Hay, Rodents, and Disease

Whenever I see rats or mice in a barn, I worry about the various ailments horses can get. Rodents and small animals can nest in your hay and spread diseases such as EPM or leptospirosis. If you find feces in your stacks of hay, discard those bales immediately.

EPM is short for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. The protozoa is carried by oppossum feces. 'Possums love to nest in hay bales. When horses ingest hay, they also ingest rodent feces. Within a two week period of time your horse's nervous system becomes affected. If left untreated, EPM can be fatal. Again, check your bales and discard if contaminated!

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can cause fever, jaundice, uveitis, recurrent uveitis, abortion, and kidney failure in horses. It, too, is caused by your horse ingesting any kind of rodent urine or feces.

Make sure your barn is clean, and free from rodents. Buy your hay from a local, reputable dealer. Always ask to have at least two bales opened to check for rodent feces, weeds, twine, bits of wire, and small animal carcasses that are killed during the baling process.

A trustworthy dealer will always be happy to open up bales for your inspection.

It's your job to consistently monitor the well-being of your horse. A healthy horse is a happy horse.