How to Manage COPD in Your Horse
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Most often arises during winter. The disease causes horses to experience labored breathing. Unfortunately, there is no cure, and since it is not an infectious disease there is no vaccine. There are therapeutic approaches that can assist the horse with COPD.
General consensus of what causes COPD is overexposure to dust, mold, and other air pollutants. There is often debate among causes. The reason for the puzzling debate is because two horses can live and share the same environments and feed supply, with only one suffering from COPD and the other showing no signs or symptoms of the disease. It is unknown whether it is hereditary and if certain horses are predisposed. Unless the environment and/or feeding program are changed, the condition can become permanent and compromise the horse’s ability to perform.
Most often arises during winter. The disease causes horses to experience labored breathing. Unfortunately, there is no cure, and since it is not an infectious disease there is no vaccine. There are therapeutic approaches that can assist the horse with COPD.
Reducing COPD Symptoms
To help decrease the risk of COPD in your horse, start by lowering dust in your horse's living environment. Keeping the stables or barn entirely dust-free is nearly impossible, so allow your horse to be outside as much as possible. However, make sure to keep your horse inside if it is too cold or too hot, harsh temperatures can make the condition worse. Make sure your horse is being fed hardy, nutritious forage.
A key in the prevention aspect is the quality of hay. Dryness can be a problem in maintaining quality. If the moisture content exceeds 20% and no preservatives are added, the hay will heat when packed tightly into a bale. The heating will reduce the quality of the hay and can result in moldy, dusty forage that carries with it a COPD threat. If dusty and moldy hay is fed in a tightly enclosed manger, there is no way the horse can avoid inhaling the dust and spores of mold. Feeding hay on the ground lessens the inhalation problem but does not eliminate it. Everything that can be done to provide the horse with fresh, clean air can make a world of a difference for their breathing.
Spotting Symptoms
In the early stages of COPD, it is likely that the horse will cough during the beginning of the ride or during exercise. Best to spot early so the horse has a fighting chance to lessen signs with management. A Helpful solution is turning a stabled horse out on green grass. According to information from the University of Illinois: “For horses that become worse when stabled, leaving them outside year-round and providing them with a three-sided shelter for protection from the wind, rain, and cold seems to be the best therapy. If you must bring the horse indoors, a clean, dry barn is essential.”
Treatments
It is important to note that medicines are not curative but there are some that provide temporary relief. Your vet may prescribe a few drugs and encourage breathing treatments. Bronchodilators like the Ventipulmin device or inhalers can be helpful for short-term use. The key to any of these treatments is to be diligent in following the veterinarian’s orders to ensure optimal results.
At Equine Medical and Surgical Associates, we provide a supplement “Heave Ho” that is part of a four step “Heave Ho” program to maintain your horse’s health and improve breathing in only 14 days. The Heave Ho powder is the first of four steps. The ingredients in Heave Ho supplement are natural herbs, high-dose vitamin E, and balanced minerals. These herbs help in fortifying your horse’s immune system using phytonutrients, immune modulators, and adaptogens to help deal with the stress of breathing issues and anti-inflammatories.
Instructions on how to include Heave Ho into your horse’s diet:
The first seven days: one scoop in the morning and one scoop at night, then one scoop in the morning after that. Horses respond rapidly in 10-14 days with improved respiratory rates, less cough, calmer attitudes from being able to breathe better.
This product comes in two sizes: 30 servings and 90 servings, priced at $68.95 and $174.95, in two flavors: molasses and sugar-free apple. We offer free shipping on all orders over $120.
Note: Proper diet and exercise are 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.