Is Your Stable Toxic? How to Reduce Ammonia Levels in Horse Stalls Safely and Effectively
Did You Know Ammonia Can Damage an Animal’s Respiratory System?
Even at low levels, that noxious smell in your stable or barn creates health risks for animals. Ammonia causes upper respiratory tract problems, putting animals at risk for pneumonia and other serious health issues.
How is Ammonia Created?
When animals urinate
in stalls, liquid seeps through bedding into porous concrete, deep bedding, or stall mats. Bacteria feed on nutrients in urea and produce ammonia. This acrid gas rises and is inhaled by animals, creating unpleasant stench at best and tissue damage in respiratory tracts at worst. Results can include pneumonia, heaves, or equine COPD (asthma).
Foals and other young animals are even more susceptible to ammonia’s damaging effects, spending more time lying in stall bedding. Research published in Equine Veterinary Journal shows that airborne ammonia concentrations in stables are associated with respiratory inflammation in horses, with young animals particularly vulnerable. Animals recovering from injury and spending more time lying down face greater exposure to toxic fumes.
Did You Know?
According to that same study, Horses kept in environments with elevated ammonia levels showed significantly increased respiratory inflammation compared to those in well-ventilated facilities with lower ammonia concentrations.
Controlling Ammonia:
Control ammonia by implementing this protocol:
- Use quality bedding material
- Clean areas daily
- Deep clean weekly
- Provide good ventilation
Although these measures help control, they won’t completely prevent ammonia buildup. Ammonia-reducing products are critical to animal health.
Eliminate the Natural Way:
Degrading organic matter eliminates the host. Eliminating the host is the first step in reducing cross-contamination chances and noxious odors. In animal environments where organic matter embeds into porous surfaces, bioenzymatic solutions like STABLE Environment by ProVetLogic penetrate deep into soil buildup and surfaces.
Product Specifications:
- Phosphate: None
- Solubility: Complete in water
- Rinsability: Excellent
- Biodegradability: Complete
- Flash Point: None
Kentucky Cleaning Solutions provides enzymatic cleaning solutions specifically designed for equine stables, veterinary hospitals, organic farms, zoological parks, and wherever large animals are housed. Our natural approach breaks down organic matter, eliminating ammonia at its source rather than masking odors. For healthier animals and cleaner facilities, explore our specialized ProVet Logic products.
