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HEAVE HO FOR COPD/ASTHMA FAQs

Click HERE to purchase Equine Heave Ho Powder.

See Dr. Reilly lecture on the link between COPD and Insulin Resistance at The Equine Affair in Springfield, Massachusetts November 7 - 10, 2019. Learn More.

Proper diet and exercise is essential for horse health. This product is a supplement to help maintain horse health. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

Easy 4 Page Protocol Guide to Download

Click here to download Heave Ho Protocol
Do You And Your Horse Need Equine Heave Ho for Equine Heaves/Equine COPD?
- We are the only Equine Heaves/COPD herbal product using top rated/highest quality natural herbs, minerals, adaptogens, and Vitamin E to combat this respiratory problem.
- We go over multiple ways to help manage the problem. Heave Ho program is not just a supplement and good luck to you – that would not work.
- Heave Ho is guaranteed to help your horse’s signs of Equine Heaves by Day 14 – You have nothing to lose by trying it along with the management program.
- Heave Ho is economical – no expensive testing or $1,000 in allergy shots.
- Free Veterinary Consults with us – call or email us and we will speak directly to you. These consults are FREE – Speak to an Equine Veterinarian with 27 years of experience dealing with this problem.
- Avoid Steroid problems seen in Insulin Resistant, Cushings, and past foundered horses. WARNING: Long term (just 32 days in a row) of steroids can lead to greater chance of EPM Neurological Disease.
  - Click here for Dr. Cutler’s study in Vet Parasitol. on Immunoconversion against Sarcocystis neurona in normal and dexamethasone-treated horses challenged with S. neurona sporocysts.
- Get off expensive medications and inhalers.
- Natural supplement to help control Equine Heaves/Equine COPD.
Click HERE to purchase Equine Heave Ho Powder
Click here to download In Depth Heave Ho Protocol
Do You Need To Treat Year Round?
YES.
Spring: Grass, weeds, leaf pollen increase
Summer: Flowering plants, weeds pour out pollen. Corn and soybean pollen peak.
Fall: Ragweed pollens and mold spore counts peak. Fallen leaves are a major mold source.
Winter: All hay diet, in many cases, needed so hay dust increases. In sheds/barns more so barn, dust increases.
Can I Race, Show, Rodeo on Heave Ho?

Yes! In race horses - you can give Heave Ho the day of event. In show/rodeo (USEF, FEI): you can give Heave Ho the night prior to event - Example: Give in 6pm feed that night, compete the next day at 10am. 3pm and after event is over give Heave Ho again that evening.
How Does It Compare To Other Products?
Can I Use Heave Ho and Comfort Quik together?
Heave Ho + Comfort Quik
Yes, these are often used together in horses with breathing issues and joint soreness issues.
Can I Use Heave Ho and Heiro together?
Heave Ho + Heiro
Yes, the IR (insulin resistance) churns bad breathing and COPD churns up higher insulin (IR)
Click Here to read about this link
Horse Anhidrosis/Non-Sweating in COPD: Prevalence in the population.
1. Important Fact: 65% of your horse's ability to release it’s body heat is in sweating.
2. Veterinarians see that horses who are overweight have a greater tendency to have Anhidrosis. Estimates from Virginia’s veterinary school has approximately 50% of the horse population as overweight, so it’s now seen more frequently.
3. There are many studies showing a connection between IR (insulin resistance) and COPD - so these laminitic IR horses are more likely to have COPD and Anhidrosis.
4. COPD horses all have heat stress issues from anhidrosis. With different degrees of COPD, there are different severities of Anhidrosis.
5. Research at the University of Florida points to approximately 2-6% of horses have Anhidrosis. So, 160,000 - 480,000 horses in the USA. Click here to see Dr. Mallicote’s Article.
6. Research in Glasgow puts cases of Anhidrosis at 10-15% of the population. 800,000 to 1.2 million horses. Click here to see Dr. Jenkinson’s Article.
7. One study finds horses moved from the midwest to the south are 2x more likely to get Anhidrosis. Click here to see LSU ag center
8. The 4 step Heave Ho program for COPD horses helps control Anhidrosis in several ways.
Equine Heaves/Equine COPD - Zyrtec - an option
Zyrtec (cetirizine generic name) has been used with success in horses. The nice thing is that it’s a 2nd generation antihistamine so no drowsy horses. Also, it’s been tested in horses which helps.
- The key is dosing at the .4mg/kg dose - .2mg dose is of no value in horses with COPD/asthma.
- The pills only come in 10mg strength. They are tiny tablets and there are generics of this at Walmart/Sam’s Club so very cheap to try.
- +1000 lb. horse gets 18 tabs am + 18 tabs PM.
- I recommend doing this if you want to try with the Heave Ho powder on days 1-7 (so giving both together in feed) – so cetirizine/Zyrtec only 7 days total – as a complimenting med with Heave Ho powder until it kicks in on day 14.
- Click Here to See Article on Zyrtec in Horses
Horse Anhidrosis: What is Happening?
1. Sweating is required to help cool your horse - this includes cooling muscle to be able to exercise in warmer/humid weather. Any alteration in sweating will contribute to overheating in the body - at early stages this leads to heat stress.
2. Heat Stress Signs: Respiratory rates can double, triple, up to 4x-6x. Normal rates of breathing are 12-14 respirations a minute - can go to 60,70,80 a minute - puff like a freight train. Nostrils flared, pegged open even, wide-eyed, stressed. Rectal temps up to 101, 102, exercise ability drops. May be wobbly.
3. Heat Stroke Signs: Respiratory rates 2-6x, gums start to turn brick red instead of pink, can’t oxygenate body well, falls/collapses, possible coma, death.
4. Sweat pattern in Anhidrosis: Some will sweat but not enough, sme sweat only in patchy areas, some look like almost no sweating even after exercise and even though horses around them are sweating a lot.
5. Important fact: All COPD horses have some form of Anhidrosis, inability to handle heat like regular horses, stress more, puff more when more humid.
6. The 4 step Heave Ho program for COPD horses helps control Anhidrosis in several ways. Heave Ho alone will fail - Heave Ho powder is one step in four ESSENTIAL steps of our 4 step program!
Horse Anhidrosis: The Role of the Thyroid
1. Sweating in your horse is a complicated process - neural, hormonal, glands, temperature sensitive, genetics.
2. A study of thyroid function found there are differences in Anhidrosis horses - the response of TSH to TRH hormone is different/altered in Anhidrosis horses - Dr Brewhause, NC state vet school, 2004. Click here to see study. Click here to see study
3. Important Fact: In COPD horses, they ALL have low thyroid function and will test at the bottom of normal range = SUBOPTIMAL. We need them to be at the top of the normal range to help Anhidrosis - Why? COPD horses will test at 1.2 and the range at cornell of T4 is 1-3 - we need it at the top of normal ranges near 2.5, addin Thyrol helps in sweating better, reduces secondary lung infections due to the immune stimulant, helps muscles of breathing to aid in recovery.
  Consult your veterinarian to add low dose Thyrol (1 scoop = 12 mg in under 500 lbs, 2 scoops = 24mg in over 500 lbs) given once a day in the morning and retest TY levels in 30 days to see if it results in high normal levels. On For Life - cheap/easy. Insert thyrol pic (Low dose Thyrol can help avoid Anhidrosis.
  Low does Thyro-L can help avoid anhidrosis.
4. Does my horse hay Hypothyroidism with Anhidrosis? No, not true Hypothyroidism, horses are at the bottom of the normal range. Imagine it as a c+ in school, a passing but not ideal grade, we want it at the top of the normal range. We are not creating Hypothyroidism, very high doses of thyroid meds would be counter productive due to increased body temperatures. We want only to increase sweating and to stay in the normal range.
5. That’s Interesting! In Europe and India, COPD is called “puff disease,” because the horses are breathing so quickly.
6. Thyroid Testing - Get The Numbers.
  -In testing, do not accept “it’s a normal” on any test - we know that - Get the range, get the T4 number of your horse.
  -Best T4 test lab? Cornell University provides quick and accurate results. Your vet can send samples there easily.
Horse Anhidrosis: What to do in a Crisis?
1. Your horse is puffing like a freight train just standing in the field on a hot/humid day or your horse has only trotted a few hundred yards with you on a trail ride and is really struggling to breathe or your horse is wobbling around, about to fall over.
2. Puffing/Heat Stress, Walks Well
  - Get in shade
  - Run cold water over your horse's body for 10 minutes,
  - Offer cool water to drink. Put the hose in their mouth, and let them drink.
  - After 10 minutes, scrape off, towel dry, and get them in front of a fan.
  - Do these steps, respiration rate drops in ½ after 10 minutes of fans.
3. On A Ride
  - Get in shade
  - Stop riding
  - Give your horse water if there is a stream or your carrying it with you.
4. Heat Stress moving into Heat Stroke, signs of potential collapse. CALL YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY.
  - Keep outside - easier to help them when not in the aisle.
  - Keep in shade
  - Cold water hose
  - Hose in mouth
  - Scrape off/towel off or use fans
  - MEDS
    Vet may give Banamine to help reduce or stabilize body temperature. Vet may give Dexamethasone, if this helps it is important to understand, it is often mistaken as helping an allergy attack when in fact Dex will reduce body temperature by 1-2 degrees,which helps recovery. Vet may drench 3-4 gallons of electrolyte water to cool the core, and replace needs.
    
    Need Heave Ho Program Owners are very stressed when they feel that their horse is not able to breathe comfortably. This is when a plan is needed: “ok, this happened, what are we going to do so it doesn’t happen again?”
Horse Anhidrosis: Does Beer Really Help?
1. My wife has a COPD Icelandic with Anhidrosis - Beer does help this horse.
2. So how do you do it? ½ can of cheap beer (we use busch) in their morning feed, they love it. Yes this horse is also an IR horse, but Icelandics’ are very small (horses gets 20,000 + calories a day, ½ can is 60 calories, a drop in the ocean.
3. Old race track trick - some owners use Guinness stout and see great results.
4. Thoughts on why this works?
  -Increases B Vitamins
  -Yeast in beer can help gut
5. Get ready - They will knock you down to get to their breakfast once they know there is beer in it.
  Click here to read an article on beer for horses with Anhidrosis
Horse Anhidrosis: Why Heave Ho Powder Works
The Heave Ho program is 4 steps:
1. Hay “flash soaked” to remove organic dust - helps to breathe better, that means cooling effects are better.
2. Omegas - adding chia seed to increase ALA omega 3 - Reduces coughing in a study - again, breathe better and cool better.
3. Thyroid function brought to high end of normal. Helps immunity to aid in less secondary lung infections. Less temperature problems in the body without infections. Helps breathing muscle, that helps cooling.
4. Heave Ho Powder -
  - High in vitamin E - 5800 IU/scoop in Heave Ho, is a validator that helps in cooling skin. Click here to see Dr. Wu’s 2005 study. Click Here to see Dr. Wu’s 2005 Study
  - Tea in Heave Ho is a validator Click Here to see Dr. Grassi 2013 Study
  - Adding vitamin E to a group of Anhidrosis horses helped in recovery. Click Here to seeDr. Rasheed 2010 Study
  - Lemon balm in heave ho is a diaphoretic herb that helps induce involuntary perspiration to cool the body. High dose vitamin E in Heave ho helps to avoid Anhidrosis.
What Are The 4 Easy Steps of the Heave Ho Program?
1. Hay – all hay has organic dust from normal production, but it can transfer asthma/COPD in many, so need to reduce load via FLASH SOAKING. Tear up hay, place in haynet, place in bucket of water and fully submerge for ONLY 10 minutes, pull out and hang up. Never use round bales – huge dust.
2. Omegas – See article on our site showing how omegas can reduce coughs 50% – add chia or flax seed that is high in ALA Omega 3 and great Omega 3 to 6 ratio.
3. Thyroid Function – low in all COPOD/asthma horses – it directly lowers thyroid gland output. Add Thyrol L to diet and test T4 levels in 30 days to see if need to add more. these horses run at low end of normal range = sub-optimal and need to be in high end of normal to reduce lung infections and help breathing muscle.
4. Heave Ho – 2x a day for 7 days, then 1x a day.
Is My Horse’s Heave Condition Contagious?

No, it is an individual hyperactive reaction to allergens. Your horse can not give Equine Heave/Equine COPD to another horse.
Why Is Vitamin E Needed To Help Breathe Better?
Heave Ho has 5784 IU Vitamin E per scoop to improve the airway. Vitamin E in horses is proven to increase immunity to help decrease chronic and constant lung infections. This can cut back on snotty noses, constant antibiotics of secondary bacterial infections. The Vitamin E has also been proven in horses to increase immunity via immunoglobulin protection increased.
Simple, easy, economical, and especially needed in horses on dirt lots/poor pasture and in winter (October-March) when there is almost zero Vitamin E in grass.
* Vitamin E in Heave Ho is proven to help COPD.
Click below on Science Articles on Why Vitamin E helps COPD.
In Studies:
How Long Do I Keep My Horse On Equine Heave Ho For Equine Heaves/Equine COPD?
Depends on the condition:
A. Some horses are only “Summer Heaves” and after a good spell of cold weather/snow, their allergen is gone for the winter. They go off Equine Heave Ho and back onto it at once a day starting mid-March.
B. Some horses are allergic year round to usually hay, diet, mold, or bedding types and need year round Equine Heave Ho.
Protocol:
1. Heave Ho Powder: 1 Scoop AM and 1 Scoop PM for 7 days, then 1 scoop a day. 1 Container has 30 Servings.
Click here to see other steps you can take to also help your horse through the management of the environment.
Real World Story how Heave Ho/Health E Helped a Horse
Dr. Reilly:
I just wanted to tell you I GOT MY HORSE BACK!!!! For 2 years Ginger has had no stamina or energy to go beyond a trot due to her heaves and mild arthritis. The last time I rode her, her lungs made a ghastly sound and I thought that was it, she is now a pasture ornament. I was going to have her get another steroid shot, but thought that really didn’t improve her quality nor was it really solving the issue. I used the Heave Ho and Health E for one month and saw an improvement just having her around the barn. So I ordered another month without really knowing if she had improved that much. WELL, yesterday was the first time I was able to ride due to our weather and I couldn’t get her to slow down. We didn’t just canter, we were at a full run and she didn’t want to stop. My granddaughter and I rode for 3 1/2 hours and had the best ride in a long time. I don’t expect this all the time due to climate change, but what an improvement. It was amazing. I also put my old 34 year old gelding on the Health E and he is running around like a colt again. The product is expensive for me since I have so many animals, but their health is important. This treatment for Ginger is healthier and cheaper in the long run than the alternatives. I will be ordering the Heiro for my dogs soon. Thank you for a wonderful product as you saved my horse and hopefully I will have a few more years of riding and loving her. She is about 21 years old and I’m 64 so hopefully we’ll both be able to retire at the same time. Again, thank you.
Doreen P.