How Much Do You Know About Inflammatory Airway Disease In Horses?

What is Inflammatory Airway Disease?

Inflammatory airway disease, also known as IAD, usually only affects younger horses' respiratory tract. This condition is caused by inhaled allergens from your horse’s environment. Horses that are kept in stalls can be exposed to irritating particles and mold spores from dust. Some horses are more susceptible than others due to being allergic to inhaled irritants like pollen. IAD occurs from when the lower airways in your horse's lungs constrict in response to those particles. This constriction reduces airflow, overproduces mucus, and makes it harder for the respiratory tract to clear mucus effectively. 

Heaves

Don’t be confused about Inflammatory Airway Disease and Heaves! Heaves is an allergen-based disease that is very similar to the way asthma affects humans. Heaves tend to only affect older and more mature horses. When your horse is exposed to allergy-producing particles, chemicals within their lungs cause their air passage linings to swell. Unlike IAD, it's very common for your horse to lose their appetite and lose weight as a result of Heaves. This is due to the extensive extra effort they are using to breathe. 

Common Symptoms of IAD

Horses with IAD will usually develop a cough that lasts more than a month, but it is possible that they won’t produce a fever. Affected horses may also be able to train without problems, but it can take them longer to recover from their normal breathing patterns. The more advanced IAD becomes, your horse may become exercise intolerant. Your horse can also be susceptible to producing mild, watery or white nasal drippings. Horses with IAD commonly do not have problems with maintaining a healthy appetite. 

Treatments

Decreasing the exposure your horse has to pollen and allergens can be extremely beneficial in the success of reviving their respiratory health. You can do this by soaking their hay before offering it to them, removing hay from their diet, switching their bedding from straw to wood shavings, and providing fresh ventilation with allowing stall windows and barn doors to stay open.

What Can Equine Medical and Surgical Associates Do to Help?

Equine Medical and Surgical Associates provides the supplement Heave-Ho to help improve your horse’s breathing. 

Heave Ho contains natural herbs, high dose vitamin E, and balanced minerals. These herbs help in fortifying your horse’s immune system by using phytonutrients, immune modulators, and adaptogens to help deal with the stress of breathing issues and anti-inflammatories. 

For more in-depth details about our non-GMO and quality product Heave Ho, check out our website here.