Equipment

  • A disinfectant that is effective against the pathogen you are trying to eliminate

  • Graduated jug, to accurately measure the correct amount of disinfectant

  • Graduated stable bucket, to accurately measure the correct volume of water

  • Protective clothing: waterproof clothing, wellington boots, eye protection, gloves, dust mask

  • Garden pressure sprayer (handheld or knapsack)

  • Watering can with a “rose” (spout attachment with multiple small holes)

  • Low pressure hose

  • Fogging machine (if necessary)

  • A watch, to measure the contact time

    • Procedure

    Following a thorough cleaning, the stable is ready to be disinfected. Read the disinfectant instructions for use and put on suitable protective clothing as recommended by the manufacturer. Dilute the disinfectant according to the label and apply it to all the surfaces of the stable. This can be achieved by using a garden sprayer for the walls, troughs, feed pots etc. and a watering can for the floor.

    Alternatively, a fogging machine can be used to create a “mist” of disinfectant-laden droplets. This ensures maximum efficacy of the disinfectant and coverage of all the stable surfaces, including those that are normally difficult to reach e.g. the ceiling, wall tops etc.

    N.B. Leave the disinfectant to work for the recommended contact time! This is a key step as it ensures the maximal microbial kill. Some disinfectants are left to dry whilst others should be rinsed off – again follow the advice on the label.

    Leave the stable to dry thoroughly. Ideally it should be left empty for several days, before re-bedding it for the next occupant. Exposure to air and sunlight will further reduce the likelihood that any harmful microbes have survived.

    Avoid placing sick horses in stables constructed with timber or unsealed concrete e.g. breeze blocks. Dirt or unsealed floors and cobbles are also problematic. These materials provide lots of nooks and crannies for pathogens to penetrate and it is extremely difficult to adequately clean and disinfect them.

    Choice of detergent and disinfectant

    Washing up liquid is a cheap and widely available detergent. However it produces a lot of suds, so care must be taken to ensure it is all rinsed off.

    A variety of animal stable cleaning agents are available to buy from equestrian retailers. Some of these contain both a detergent and a disinfectant so they are very convenient to use e.g. Trigene or Anistel.

    The choice of disinfectant will depend on the pathogen you are trying to eliminate. There are seven categories of disinfectant but many of them are unsuitable for stable disinfection as they are corrosive, irritant or inactivated by dirt. The chemicals that should be avoided when disinfecting stables include the alcohols (surgical spirit, isopropyl alcohol), formaldehyde (formalin), chlorhexidine (Hibiscrub or Hibitane), povidone iodine (Betadine) and the chloroxylenols (Dettol and carbolic soap).

    Suitable stable disinfectants include chlorine-based products (“bleach”, Equisept, Steri-7), HTCs (Anistel/Trigene), oxidizing agents (Virkon), phenols (Jeyes fluid) and QACs (Savlon). See the table for a summary of their main indications. This table is not exhaustive and there are lots of other effective products on the market. Your veterinary practice staff can recommend the most suitable agent to use in individual cases, so contact them for specific advice and recommendations.

    Do

  • Consult with your veterinary practice and pick an effective disinfectant.

  • Devise an effective cleaning and disinfection protocol and ensure that everyone follows it.

  • Remove all loose dirt and bedding before applying any water/detergent.

  • Read the manufacturer instructions and follow them accurately.

  • Wear suitable protective clothing.

  • Accurately measure out the volumes to be diluted.

  • Keep accurate cleaning and disinfection records.

  • Remember to also clean and disinfect the equipment used in the process.

    • Do not

  • Try to disinfect a dirty surface.

  • Guess volumes to be diluted or just add “a good drop!”

  • Use a power hose, it will spray the pathogens into the air and increase the risk of disease spread.

  • Assume that every disinfectant will kill every microbe.

  • Forget about the tops of dividing walls, drinkers, mangers, rafters and other “out of the way” places.

  • Karen Dunne MVB MA, CertEM (Stud Med) is a veterinary surgeon and veterinary nursing programme director at Dundalk Institute of Technology. She is a member of the Equine Group of Veterinary Ireland

    Email: hq@vetireland.ie

    Telephone: 01-4577976