Preventing Spread of Infections
In an ideal situation, any horse new to the ranch/farm would be isolated for at least two weeks, and any sick horse would immediately be put in isolation with no contact with other horses. In reality, this is rarely possible, and even if it were, there's a good chance that the sick horse had a fever and was shedding viruses or bacteria before he even developed the red-flag warning signs of nasal discharge or cough.
If the worst case scenario happens and a horse in your barn comes down with a respiratory illness, involve your vet immediately. Some sanitation measures and precautions will depend on exactly what the problem is. In general:
• Horses turned out with, or in the stalls closest to, the sick horse are those at highest risk of also becoming sick.
• If facilities allow, separate horses into three groups-obviously ill, close contacts, little or no contact with the sick horse.
• Start taking temperatures of all horses twice a day. Horses that spike a fever (your vet will tell you how high) should be moved to the sick horse group immediately. Fever almost always occurs in advance of symptoms.
• Horses that show no fever or symptoms after the usual incubation period (again, your vet is your source of detailed information) can be moved to the healthy horse/no contact group.
• Turnout paddocks used by any sick horse should not be used for a healthy one until your vet gives you the okay. This will depend on the type of organism.
• Use separate tubs, buckets, halters, brushes, mucking equipment for infected horses.
• Use a disinfectant shoe/boot dip (available in farm stores) and a hand sanitizer after any contact with a sick horse or equipment used with a sick horse.
• Coveralls and head covering should be worn when working on sick horses or in their stalls. Leave these in the area of the sick horses.
Adequate Rest. Just like a human patient, the horse with a respiratory infection needs a comfortable place to rest. Equally important is not to try to put the horse back on a full work or social schedule too soon. You need to give his tissues time to completely heal. Wait at least a week after coughing has stopped and nasal discharge dried up before you turn the horse out with other horses or resume riding, two weeks for influenza. Gradually build back up to your previous work schedule.
Prevention
The single most important protection against respiratory infections is promoting a strong immune system in your horse through good management. Adequate intake of quality protein, vitamin C, vitamin E, and the trace minerals zinc, copper, and selenium (all three of those are commonly deficient) is critical.
Stresses such as shipping and heavy exercise are known to compromise the immune system, so always give the horse one or two days of rest after these. Deworm as needed to avoid having parasites sap the immune system.
Also very important is to do all you can to minimize exposure. High risk groups such as young horses, aged horses, and debilitated horses, should not be mixed with horses that do a lot of traveling. They may be harboring infectious organisms even if they are not showing symptoms themselves.
New horses should be isolated for two weeks whenever possible. If that's not possible, at least monitor their temperature twice daily. Be careful when away from home. Do not allow nose-to-nose contact with strange horses. Do not allow your horse to graze in areas where horses are heavily concentrated. Disinfect the walls and inner bars/doors/ledges of stalls at fair or show grounds before putting your horse in them, or put a muzzle on your horse if he's only going to be in there a short time. Use your own water and feed buckets. Never use communal watering troughs away from home. Don't allow your horse to touch, sniff, or lick walls and other surfaces at vet clinics, in commercial vans, or anywhere else away from home.
Vaccines are available for strangles, rhinopneumonitis, and influenza. But the bottom line is that none of them are 100% effective. They cannot substitute for a sound immune system and common sense in avoiding exposure. Speak with your vet regarding what vaccinations might be appropriate for your horse, a decision that is based to a large extent on risk of exposure.
