Equine Guelph's Tool of the Month is the Equine Biosecurity Risk Calculator. This tool provides information on equine health, infectious disease and infectious disease control.
Dripping noses of two horses in close contact - a sign of an infectious disease.
The Equine Biosecurity Risk Calculator provides information on equine health, infectious disease and infectious disease control to help horse owners prevent and control infectious diseases in their horses.
© 2024 by Equine Guelph
Welcome to the Equine Biosecurity Risk Calculator. The Calculator is an educational resource of Equine Guelph (University of Guelph) developed in partnership with Colorado State University and the American Association of Equine Practitioners. This tool provides information on equine health, infectious disease and infectious disease control.
What to do if your horse is sick - An info sheet for horse owners
- Move any sick horse into a clean and disinfected stall, as far away from the other horses as possible.
- If no exterior stall is present, or isolated stall space is available, put tarps up around the stall of the sick horse so that other horses cannot make direct contact with it; - note this will not prevent spread of disease agents that move through the air.
- Prepare an area for medication, water buckets and feed containers that are kept away from other equipment (tip: label with red tape).
- Use dedicated equipment for the sick horse, and to clean it’s stall. Manure must be removed using specifically designated and labelled equipment.
- Put up a sign to notify everyone about the isolated horse and it’s location, and post biosecurity protocols in the area.
- Do not allow unnecessary visitors to have contact with the sick horse.
- All staff must wear protective clothing, or keep special designated clothing in the isolation area for when dealing with the sick horse.
- Work with the sick horse last each day and wash your hands before and after.
- If the horse is getting turn out, make a small fenced or separate area where this horse cannot touch others.
- Once horse has recovered, disinfect all equipment, halters, lead ropes, pails, feed dishes, stall and manure removal equipment.
Equine Guelph would like to extend thanks to Dr. Josie Traub-Dargatz and Dr. Alanna Kirby, Colorado State University for input and content review of this infosheet.
To learn more about equine biosecurity, register for Equine Guelph’s online course and visit the biosecurity risk calculator online tool .
Press release by Equine Guelph