The prevention of equine contagious diseases is dependent on an effective vaccination program and strict management practices. An effective management program is dependent on the isolation of new or sick horses, the testing for carrier animals, and the practice of preventive hygiene. Contagious and infectious diseases are serious threats to the health of the horse and the economy of the horse industry. Thousands of dollars are spent on vaccines and other remedies directed at preventing disease. Although vaccination protects against several diseases, vaccines provide only limited protection against others, and, in the case of some diseases, there are no vaccines. Effective management practices and understanding of disease transmission are both essential in preventing equine diseases. The equine practitioner is in a unique position to educate the horse owner on the principles of disease control and prevention. While many preventive measures seem obvious to the practitioner, they are not as obvious tothe horse owner who looks to the veterinarian for guidance. The purpose of this paper is to discuss principles and management practices to prevent and control equine diseases. The scope of this paper will not deal with nosocomial diseases.
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