A ride is cut short by your horse’s coughing or labored breathing. Perhaps they aren’t performing at their optimal level. You haven’t pushed your horse harder than usual and you’ve ruled out the possibility that the ambient temperature could be the culprit. Even at rest, your horse exhibits an increased breathing rate or effort.
Symptoms such as these could be your horse’s way of signaling respiratory distress.
Anatomy of the Respiratory Tract
Much like ours, the horse’s respiratory system is divided into two sections. They include:
- Upper Respiratory Tract: includes the nasal passages, sinuses, the nasopharynx, and the larynx.
- Lower Respiratory Tract: containing the trachea, bronchi, lungs, and the diaphragm.
Horses are also uniquely equipped with guttural pouches, located in the upper respiratory tract. While the primary function of these pouches is unknown, theory states that they assist with maintaining equal air pressure on the middle ear.
The lining of these pouches produces a secretion that is drained when the horse lowers its head. If the secretion isn’t able to drain properly, visible swelling will occur just behind the jaw. This swelling can lead to a number of secondary complications for the horse, especially if a bacterial or fungal component is present.
Small Changes Make a Huge Difference: Preventing Respiratory Problems in Horses
There are several widely recognized methods for minimizing the risk of, or providing immediate relief for, respiratory issues. These include the following:
- Soak or dampen hay prior to feeding. Immersing your horse’s hay ration for
as little as 30 minutes can help reduce the amount of dust. Immersing hay can
reduce nutrient content, so dampening hay is recommended for horses requiring
the full nutrient content.
- Switch up bedding. Horses that spend a considerable amount of time in stalls are
exposed to higher amounts of dust than their pastured counterparts. Many options exist; among these are products such as pelleted straw, seed hulls, or plant byproducts.
- Ventilation in living areas. For horses who spend a significant amount of time in stalls, increasing the amount of ventilation as is feasible can help reduce respiratory issues.
In addition to making these changes to your horse’s lifestyle, it is important to ensure that warm-ups and cool-downs are thorough and that the horse is occasionally given a chance to catch their breath during intense exercise.
When Your Horse’s Respiratory Problem Doesn’t Improve
When respiratory issues persist or are accompanied by fever, lethargy, changes in appetite, or a nasal discharge that is anything but clear — it’s time to call the veterinarian.
Your veterinarian will perform an examination of the horse that involves observation, palpitation, and listening for coughing and abnormal lung sounds. To gain a greater understanding of the epidemiology specific to your horse, the veterinarian will also ask questions regarding your own observations.
In more advanced cases, there are several methods for determining the cause of respiratory issues. A nasal swab culture will allow your vet to determine if a bacterial infection such as Strangles is the cause of the issue.
Once a diagnosis is made a treatment plan can be put into place. Treatments vary based on the condition and its severity. Common causes of respiratory issues and how to treat them include:
- Bacterial, Viral, or Fungal Infections. These include afflictions such as flu, pneumonia, or Strangles. It will require the horse to be quarantined and receive supportive care. In the case of highly transmissible diseases, all horses on the same property may be quarantined to prevent further spread. In addition, horses who are diagnosed will be prescribed drugs that include, but aren’t limited to, antibiotics, NSAIDs, or bronchodilators.
- Chronic Conditions. Most common among these is Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), also referred to as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In cases such as these, the goal of treatment involves elimination of dust exposure, anti-inflammatories, and rapid relief of symptoms. As was recommended above, dust elimination is accomplished through soaking hay, changing the type of bedding used, and improving ventilation in living areas. Your veterinarian will prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug or a corticosteroid. Bronchodilators may also be utilized. Many feed-through supplements are also available to horse owners for purchase.
- Conditions Requiring Surgical Intervention. These extreme cases are usually the result of masses such as cysts, a displacement of the soft palate, or certain conditions involving the guttural pouch. While some of these procedures can be completed on the farm, more in-depth surgeries will require a referral to an equine hospital where the procedure can be done in a sterile environment, the duration of the stay varying. If surgery was necessitated by an infection, a systemic antibiotic will be administered. Medication to alleviate pain will also be given to the horse and IV fluids may be employed.
Moving Forward
The long term outlook for a horse with respiratory issues will depend on the diagnosis and varies from favorable to guarded.
In less severe conditions, horses may be able to return to their previous level of work after a period of rest and rehabilitation. These horses need to be closely monitored for any secondary complications to prevent the need for further intervention.
For horses with chronic issues, lifestyle changes will be necessary. Medications will need to be administered as prescribed by the veterinarian, with considerations for additional supplements. These horses may also have long term exercise and performance restrictions placed upon them.
In severe instances, horses will require a great deal of supportive care and medication. They may or may not be able to return to a previous level of work depending upon the diagnosis. In these cases, it is vital to work closely with your veterinarian to ensure that healing is optimal and the odds of complications are kept to a minimum. Your veterinarian’s referral to an equine clinic may be necessary to ensure these goals are achieved.
In any case, great care must be taken to ensure that the horse’s immediate needs are met and relief is granted. By making simple lifestyle changes and partnering with your veterinarian, you can ensure that your horse is able to recover from or live comfortably with respiratory issues.
Originally written by: Nicole Boross