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Don’t flies just tick you off?

As much as we long for summer and the warm temperatures it brings, the risk of infectious diseases to horses spread by flies and mosquitoes is heightened by the increase of their respective insect populations.

Stable flies are known to be responsible for spreading Pigeon Fever, a bacterial disease that causes deep pus-filled abscesses within the horse’s breast, groin and abdomen, lingering for months until secondary effects take form. The disease can cause lameness, fever, lethargy, depression, and weight loss.

To control the risk of such diseases, it’s imperative to ensure cleanliness within your horse’s stall and invest in quality stable matting.

A Colorado State University Veterinarian Report informs us “Bacterium in the pus draining from abscesses on infected horses can survive from one to 55 days in the environment. It has also been shown to survive from one to eight days on surface contaminants and from seven to 55 days within faeces, hay, straw or wood shavings. Lower temperatures prolong the survival time.”

As traditional as the notion of a wood shaving filled stable is, evidence suggests that providing such an environment for your horse to live in only allows the insects a haven to infect your horse. Instead choose to disinfect the stable flooring regularly, using stable matting to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of killing the bacteria.

Keeping your fingers crossed and hoping your animal won’t be affected, isn’t a wise option either as Dr. John Donecker, VMD, MS, Senior Veterinarian at Pfizer Animal Health informs us that there are no vaccinations available providing protection against the disease.

Mosquitoes are notorious for carrying West Nile Virus, which fortunately there are vaccinations for due to the common occurrence of the virus. However, taking precautions for your stable with adequate equestrian bedding is always a wise investment of time.

A wise investment financially is this hygienic heavy-duty stable mat. To prevent the risk of insect ridden stalls, an ‘octagonal’ open holed 100% rubber construction helps ensure a sanitary stable environment as it is suitable for washing down.

Water easily disperses through the mat while the strong rubber structure increases safety and comfort underfoot for horses and their handlers. The stable matting can be disinfected and replaced within the stall with minimum labour time.

A great price too, for a reasonable £44.99 at www.stable-mats.com.

Tags: flies, horse matting, pigeon fever, stable mat, stall, west nile virus