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Respiratory & Dust Allergies - Clare Lockyer (Spillers Feeds)
Even the most highly trained equine athlete can only take one breath every stride and in that one breath there needs to be enough oxygen to fuel his whole body. Impaired oxygen absorption and utilisation can severely affect not only performance but also immune defence and the general well being of your horse. Therefore it is very important to protect your horses lungs in every kind of situation, to prevent irreversible damage. Respiratory diseases are a common problem in horses and ponies. COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the most frequently occurring equine medical condition in the U.K.
You may hear the condition referred to as "heaves", "broken wind", "hay -straw allergy" or emphysema. COPD can be likened to equine asthma with periods of normality and periods of disease symptoms. The symptoms of COPD can vary greatly depending on the severity of the disease. Sometimes symptoms aren't obviously present, however reduced performance during exercise is detected.

Causes Most cases of COPD are caused by an "allergy" or hypersensitivity to mould spores found in your horse's environment. Mould spores are very small in size with diameter of less than 5 microns. These small particles can squeeze through the defence mechanis

The overall effect of these responses is the narrowing of the airways and a reduced capacity for airflow. Management Dust and mould spores are present in their millions in your horse's environment especially during the winter. They are present in stables, indoor schools, horse boxes, forage, and bedding. Therefore the most important component of treatment for COPD is environmental control to reduce the horse's exposure to potential allergens and pollutants.

Ventilation is absolutely critical and therefore if at all possible turning horses out all the time is the best management practice. However, this is not always practical especially for the competition horse. In these cases the stable environment has to made as hygienic as possible. Always leave the top of the stable door open and if you are worried about your horse being cold add another rug, roof vents will also improve airflow. Hay is a big offender when it comes to mould spores therefore eliminating it from the diet is recommended. Other dust free alternatives should be found for example haylages, hay replacers such as Spillers Meadow Chop or Dengie Hi Fi or high fibre cubes. For mild cases of COPD hay can be soaked, this swells the spores to stop them entering the lower airways. If you are going to soak hay fully submerge it for approximately 20-30 mins making sure it is wet right through.
Also note that if you soak hay never feed it once it has dried out as the mould spores will have returned to their original size. Bedding is the other big culprit for dust and mould spores.The best practice is to eliminate bedding altogether and provide rubber matting, however you must never use straw for a horse suffering from COPD or bed them down on a deep litter system.

Good quality shavings can be an option but some shavings can have a higher spore count than good straw so be aware. Other alternatives are paper, sand, peat and flax. Also be aware of the storage of hay and straw, you may have the most hygienic stable in the yard but that is no good if your horse is stabled next to the hay barn.

Also be careful in situations such as travelling, horses can literally have their noses resting on a full haynet in the very confined space of a horse box. Diagnosis & Treatment If you are concerned that your horse or pony may be suffering for COPD contact your Veterinary Surgeon, so you can obtain a diagnosis and get some information on the severity of the problem. If symptoms are severe there are several drug therapies that can be prescribed, however to help support the respiratory system cases several herbs have shown to be of benefit.

Garlic is well known to help support the respiratory system. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and is particularly useful to reduce the risk of infection, as along with all that dust that your horse is breathing in are pathogenic bacterial and fungal spores that can cause a secondary infection. Garlic also has expectorant properties that encourage the expulsion of mucus from the lungs. This is very important as latest research has suggested mucus accumulation and the viscosity of that mucus can affect airway clarity.

Very viscous mucus can be very difficult to clear and contribute to persistent coughing. Marshmallow root and leaves are good for coughs, due to their expectorant, emollient and mucilaginous qualities. It encourages the expulsion of mucus, particularly when the cough is dry and tight.The root is particularly high in mucilage and is ideal for use where there is irritation or inflammation in the mucus membrane. Coltsfoot leaves and liquorice root are also excellent expectortants, and liquorice also has the benefit of being an antispasmodic.

Buckwheat may also be beneficial as it has antihistamine properties useful in an allergic reaction. Buckwheat is also naturally high in flavanoids which can help strengthen capillaries. The antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E can also be useful in horses suffering from COPD to help combat free radical damage produced in a stress response and promote tissue repair. Although COPD is a serious and permanent condition many horses and ponies can live and work normally. However, as highlighted in this article careful management is the key to its control. Herbal remedies may also be of benefit. Therefore, if you are looking for a supplement to support respiratory function look for one containing the above herbs and preferably antioxidant vitamins.


If you need any further advice in the management of a horse with COPD or on supplements that can support respiratory function please phone the Spillers Helpline on 01908 226626