Good biosecurity practices aren’t just for equine hospitals. When a horse is sick on the farm, reducing the transmission of infection could mean the difference between an isolated case and an epidemic. At the 2011 American Veterinary Medical Association Convention, held July 16-19 in St. Louis, Mo., Jamie DeFazio, CVT, VTS-EVN, discussed biosecurity in equine hospitals, but the majority of her suggestions can–and should–be used on any farm.

"Preventing disease with barriers and good hygiene are key components of biosecurity," said DeFazio, a veterinary technician at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square.

Biosecurity measures protecting not only the people who work with the sick horse and other animals, but also the sick horse. This last point might not seem obvious because the animal is already sick, but he is at risk for secondary infections if owners aren’t careful