Biosecurity
Biosecurity is a set of preventive measures designed to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases between animal to animal and animal to human.
Equine
As we are all aware any horse, be they a field companion, a happy hack or at competition standard are susceptible to equine illnesses, and the frequency with which outbreaks of infectious horse diseases are reported is increasing across both Europe and the UK, which at least in part is due to the more frequent movement of horses following their sale, a yard change, or to attend competitions.
Biosecurity is a collection of actions intended to disrupt the cycle and lessen the spread of disease, and it can be used to drastically lower the danger of infectious pathogens spreading between animals, so making the proper equine biosecurity precautions a daily habit can aid in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
If you are concerned about the infectious status of your horse, or another horse on your yard, please inform me before I arrive for your appointment so that I can take appropriate precautions. I always carry a complete change of uniform, so that if I suspect I have been in close quarters to, or in contact with an infectious animal, I can change my clothes before moving on, and I also have a disinfection spray for my shoes. As a standard procedure I always use a hand sanitiser, and, although I would not generally use them, if you would prefer me to use disposable plastic gloves when working with your horse I always carry them with me.
In short your horse’s protection and safety are my upmost concern.
Canine
Similarly with dog’s, the safety and care of your animal is my number one priority, therefore limiting the risk of transmission of an infectious is a high priority when treating your dog.
The most significant element in reducing the risk of spreading infectious germs is hand cleanliness. Good hand hygiene preserves the integrity of the skin and the health of the hands by eliminating or killing bacteria on the skin. Thorough washing of the hands with soap and running water will reduce the number of organisms on my hands and is by far the gold standard for hand hygiene – so if treatment of your dog is taking place at your home I will ask to wash my hands before treatment commences, however, if treatment is taking place elsewhere, and this facility is not available. sterilisation of my hands, is the next best option. Hand sanitiser (like we all used during the covid pandemic) will reduce the number of microorganisms on the hands and this will be applied before treating your dog. I also carry disposable plastic gloves with me and should you prefer it would be happy to use these when treating your dog.
If you have any concerns about the infectious status of your dog or another dog/puppy with which you have had contact, please inform me before I arrive for your appointment, so I can take appropriate precautions.
I always carry a complete change of uniform, so that if I suspect I have been in close quarters to, or in contact with an infectious animal, I can change my clothes before moving on, and I also have a disinfection spray for my shoes, and carry hand sanitisers which I always use in-between each animal.
My intention is to keep both you and your lovely dogs as safe and healthy as possible.