As we are making the transition into spring, now is a great time to consider your horse’s biosecurity. Biosecurity is the preventative steps we take in order to halt the spread of sickness and disease.

With trails opening up and show season in full swing, it is more likely that your animal is going to come in contact with other animals and humans who may be carrying disease-bearing pathogens. Here are a few preventive steps to ensure your horse’s biosecurity when your animal is going to be interacting with other horses and humans:

1. Regular Check-Ups and Vaccinations: Before taking your animal on a riding trail or to the showgrounds, have your veterinarian perform a physical wellness check on your horse. Your animal should be up-to-date on all of their vaccinations and medications to ensure that they are properly protected against diseases. Being up to date also ensures that they cannot spread illnesses to other animals.

2. Hand Washing: Humans can carry disease-ridden pathogens which they can unknowingly spread to animals. Make sure to thoroughly wash your hands before and after coming into contact with any animal to prevent this spread of disease.

3. Avoid Sharing: Provide your own drinking and feeding tubs for your horse. Just as humans usually don’t want to share the same cups and plates, having multiple horses share the same drinking and feeding containers is an easy way for illnesses to spread.

4. Housekeeping: Disinfect unfamiliar stalls; including the walls, floors, and feeders. If you are taking your animal to a show, thoroughly clean the stall before putting your horse in it. You don’t know what illnesses the horse who previously occupied the space could have had!

5. Know Your Horse’s Vitals: Keep track of your horse’s temperature, pulse, and respiration. If you notice your animal’s vitals are off – don’t bring them around other animals! Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your horse may be ill.

6. Prevent Bug Bites: As spring arrives, the temperature is warming up and the weather is becoming more consistently nice, it is a great time to get your animal out of the barn and into the pastures. But with extended time outdoors, comes the risk of exposure to more bugs. Bug bites are a significant cause of various illnesses and diseases.

Preventing your horse from being bitten by bugs used to be a tricky procedure until now! RK Topical Horse Fly Spray is 3-6 times stronger than other topical sprays and provides your horse with professional long-lasting protection to stop ticks, mosquitoes, gnats, and flies. RK Topical Spray combines natural oils with Pyrethrin/Pyrethroids to give real-world 8-hour protection.

Early prevention is crucial to stopping illness in its tracks before it gets to your animal. After being pent up all winter, your horse may be more susceptible to disease. For that reason, spring is a critical time when it comes to preventing the spread of diseases.

Learn more about RK Topical Spray Here!