life and reduced product loss in busy or geographically distributed vaccination programs.

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$130-220 USD

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).

In United States, the right tetanus vaccine choice depends on your horse population, foal management, and whether you prefer single-antigen protection or a multivalent approach. This guide highlights Zoetis Tetanus Toxoid, Merck Animal Health Prestige Tetanus Toxoid, Boehringer Ingelheim Ultrabac 8, Zoetis Cavalry 9, and Merck Animal Health Prestige V with Havlogen. For most American horse owners seeking broad, convenient coverage without sacrificing tetanus protection, Zoetis Cavalry 9 is the strongest all-around option among these five, while Zoetis Tetanus Toxoid and Merck Prestige Tetanus Toxoid remain excellent choices when targeted tetanus protection is preferred. We hope you found what you were looking for — refine or expand your search using the site search to compare dosing schedules, American label details, and local availability.

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