No. DSAT Dry Salt Aerosol Therapy does not stop strangles from spreading, and it is not a cure or a replacement for veterinary treatment of Streptococcus equi infection. DSAT is a dry salt aerosol treatment delivered through a patented system that supports air and surface hygiene within a broader biosecurity plan. The real answer to controlling strangles at a boarding barn is a disciplined isolation, movement and cleaning protocol, with DSAT positioned as one supportive measure inside that protocol.
Table of Contents
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What does a strangles isolation protocol actually look like?
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How should horse movement be managed during a strangles outbreak?
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Where does dry salt aerosol fit into a barn biosecurity plan?
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How can barns license DSAT Dry Salt Aerosol Therapy for their own site?
What is DSAT Dry Salt Aerosol Therapy and how does it work?
DSAT stands for Dry Salt Aerosol Therapy, the acronym tied to the animal kingdom under the Ultisalt™ brand. A halo-generator disperses a fine dry salt mist into a treated space, creating a microclimate of therapeutic-grade salt particles that settle on surfaces and move through the air. According to Equine Salt Therapy, the treatment runs about fifteen minutes and is typically recommended over three consecutive days. The approach is natural, non-invasive and dual-purpose for common day-to-day horse complaints. Equine Salt Therapy, the publisher of this article, holds granted patents in multiple jurisdictions for the Ultisalt™ delivery platform.
Why is strangles so hard to contain at a boarding barn?
Strangles is difficult to contain because Streptococcus equi spreads through shared water, feed, tack and human contact. A boarding barn concentrates all of those transmission routes in one place, with horses drinking from common troughs, sharing grooming kit and moving through the same gateways. The challenge is compounded by shared airspace, communal yards and high horse traffic that make complete separation impractical. Some horses shed the bacteria without showing obvious clinical signs, which complicates detection and delays the first isolation decision. For owners, trainers, breeders and stud farms, an outbreak carries welfare and business stakes that include training interruptions, movement bans and reputational damage.
What does a strangles isolation protocol actually look like?
An effective strangles isolation protocol starts with separating the suspect horse immediately and assigning dedicated staff and equipment to that animal. The attending veterinarian monitors temperature and clinical signs, and no horse returns to the main herd until testing and clinical recovery support release. Isolation typically continues for at least two to three weeks after clinical signs resolve, depending on veterinary guidance and laboratory results. According to Essendon Salt Cave, salt room sessions should be avoided by people or animals in the infectious phase of illness. Clinical trials reported in PubMed confirm salt therapy has a role as a complementary method for respiratory conditions, but that role does not extend to active infection control.
How should horse movement be managed during a strangles outbreak?
Horse movement during a strangles outbreak should follow a one-way flow that prevents animals from crossing contaminated ground. Arrivals, departures, shows and sales are restricted for the duration of the outbreak, and only essential movements occur under veterinary advice. Farriers, vets, body workers and other visitors enter through a controlled point, follow boot dip and hand hygiene steps, and avoid moving between isolation and clean zones. A written movement log records every horse, person and vehicle that enters or leaves the property, creating a traceability record if the outbreak extends to another site.
What cleaning and disinfection steps matter most?
Cleaning during a strangles outbreak prioritises water troughs, feed bins, buckets, halters and grooming kit because these items carry the highest contamination load. Hand hygiene, boot dips and dedicated clothing for isolation zones reduce the risk of people moving bacteria between horses. Bedding and manure from the isolation area are removed and disposed of safely, with equipment cleaned and disinfected before reuse. According to Essendon Salt Cave, dry salt aerosol is claimed to help relieve skin conditions and support respiratory comfort, but surface disinfection still requires physical cleaning first. Air quality in enclosed barns is a frequently overlooked control point.
Where does dry salt aerosol fit into a barn biosecurity plan?
Dry salt aerosol fits into a barn biosecurity plan as a supportive measure for air and surface hygiene, not as a treatment for strangles. The Ultisalt™ patented dry salt aerosol delivery system creates a microclimate that reduces the pharmaceutical footprint of training centres and the reliance on medically important antibiotics. Good biosecurity that includes air hygiene measures can help reduce that reliance. According to PubMed, salt inhalation therapies are increasingly used as a complementary therapy for individuals with impaired respiratory function. That complementary role is where DSAT sits within an outbreak response, alongside isolation, movement control and cleaning.
How can barns license DSAT Dry Salt Aerosol Therapy for their own site?
Barns can license DSAT Dry Salt Aerosol Therapy through Equine Salt Therapy, which offers Licensed Business Opportunities and Master Licenses for Equine, Poultry, Swine and Companion Animals. Territories are sold under license, with Master Licenses available for various modalities under US Patent; 11,497,593 & CA 3019046. Pricing ranges from $110,000 to $1,000,000. Licensees are referred to as Practitioners, and horse and animal clients are referred to as Salties. The platform is protected by granted patents in multiple jurisdictions, and the precise scope of protection is defined by the claims of each applicable patent.
Key Takeaways
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DSAT stands for Dry Salt Aerosol Therapy, delivered as a fine dry salt mist through a patented halo-generator system.
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A standard DSAT session takes about fifteen minutes and is typically recommended over three consecutive days.
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Strangles spreads mainly through shared water, feed, tack and human contact, which is why boarding barns are high-risk environments.
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Isolation, one-way movement flow and rigorous cleaning of water, feed and grooming equipment are the core of outbreak control.
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Salt room sessions should be avoided by animals in the infectious phase of illness.
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DSAT is a supportive air and surface hygiene measure, not a cure or a substitute for veterinary treatment.
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Equine Salt Therapy offers Licensed Business Opportunities and Master Licenses from $110,000 to $1,000,000 under US Patent; 11,497,593 & CA 3019046.
References
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DSAT Dry Salt Aerosol Therapy Archives — Equine Salt Therapy, date unknown
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Essendon Salt Cave | Medical-Grade Salt Therapy in Melbourne — Essendon Salt Cave, date unknown
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Salt Therapy as a Complementary Method for the Treatment of Respiratory Conditions — PubMed, 2021
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Licensed Business Opportunities — Equine Salt Therapy, date unknown
