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Equine asthma, also known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Reactive Airway Disease (RAD), Recurrent Airway Obstruction (ROA), "broken wind," or "heaves", is similar to human asthma. It is an extreme respiratory allergy that is very common in older horses over six years of age, according to Equina Wellness. It often develops over time as a reaction to environmental conditions, especially in horses that are commonly kept in stables for long periods of time. Treatment strategies include environmental management, conventional medicine and some natural remedies.
Asthma in horses is commonly called heaves, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or chronic bronchitis, which all refer to an equine lung condition. There are many different treatments available to help suppress the symptoms associated with these conditions. Asthma may be caused by environmental allergies or dusty hay. Before treating equine asthma, be sure the hay is dust-free and the horse is in a clean environment that is as free of allergens as possible.
Asthma is a condition caused by the development of inflammation in the lungs. Horses often display symptoms that are similar to those of human asthma sufferers; however, asthma symptoms in horses are known as equine asthma. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and SPAOPD (Summer Pasture Associated Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) are both forms of equine asthma. There are several signs that indicate if asthma is affecting a horse.
Like people, horses can suffer from asthma. Equine asthma is an incurable condition, but it can be managed and its symptoms mitigated with a variety of treatments. It is essential that horses with asthma are under the care of an experienced veterinarian to ensure that it receives the most effective method of treatment.
A couple of ailments lead to asthma in horses. These include heaves, which your veterinarian may call chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), and summer pasture-associated obstructive pulmonary disease (SPAOPD). The symptoms of horse asthma are difficulty breathing, especially a wheezing sound while breathing; mucus discharge from the nose; and coughing. The best treatment for your asthmatic horse is to prevent the symptoms from appearing.
Abbreviated as COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a lung disease in horses that closely resembles asthma in human beings. COPD is especially common in cold climates where horses are kept indoors for long periods of time near moldy hay. Mature horses, usually age seven and older, that are kept stabled during the winter are most susceptible to COPD. Typically, horses suffering from COPD are allergic to the mold particles in hay dust, though pollens, chemicals and other substances can also trigger this condition.
Any horse can develop airway inflammation, which can develop into a serious disease over time. Both SPAOPD (Summer Pasture Associated Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) are two types of equine asthma. It is often called "Equine Asthma" because it is similar to asthma in people.
Asthma in horses isn't referred to as asthma, but as Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD). At its worst, IAD can progress into a serious respiratory condition called the heaves.
