Disease organisms are
being transmitted to horses
from humans and from
horses back to humans.
Our animals are at risk of infection when we interact with them while
suffering from a human infection!

Viruses and bacteria are rapidly mutating and some are jumping across
the normal specie barriers to infect our animals and in turn our animals
are infecting us.









Miniature Horses Have A New Role: Serving the Blind
This is a great use of an intelligent, eager-to-please animal. Yet,
precautions need to be taken because diseases can be transmitted
between species. Check our ""Horse Disease Prevention" page for
information to help prevent infection in both the valuable, trained mini
horse and the important disabled person and their families.
Click for
additional information about mini horses and their diseases and care.





















Mini Guide Horses
They can also recognize hazards like overhanging branches or a pot holes, and
they only need a small backyard, where they become "wonderful little lawn
mowers."

They have been sanctioned by the ADA so that people can take them into all
public places and even on board airlines. However, virus and bacterial mutations
have allowed horse disease to be transmitted from humans to horses and from
horses to humans.

This is why all horse owners should make certain their equine are up-to-date on
all vaccines and to have regular veterinary checkups.

We allow our beloved pets to sleep and eat almost anywhere including our beds.
This is why scientists have began looking at whether this pet-owner closeness
might result in the passage of diseases back and forth.

Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria From Horse To Human
Antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is spreading worldwide among humans
and animals, including horses. Many reports of MRSA colonization and infection in
horses come from Canada and the U.S. It is thought to be a human epidemic
clone that has adapted to horses. A child who had contact with a foal in a
stables contracted this disease and so did the foal.

The infection did not respond to the standard treatment because it was a
anibiotic-resistant disease organism. It was discovered that the bacteria was
susceptible to rifampin and fusidic acid, which cured the disease in both the child
and the foal.

Human TB Infection in Horses
A case of the transfer of TB (tuberculosis) was discovered by doctors, raising
concern over how the potentially fatal disease may spread between species.
TB occurs when organisms from the mycobacterium family invade the lung and is
a highly contagious disease. It is characterized by a chronic cough and high
fever, can be life-threatening if left untreated.

It is uncommon for animals to be afflicted with the human TB bacterium,
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, yet a gelding, who was suspected to have heart
disease, was found to have TB. DNA testing confirmed the presence of the
human form of the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Horse owners need to be aware of the possibility of passing disease back and
forth because disease organisms are rapidly changing through mutation.

Diseases From Horse to Dog
Influenza (H3N8) was recently transmitted to a dog which stayed in the stable
area where many horses were being housed. This respiratory disease organism in
the dog was DNA tested and found to be identical to the virus in horses.

West Nile Virus is Mutating
A veterinary student recently contract West Nile Virus when he performed an
autopsy on a horse that had died from the disease.

A horse trainer contracted equine morbillivirus (EMV), shortly after caring for
two horses that died from the infection. He assisted at their autopsies and this
is thought to have been the method of transmission. At the ranch, fourteen
horses died of the disease. This was a disease which had not been seen in
humans, but the virus mutated just enough to become infectious to humans.

This website will give you information on the causes, symptoms, treatment and
zoonotic risks involved with the most common zoonotic disease.
Try our sister sites:
Native Jewelry
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Miniature Horse Halters, Leads and Bridles
Horse Diseases- Transmission and Prevention
Miniature horses are increasingly becoming the
choice of animal to help the disabled and blind. Mini
horse guides are being used as an alternative to
guide dogs to help blind and disabled people to live
independently. They are companions and helpers,
and restore love between them. They are easily
trained to paw at the door when nature calls,
recognize signal lights, stop signs, and to signal
when there are changes in elevation (such as steps
and curbs).