Adjusting a horse’s environment and administering medications as needed can help some asthmatic equids return to function.

Ensure horses with heaves live in an environment with good airflow and air quality to promote respiratory wellness.

An inflammatory airway disease, equine asthma manifests as difficulty breathing, excessive mucus secretion, and bronchial muscle contraction. Symptoms of Asthma in Horses Cough Exercise resistance and intolerance Wheezing Breathlessness Weight loss Forced respiration Runny nose Flared nostrils Heave line (abnormal abdominal muscle development caused by coughing and labored breathing) and long term effects can cause horses to be bleeders .

Asthma-

Is a disease of inflammation of the airways ,causing constriction of the bronchi and bronchioles ,increased mucus secretion and manifestation as recurrent paroxysms of difficult wheezing and breathing.

Managing equine asthma—which comprises both recurrent airway obstruction (RAO, or heaves, an often-severe chronic condition common in older horses) and inflammatory airway disease (IAD, a mild inflammatory disease often seen in younger equine athletes)—might not seem too complicated: Modify the horse’s environment and treat, when needed, with corticosteroids and bronchodilators and natural  herbal alternatives.

 

Goals for RAO should include:

• Relieving bronchospasm that causes coughing and labored breathing;
• Reducing lower airway inflammation;
• Preventing acute episodes in the long term by controlling lower airway inflammation and obstruction; and
• Returning the horse to athletic function.

For IAD, treatment goals should include:

• Eliminating coughing and bronchospasm, which impair performance;
• Reducing mucous production and airway obstruction;
• Reducing airway reactivity; and
• Preventing recurrences.

An inflammatory airway disease, equine asthma manifests as difficulty breathing, excessive mucus secretion, and bronchial muscle contraction. Symptoms of Asthma in Horses Cough Exercise resistance and intolerance Wheezing Breathlessness Weight loss Forced respiration Runny nose Flared nostrils Heave line (abnormal abdominal muscle development caused by coughing and labored breathing)

Stable Heaves The first type of equine asthma, stable heaves (or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), occurs in the stable. Allergens include dust, mold, and mildew. Sources include the hay flakes, saw dust  used for food, bedding, skin flakes from grooming, and dust and dirt on the floors, walls, and ceilings. Stables heaves are more common in colder climates during the winter when horses are more likely to be kept indoors all day. Summer Heaves  The second type of equine asthma, summer heaves (summer pasture-associated obstructive pulmonary disease (SPAOPD), occurs outdoors where horses spend most of their time. In SPAOPD, the horse develops a response to the pollen released by the trees and grasses growing in the paddock. Summer heaves are most common in warmer climates during  summer months when pollen counts are high and horses are usually outdoors. Causes of Asthma in Horses.

Causes of Asthma in horses : 

• Inhalation of environmental pollutants
• Mold spores and pollen
• Exposure to dust from hay ,grains.and bedding- I have comer across horses allergic to Lucerne hay.
• Respiratory -tract infections
• Food allergies- such as lucerne hay
• Excessive grains causes lectins (inflammation )
• Confinement to enclosed stables
• Predisposition
• Breed link possible (genetic)
• Long hours such as interstate travel
• Low levels of Iron
• Stress and anxiety
• Weather
• Leaky gut

 

Adjusting the Environment:

“The  stable environment is replete with organic particulate matter, respirable endotoxins, molds, and volatile gases such as ammonia. All of which can—and often do—wreak havoc for horses with heaves. She offered tips for improving the environment for these horses:

• Hay, oat straw ,Lucerne  is notoriously dusty. If possible, switch to pelleted hay, complete feed, or silage. If you must keep using hay, feed it from the ground—not a haynet or rack—which decreases horses’ exposure to irritants and allows the respiratory system to work most effectively. Additionally, soak or steam it first.
• Avoid storing hay above stables  as this can expose the horse to even more respiratory irritants. If this is unavoidable, place a tarp on the floor below the hay to reduce dust and allergen exposure.
• Grains and other concentrates aren’t immune to being dusty. If this is the case with your feeds, wet or soak it prior to offering it to your horse.
• Like hay is inherently dusty. Wood shavings and other low-dust beddings are preferable for horses with asthma.
• Dampen aisleways before sweeping or raking, and avoid using leaf-blowers to clean aisles.
• Remove horses from the stable  before cleaning  moving hay, sweeping, raking, and performing other chores that kick up dust.
• Keep stables free of cobwebs and other materials that collect dust.
• Leave sheds ,buildings ,doors and windows open whenever possible to allow for good ventilation and air movement.
• Use low-dust footing in arenas, if possible. Remedy current footing by adding a humectant or hygroscopic agent to reduce dust.

Diagnosis of Asthma in Horses Various methods are used to diagnose equine asthma. Your horse will undergo a physical examination, with observations made before, during and after exercise, and before and after a rebreathing bag is placed over the nostrils. Blood testing will rule out other respiratory problems like infections. Other diagnostics may include: Endoscopy Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) Blood gas measurement Chest x-rays Lung biopsy Lung function tests
Or and iridology assessment can see issues within the lungs or else where.

Traditional veterinary treatment

Corticosteroids and Bronchodilators

Systemic corticosteroids—administered orally or via injection—work well for treating horses with heaves, but appear less effective in IAD horses. Veterinarians use prednisolone and dexamethasone most frequently; triamcinolone is also effective in horses with airway obstruction, but is more closely associated with laminitis development in some horses than other corticosteroids.

• Β-2 agonists, including albuterol (aerosolized) and clenbuterol (oral); and
• Parasympatholytics, such as ipratropium (aerosolized) and hyoscine butylbromide (injection).

Veterinarians must evaluate each horse’s history and needs to determine which bronchodilator is best suited to the patient.

Natural alternatives for  Corticosteroids  and reasoning behind .

Boswellia is  used as effective natural alternative and is the equivalent to prednisolone without side effects such as stomach and kidney issues. Boswellia is beneficial  due to the inhibition of 5 -lipoxgenase ,this preventing the formation of leukcotrienes. One of a group of chemicals produced by the body that accompanies inflammation. Leukotrienes are believed to play a major role in causing the symptoms of hay fever  and asthma.They belong to the family of eicosanoid inflammatory mediators produced by leukocytes by the oxidation of arachidonic acid (AA).

Leukotrienes use lipid signalling  to convey information to either the cell producing them   (autocrine signaling)  or neighboring cells (paracrine signaling) in order to regulate immune responses. The production of leukotrienes is usually accompanied by the production of histamine  and prostaglandins which also act as inflammatory mediators.

One of their roles (specifically,  leukotriene D) which is to trigger contractions in the smooth muscles lining the bronchioles; their overproduction is a major cause of inflammation in asthma and allergic rhinitis

The essential oil has decongestant and antibiotic properties.Boswellia serrata is so effective at reducing inflammation that it has even been deemed a promising alternative to prescriptive inflammation fighters such as NSAIDs.

• Decongestant -Substance that relives congestion of nasal passages
• Anti inflammatory -Substance that reduces inflammation

Excessive use of  Corticosteroids  (prednisolone ) such as causes :

Shrinking (atrophy) of the adrenal glands can be caused by the long term use of corticosteroids resulting in the body’s inability to produce cortisol, the body’s natural corticosteroid, when the systemic corticosteroids are discontinued.

Veterinarians must evaluate each horse’s history and needs to determine which bronchodilator is best suited to the patient.

Always seek advice from your Veterinarian. for  the best possible treatment plan.

 

References :

Consider History, Environment When Managing Equine Asthma

Rosemarie -Cullulla Rd Natural Products /http://www.cullullard.com/product/frankincense-frankinsense-boswellia-carteri-powder/

 

We recommend respiratory mix for your horse : All herbs are carefully selected to ensure horses health is restored.

Our aim is to :

Clears lungs and helps with respiratory infections with added immune herbs to strengthen the system.

Equine – Respiratory mix