What's All the Stink About?
By The Harmful Effects of Ammonia To You and Your Horses...
Many horse owners and equine facilities are constantly fighting the battle against unpleasant odors in their barns and stalls. What most are unaware of is that the real problem does not lie solely in the odor itself, but rather the source of the odor – high concentrations of ammonia and other noxious gases. Many people aren’t aware of the ammonia and how even low concentrations can be damaging over time. Although there are various products out there that claim to eliminate unpleasant odors, the vast majority of them simply mask the odors or absorb wetness for easier cleanup – which is only a temporary, superficial fix to the problem. Just breathing exposes the respiratory system to a mixture of gaseous and particulate pollutants that can have detrimental effects.
The negative consequences are diverse and include such health issues as eye and respiratory lesions, nasal discharge, heaves, confinement cough, decreased growth and foal pneumonia. Respiratory problems in young horses may permanently impair their future ability to perform, while in mature horses respiratory problems may lead to poor performance. Horse barns serve as incubators of a wide range of respiratory problems, especially during the winter months. This is because stables contain various concentrations of dust, bacteria, viruses, fungal spores and ammonia. Additionally, the increased humidity and precipitation, as well as increased hair growth that occurs during winter months, can increase the likelihood of skin disorders such as rainrot, bed itch, and ringworm. High concentrations of ammonia and other noxious gases are also harmful to the health and well-being of workers in these facilities.