It’s a dilemma many horse owners and managers face when a horse comes down with equine influenza. Do you aggressively seek treatment at the outset of illness in hopes of warding off any potential secondary bacterial infection, or do you wait to see if any further infections develop before treating?

The influenza virus is a significant cause of respiratory disease in horses. The virus itself is not treatable and must run its course; however, many horses develop secondary bacterial infections, which can cause severe pneumonia and increased recovery time. This results in lost riding or training time as well as additional nonmonetary costs to the owner of having a sick horse.

Jill Stowe, PhD, director of University of Kentucky’s Ag Equine Programs and associate professor within the Department of Agricultural Economics, will conduct a study recently funded by Zoetis Inc. to examine the economic considerations of both approaches.

The economic considerations of the treat-now vs. wait-and-see alternatives will examine not only explicit treatment costs, but also the extent to which the owner/manager prefers to avoid having a horse feel poorly