- Heaves is the colloquial name of a respiratory disorder that can affect any horse. Originally called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, heaves was renamed recurrent airway obstruction or RAO due to the confusion between human COPD, caused primarily by cigarettes, and equine COPD, caused primarily by mold and dust. Heaves develops over time and is generally found in middle aged and older horses.
- Heaves is caused by the inhalation of mold, dust, ammonia from urine, pollen and rodent and bird feces. Over time, these irritants cause the horse's lungs to become hypersensitive and hyper-reactive. Tissue in the horse's lungs becomes inflamed, produces excess mucus, which causes bronchio spasms.
- Signs that your horse has heaves includes; coughing, runny nose, pushing with abdominal muscles to exhale, abnormal breathing noises (grunts, whistles), and an elevated respiratory rate. For advanced or prolonged cases, horses will develop a "heave line." The abdominal muscles are contracted and expanded in an effort to assist the diaphragm in pulling air in and pushing air out. They become overdeveloped along the barrel of the horse, forming the heave line.
- Heaves can not be cured; however you can control the symptoms and the progression with good stable management. Turn your horse out in a pasture all day, every day. If you can't pasture your horse, turning him out for several hours every day will help reduce the severity of the symptoms. Soak the hay your horse eats in water for 2 hours before feeding or use a hay pellet or a pelleted complete feed. Switch to a low dust bedding like pelleted cardboard. Use pelleted rather than loose grain. Make your barn bird proof and increase air flow through the barn.
- There are many medications available for heaves. For severe cases your veterinarian will prescribe a corticosteroid or bronco dilator. There are also herbal remedies for heaves like "cough free." Work with your vet to find the management and medication program that best suits your horse. If caught early enough and promptly treated, your horse can continue with his daily activities uninterrupted.
