Would appreciate any advice/info from those dealing with a horse with COPD
I’ve got one. Big help is getting skin test done. That’s the gold standard. Then you know more what are the triggers.
I barely sweep my barn and never when she’s in it. Because I know that decomposing hay particulates or mold are the worst offenders (and cause of past emergency calls) I have interlocking rubber mats and sweep up all hay chaf and dust daily. Rake up any hay bits on the ground each day and keep limestone screenings fresh under it.
Any hay remaining in the hay nets gets removed daily and eaten or disposed of.
Respire by Horse Tech has kept us out of any emergency trouble this year. IF I notice the slightest struggle breathing am or pm I dose it. She loves that stuff. Takes it without a halter on via syringe.
This is a condition that keeps you on your toes. My mare isn’t stalled and has lots of ventilation.
What’s going on for your pony?
Is this a recent diagnosis?
I ask because I had a horse react to corncob bedding after several months of use.
Started as a seemingly work-related cough.
Progressed over a month or so into a heaveline developing & rales I could hear without a stethoscope.
My other horse had no reaction to the bedding.
Both were turned out with free access to stalls 24/7.
Barn was well ventilated, hay was not dusty.
Soaked hay & OTC antihistamine - CoughFree - did not help, so we went to a 3-month course of clenbuterol (Ventipulmin).
During those months I found online that dairy cattle sometimes developed a bacterial infection from the same bedding.
Switched the bedding back to shavings & within a month the vet declared if he hadn’t heard the lungs in Month 1, he wouldn’t have thought it was the same horse Month 3.
Diagnosis was RAD, but similar etiology.
I’m getting close to my first year of it with my horse. Did allergy testing and have some known triggers, but not all are easy to eliminate entirely.
We’ve had some good success with apoquel through spring and summer. But during the fall we had a flair up that didn’t seem to be helped by apoquel and only minimally by dex. A couple doses of clenbuterol, however, did make a difference.
Interesting! I give Respire as a daily at the suggested amount (2 scoops). Do you also give daily and just add more if there is a struggle? Or do you only dose when it seems she needs help?
I look at her sides morning and night and decide. There were a couple days lately she needed it as the fall leaves bother her. I do one scoop. Two is too much - she walks away.
And crazy but true…my new horse loves the stuff too. He comes up and wants it so give him a small bit via syringe. What is it with that stuff why they like it so much? Does your horse like it too?
My 11yr old mare was just diagnosed with mild equine asthma via BAL…symptoms were exercise intolerance/fatigue /not wanting to go forward …we are now steaming her hay and vet from New Bolten Center recommended the supplement Aleira …said we could also do an inhaler or nebulizer treatments with Albuterol if not enough improvement with steaming and supplement …she’s also on cardboard bedding.
