Mild and Severe

Working in the show horse mecca of Wellington, Fla., Meg Miller Turpin, DVM, DACIVM, of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, routinely treats horses with equine asthma.

Miller Turpin explains that mild to moderate equine asthma is also referred to as inflammatory airway disease (IAD), while severe asthma is best described as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO).

“Mild and moderate [IAD] are the earlier forms of the disease, which we tend to see in young and middle-aged horses,” she explains. “If caught early, it can be reversible. When aggressive treatment and essential management changes are applied to these reactive horses, then many will completely recover. In the sport horse world, we’ve improved our early diagnostic measures, which allows treatment before the condition becomes severe and irreversible.

“Unfortunately, when the disease progresses to severe [RAO], there are lung changes that are irreversible, so then we must rely on figuring out the best way to manage the symptoms,” Miller Turpin adds.

In the past, this airway condition was known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or “heaves.” Many horse owners still refer to such respiratory conditions as heaves.

“The terms are often used interchangeably, but they all mean basically the same thing: mucous plugs in a hypersensitive airway,” explains Miller Turpin.

Clinical Signs of Equine Asthma

Signs of equine asthma can include:

• Coughing
• Nasal discharge
• Wheezing
• Flared nostrils when breathing normally
• Increased respiratory effort/heavy breathing
• Increased respiratory rate, even at rest
• Poor performance
• Resistance to work
• Exercise intolerance
• Anhidrosis (partial or total inability to sweat)
• Elevated heart rate during exercise or recovery
• Prolonged recovery after exercise

“We see a lot of horses with anhidrosis in Florida,” says Miller Turpin. “I’ve found that many horses with mild or moderate asthma [IAD] stop sweating, so that’s a double whammy. Sometimes you can get them to start sweating again once you get the airway issues under control.”

She finds that horses suffering from equine asthma can take much longer to recover from exercise—as long as 30 to 60 minutes to start breathing normally.

When a horse’s heart rate is much higher than it should be for the rate at which he’s working, this can indicate a lung problem is preventing the heart from getting enough oxygen to pump to the rest of the body, including muscles required for action.

Affected horses can have elevated respiratory rates as high as 50 to 90 (or more!) breaths per minute. Keep in mind, normal respiration for an adult horse is 8 to 20 breaths per minute.

Dramatically high respiratory rates combined with hot weather can be life threatening.

Causes and Triggers of Equine Asthma

Equine asthma is typically related to inhaled allergens and irritants. These can be year-round, such as dust, mold and fungal spores found in hay, straw and poorly ventilated or closed-up barns.

Other horses may only be susceptible to seasonal allergens, such as pollen encountered during specific times of year, typically spring and summer, or sometimes fall. Seasonal allergies can be easier to manage because you know when to expect a problem.

Miller Turpin finds that if horses have had a respiratory virus or a bacterial infection of the airway, this can make them more vulnerable to irritants that act as triggers.

It is believed that some horses may have a genetic predisposition to developing asthma, and when faced with environmental triggers, like dust, they will develop clinical signs.

Sensitive horses that often get hives and are very reactive to topical products and/or vaccines may be more likely to develop equine asthma.

“Horses that are stalled in cold climates in the winter with windows closed are set up for even more reactions to dust and molds,” says Turpin Miller. “Ammonia levels from urine in the stall can be toxic to the airways in a closed environments with poor ventilation. In tropical Florida, we have all this growth, bloom and mold, so even if horses receive additional turnout, there are still triggers in different grasses [and the] hay that is delivered from different areas of the United States and Canada.”

Those inhaled allergens and irritants cause inflammation, which leads to airway constriction as the tissue lining the small airways in the lungs narrows and becomes thickened. The smooth muscle surrounding these airways also constricts and tightens. Thick, sticky mucous accumulates in the airways, which also obstructs breathing.

As a result, inhaling and expelling air from the lungs becomes an effort for the horse. When the condition goes untreated, lung tissue can suffer permanent damage, resulting in irreversible loss of lung function.

Over time, horses can develop what is known as a “heave line” along the bottom of the rib cage on both sides as the abdominal muscles enlarge due to the continued effort of exhaling.

Diagnosing Equine Asthma

When a horse exhibits clinical signs that point to equine asthma, the veterinarian should do a thorough physical exam, including ultrasound of the lungs and a resting airway scope of the upper respiratory tract.

The veterinarian may also wish to perform a scope while the horse is exercising to rule out a mechanical cause, such as a displaced palate or abnormal epiglottis.

Should the horse’s heart rate be abnormally elevated, the veterinarian may use an exercise EKG to evaluate the horse under exercise.

Skin allergy testing may also be used to determine specific allergens that might be associated with inflammatory airway disease.

When equine asthma seems likely after these exams, the veterinarian will likely use a procedure known as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) to better define the diagnosis.

The BAL can be done without taking the horse to a clinic. While the horse is sedated, a special tube is passed through the nostril into the trachea and down into part of the lung. Sterile saline is flushed in and suctioned back out, drawing cells and mucous out with the fluid. These samples are then submitted for cytological analysis to pinpoint the most effective treatment.

Treatment Protocol

The traditional medical approach is to address inflammation with corticosteroids and, if necessary, open the airways with a bronchodilator.

The duration and amount of medication used is tailored to the specific horse.

Although systemic steroids have been the gold standard to relieve inflammation and asthma signs, these drugs can suppress the immune system and carry risks, such as laminitis.

Administering steroids via nebulizer or inhaler, instead of orally or by injection, may reduce the risk of side effects by targeting the steroids directly to the lungs.

“With competition horses, you also have to consider competition regulations and withdrawal times,” says Miller Turpin.

Some regenerative medicines are being used with promise, including stem cells. Another innovative treatment uses a patented process to filter alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) from the horse’s own blood. This protein has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and can be administered via a nebulizer. (Studies are still necessary to prove the efficacy of these medications.)

Supplements may also help. Miller Turpin notes that both high doses of Vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids have lung health benefits.

It also appears that acupuncture can help breathing function in some horses with equine asthma.

The Importance of Management

Owners need to be very aware of their horse’s environment and any individual triggers. For the horse to experience ongoing relief, management changes are a crucial part of treatment protocol.

“You can treat aggressively with medications in the early stages and the horses may respond well, but if you don’t take away the triggers causing the allergy or reactive airway, then as soon as you stop the medication, the symptoms will come back, and often they will be exacerbated,” cautions Miller Turpin.

Depending on which allergens/irritants are to blame, your horse may do better when kept outside as much as possible. On the other hand, horses battling seasonal allergens may have less exposure if they’re not turned out as much that time of year.

Air quality is key. Eliminate dust and mold as much as possible. Reduce allergen/irritant exposure by:

• Using the stall with the most airflow (usually an end stall).
• Reconsider bedding (straw is often the worst choice; peat moss or cardboard may be better).
• Remove the affected horse from the barn whenever cleaning stalls, sweeping, or using a blower.

Forage Considerations

Obviously, forage is the main part of the equine diet. For asthmatic horses, however, hay can be a primary source of allergens and irritants.

Some owners find that dampening or steaming hay helps. Dry hay is not recommended, and round bales are an absolute no-no due to their high levels of dust, fungal and mold spores.

“These horses do better when you replace hay with chopped forage, pellets or complete feed,” says Miller Turpin.

Case History

The first indication Natalie Pai’s Oldenburg stallion, Mister-C, had respiratory issues was a hacking cough at the beginning of his workouts.

After Pai imported the stallion to Florida, she found he was also very sensitive to topical products, often breaking out in hives.

Miller Turpin examined Mister-C and did a series of skin allergy tests, which showed he was reactive to a wide array of allergens. She also performed airway endoscopy and a BAL. He was diagnosed with equine asthma due to severe allergies.

A2M and steroid/bronchodilator treatments through a nebulizer are part of his routine. He also gets allergy shots administered subcutaneously every two weeks. His hay is steamed to remove any dust.

“His breathing is very well managed now,” says Pai, who understands the frustration of breathing problems since she herself has allergy-induced asthma.

Key Takeaway

When a horse has breathing abnormalities, especially combined with skin sensitivities, have your veterinarian conduct an exam for possible equine asthma. Being proactive with early treatment and management changes may keep the condition from becoming severe and irreversible.

Further Reading
◆ Horse Respiratory Issues: Management of Asthma and Other Disorders
◆ Horse Allergies: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

This article about equine asthma appeared in the July 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post What is Equine Asthma? appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

What is Vesicular Stomatitis?

Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a viral disease that primarily affects horses and cattle, though it can also affect pigs, sheep, goats, llamas and alpacas. It’s not a new disease; it’s been referenced in texts as far back as the mid-1800s.

VS is found only in the Western Hemisphere; it’s considered an endemic disease of the Americas, occurring in the warmer regions of North, Central and South America. Even though it’s old, there is no vaccination that can protect horses from contracting the disease.

Horses affected by VS may have a fever or salivate excessively and go off their feed. However, the most tell-tale sign of the disease is blister-like lesions (vesicles) on areas of the horse’s body that have minimal hair, like around the mouth, nostrils, coronary bands, sheath or teats.

Blisters can also form in the mouth and on the tongue. When these blisters break, they leave behind raw, exposed, painful skin. Horses with VS will often be reluctant to eat or move.

Age or Underlying Conditions

While often quite painful, most horses heal in a few weeks with nothing more than supportive care, which can include the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories to treat pain.

However, older horses or those with an underlying condition may have a more difficult time recovering from a VS infection; these are the horses Pelzel-McCluskey is particularly concerned about.

For these horses, she recommends conferring with the horse’s treating veterinarian about the possibility of feeding a beet pulp instead of hay or grain, or considering the administration of intravenous fluids. Oral lesions can cause enough pain to stop a horse from eating or drinking enough to keep him healthy, putting him at risk of dehydration or colic.

Even horses that become significantly lame from lesions on their coronet bands often heal with no complications other than a defect demarcation in the hoof wall when it grows out.

Why Is Vesicular Stomatitis Concerning?

It’s been established that VS isn’t particularly deadly, and it’s only found in a small geographic area relative to the size of the world.

Why then, is it a disease horse owners need to worry about? Because the impact on the economy—both within the United States and abroad—can be substantial. VS is an international trade issue, explains Pelzel-McCluskey.

The lesions common in VS infections look disturbingly similar to the lesions caused by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which can affect sheep, goats, pigs and cows (FMD does not affect horses, cats or dogs). FMD spreads rapidly, and just one case can shut down international trade completely and have massive economic consequences. FMD is one of the most-feared livestock diseases: In some countries, a FMD diagnosis carries a slaughter mandate.

This means that livestock owners in countries where animals can contract FMD (which doesn’t include the United States; FMD was eradicated here in 1929) will do anything it takes to not have animals present with something that even looks like the dreaded disease—which includes VS.

Mandatory Reporting

Like most things in life, open lines of communication are key. All VS cases are “reportable,” meaning that a veterinarian is required to report suspected cases to state and federal animal health officials, who then have to notify trade partners if cases are confirmed.

To ensure that international trade of livestock continues (even if there is a VS outbreak), the U.S. agrees to quarantine all horses affected by VS and report all VS situations to countries with which they trade. If these pieces are in place, equine trade can continue even in the face of an outbreak.

If these things are not adhered to, however, international trade can come to an immediate halt. This causes huge economic impacts, as horses cannot be imported or exported for showing, racing or sales. Shipping of frozen or cooled semen can continue, though some countries may require a stallion test negative before the semen will be accepted for importation.

While there are no exact figures available, it’s estimated that 30,000 horse are shipped by air each year, the majority internationally. So, while you personally might not be sending your horse to an overseas competition, you may have contact with someone who will be around horses that plan to travel abroad—and they may unintentionally spread the disease.

How Vesicular Stomatitis is Transmitted

There are three main VS insect vectors: black flies, sand flies and biting midges, explains Pelzel-McCluskey.

“Both the black flies and the Culicoides [midges] drive most of the VS outbreaks in the United States, though there may be some other insects that can spread the disease as well,” she says.

Interestingly, if a VS-carrying insect bites a horse where he has hair, the horse will not develop the outward lesions associated with VS, but he will create antibodies to the virus. The lesions develop only if an infected insect bites a horse where he has little hair cover.

While this seems like the stars must align for the disease to spread, it can also be transmitted from horse to horse via direct contact or on items that have had contact with the ruptured lesions of an infected animal, like buckets, shared troughs and feed bins; even eating out of the same round bale or sharing communal salt blocks can spread the disease, says Pelzel-McCluskey.

Stopping the Spread

VS can spread rapidly, so quarantining affected horses is imperative. The virus can remain active for seven to 10 days once lesions appear on the horse; quarantine lasts for “14 days from the onset of lesions in the last infected animal on the premise.”

Local geography affects how VS vectors move and lay their eggs: black flies like flowing water, while Culicoides prefer damp, muddy areas like those around water troughs and riverbanks.

Black flies’ preference for moving water explains how infected insects can often end up miles from original outbreaks. VS most often enters the United States from Mexico.

“We have a series of historically expected cases because of the way water moves,” explains Pelzel-McCluskey. “It’s often seen in the Southwestern United States and the Rocky Mountain area.”

While it would be expected for VS to appear only in the late spring and summer when biting insects are at their peak, it’s not unusual to have VS outbreaks in the dead of winter in Colorado or Wyoming, according to Pelzel-McCluskey.

These outbreaks are almost always the result of Culicoides, which can withstand cooler weather than black flies. These insects become inactive in cold weather, but one warm day—even in the dead of winter—can reinvigorate them. Culicoides lay their eggs in wet areas, like around water troughs and on riverbanks, the very places livestock go when the weather warms.

Additional Prevention Tips Keep bedding dry Feed horses in individual feeders Clean and disinfect horse trailers, equipment, waterers and other equine equipment regularly Eliminate muddy areas in fields and on ground Keep manure piles as far as possible from fields and stables Investigate the use of parasitic wasps or guinea hens to keep insect populations in check

How to Handle an Outbreak

Controlling a VS outbreak must be a multi-pronged approach, says Pelzel-McCluskey.

• First, the owner must isolate a VS-infected animal to minimize disease spread in the horse’s home herd. Additionally, the farm itself must be quarantined to limit the movement of possibly infected animals.
• Second, an aggressive vector control program to reduce the fly population must begin.
  “Owners need to remove manure and standing water,” says Pelzel-McCluskey. “They also need to get rid of tall weeds where insects tend to hide.”
• Third, fly-control measures need to be implemented or ramped up. This includes daily application of fly spray to horses (including all particularly vulnerable areas like under the belly, sheath or teats and on the face) and the implementation of tools like parasitic wasps that feed on fly larvae, fans (to keep air flowing), or equine fly gear.If you choose to use things like fly sheets, fly masks or fly boots, it’s critical that they cover areas that are most at risk, including muzzles (think fly masks with nose coverings), bellies (fly sheets with bellybands may help) or ears (fly masks with ear coverings).

“Think hard about biosecurity and vector mitigation for disease reasons,” says Pelzel-McCluskey. Both play a part in halting the spread of VS. “The horse doesn’t need to be living in a screened stall,” she clarifies. “We have so many infectious diseases that can be prevented by good biosecurity practices and vector control. No one can do it all, but you do want to have a [fly-control] program in place.”

Additionally, owners who implement new fly-control measures should keep a close eye on whether those measures are working. If they are not working at all or don’t seem to be working well, consider trying another, says Pelzel-McCluskey.

Key Takeaway

Pelzel-McCluskey advises horse owners and caretakers to take vesicular stomatitis seriously.

“It’s not just your individual horse that is affected by the disease,” she says. “Good care means you’re improving the lives of all horses on the property,” which has a ripple effect into the entire population of horses worldwide.

This article about vesicular stomatitis appeared in the January/February 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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It’s safe to say we love horses—all horses. But every once in a while, we meet a heart horse. Like a soul mate or best friend, a heart horse is one that’s a perfect match for you. Together, you’re two peas in a pod, and you can’t imagine life without this four-legged friend.

For Lisa Sherrodd, her heart horse is a Norwegian Fjord mare named Fiona. When Fiona got into her teens, Sherrodd decided to breed her and pass on some of her amazing genes, which include great looks, a steadfast temperament, a love of people, a hardy nature, and kind eyes complete with a sunshade of long lashes.

In the summer of 2018, Fiona gave birth to a perfect filly named Rosie. Rosie was everything Sherrodd had hoped. In the afternoons, she’d lay in the pasture, and Rosie would lay beside her, with her head on her lap. Who is so lucky to get a second heart horse?

Rosie grew and developed perfectly. At age 3, Sherrodd was just beginning to ride her, and Rosie was a dream, just like her mom. Then one day she noticed Rosie was off her feed. She had some swelling in her jaw that the vet thought was an abscess. She prescribed antibiotics.

Rosie developed diarrhea, a fever and rapid heart rate, and Sherrodd took her to the local vet clinic. There, they administered a different antibiotic via IV, but Rosie’s condition deteriorated. Sherrodd rushed her to Colorado State University (CSU) Veterinary Teaching Hospital. By the time they arrived, Rosie was down and wouldn’t get up. Within minutes, she died in Sherrodd’s arms inside her trailer.

It was horrifying and devastating. A healthy filly suddenly dying while under veterinary care—what on earth had happened?

A Diagnosis of Colitis

Sherrodd requested that the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital conduct an autopsy on her horse. The results were sepsis brought on by antibiotic-induced clostridial colitis.

As lifelong, experienced horse people, neither of us were familiar with this condition, and we didn’t realize antibiotics put a horse at risk for developing it. To learn more and help prevent future fatalities, we spoke with two of the veterinarians who worked on Rosie’s case at CSU.

Yvette Nout-Lomas, DVM, Ph.D., explains that colitis in general refers to the inflammation of the lining of the large colon or hindgut in the horse. This leads to thickening of the wall with subsequent dysfunction, such as reduced absorption of water and nutrients. In addition, undesired substances can enter the bloodstream through the damaged sections.

“When the horse starts absorbing substances from the bowel into their blood stream—for example, bacteria or bacterial products—a severe disease process called sepsis can occur that is sometimes fatal,” she explains.

Like the name implies, antibiotic-induced colitis is brought about from antibiotic use. While any antibiotic can cause it, some carry a higher risk. Of course, the horse’s general health also plays a role.

Nowadays, we’re learning and hearing more and more about the importance of the microbiome in our guts. This is even more complicated in a horse’s gut. The disturbance antibiotics cause to this microbiome are paramount.

“Lots of different microbes live in the gut of mammals, and in the horse, the microbiome is particularly expansive and diverse in the hind gut,” Nout-Lomas says. “These microbes and the balance of different ones is critically important for normal function of the gut. Antibiotics can kill off the microbes that live in the hindgut and help keep everything functioning normally.”

In this altered state, other microbes may rise, throwing off what was a balanced system. This is referred to as dysbacteriosis, and can occur suddenly.

“For example, lactic acid is a product that is often present in the hind gut in small amounts, and during dysbacteriosis it can significantly increase,” Nout-Lomas explains. “These sudden changes usually lead to intestinal inflammation and dysfunction, the severity of which is variable.”

Although antibiotic-induced colitis isn’t very common, it does occur more regularly in hind gut fermenters like rabbits and horses, and the doctors do see these cases regularly in the hospital.

Because of the disruption to the gut microbiome and issues around antibiotic resistance, everyone should exercise caution when using antibiotics.

“We should be very careful in using antibiotics, and they really should only be used when necessary,” she says. “This is an important reason to be careful with the use and selection of appropriate antibiotics.”

Signs of Colitis in Horses

“Sometimes the horse may appear dull and not interested in eating, with a high heart rate and fever,” says Al Migliorisi, DVM. “The horse can appear bloated and even show signs of colic. Diarrhea is often, but not always, present. This is an aspect of colitis that creates confusion sometimes in horse owners: How can my horse have colitis if I have not seen any diarrhea?”

The reason is that the inflammation itself can cause different degrees of dysfunction. The intestines may become hyperactive, or instead may slow down. In addition, it’s important to remember that horse’s hindgut can store an immense amount of feed and water.

“Severe complications can also include laminitis, kidney disease and, sometimes collapse and death,” he explains.

When should you call your vet?

“Any non-explainable and sudden changes in attitude, such as lethargy or lack of interest in feed in a horse that is already receiving antibiotics should be considered a potential alarm bell for either a [recurrence] of the primary problem, or a newly developed complication,” Migliorisi says.

Take your horse’s heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature, and have those numbers handy when you call.

“This will help your veterinarian plan the next steps for your horse, and if a diagnosis of acute colitis is made, this should be treated as a potentially life-threatening emergency that warrants immediate advanced treatment, often unavailable on a farm setting,” he explains.

Colitis Treatment and Prognosis

One of the main treatment methods is placing an intravenous catheter and administering fluids to support the horse’s cardiovascular function by replenishing all the fluids the animal is losing in its gut.

“Another main goal is to decrease the underlying inflammation, which often causes most of the damage,” says Migliorisi. “We control inflammation by using different drugs with anti-inflammatory effects. A horse with any type of colitis is at risk of absorbing bacteria and bacterial toxins from its gut. Therefore, another goal of treatment is to administer medications, by mouth or intravenously, that will bind and neutralize these potentially harmful products.”

Prompt veterinary care for a horse with colitis is key.

“Unfortunately, approximately 90 percent of horses with acute colitis who are left untreated either die or are euthanized,” Migliorisi continues. “Overall, a prompt and early initiation of treatment improves prognosis. Reported survival rates for horses that receive treatment have ranged from 70 percent to almost 90 percent. Sadly, it is still possible for any horse affected by colitis to deteriorate quickly and unexpectedly, despite initial positive response to treatment.”

Recovery can take one to two weeks. Long-term impacts of a colitis episode are not well understood, though in cases that cause laminitis, treatment must be addressed with an experienced farrier.

While antibiotics can cause life-threatening colitis in horses, they can also be lifesaving when used carefully.

“Antibiotics have been a game-changer in the management of numerous conditions in veterinary medicine, but their use should be justified and judicious,” says Migliorisi.

This article about colitis in horses appeared in the January/February 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Ask anyone with asthma what it’s like to have an attack and words like “suffocating,” “drowning,” and “an elephant on my chest” are a common refrain. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America explains that asthma is a “long-term disease that causes inflammation and swelling of the airways,” meaning that the asthmatic truly cannot get enough air into their lungs. Asthma in humans has been on the rise in recent years, and it certainly seems that more horse owners are also battling the disease and other respiratory issues among their horses. Being able to identify asthma triggers is an important part of keeping people—and horses—healthy.

Once asthma triggers like dust, pollen and animal dander are identified, many human asthmatics make lifestyle changes to minimize their exposure, giving them the best chance to remain healthy. While it would seem intuitive that similar lifestyle changes would be warranted in horses, a recent study conducted by the University of Lisbon found that the majority of horse owners and managers were reluctant to implement any kind of adjustment to the horse’s routine.

Knowing that these changes are imperative to—quite literally—being able to breathe, why are some horse owners slow to adopt management changes?

Clinical Signs and Diagnosis

Lais Rosa Costa, MedVet, Ph.D., DACVIM, DABVP, director of operations for the Veterinary Emergency Response Team at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, is a boarded large animal internist whose clinical and research work has focused on respiratory diseases, especially severe equine asthma.

Though equine respiratory disease ranks second only to musculoskeletal disease in disorders that limit performance horses, signs of pulmonary disease often come on slowly, causing them to be unnoticed by owners and farm managers until clinical signs are severe.

According to Costa, signs a horse may be suffering from pulmonary disease include exercise intolerance and increased respiratory rate or increased respiratory effort. A horse suffering from asthma will often cough from increased mucus production. Any of the chronic or recurrent pulmonary diseases will cause a horse to work harder to breathe, leading to poor performance and weight loss, she notes.

It’s imperative that the root cause of horse’s health issue be defined and differentiated from other conditions, such as cardiac diseases, Costa says. This will require getting a thorough history, along with a detailed clinical examination.

“The lungs have limited ways to deal with insults, so many of these conditions manifest similarly, but the trigger is specific for the condition,” she explains.

Additional respiratory diagnostics may be needed to narrow down the source of a horse’s problem, says Kate Christie, DVM, DACVIM, an associate veterinarian with Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., who has a special interest in respiratory disease.

“Diagnostics are aimed at determining whether the problem is in the upper or lower airway, as well as whether the problem is infectious or inflammatory in nature,” says Christie. “The answer to these questions helps us come up with a treatment and management plan for each individual horse.”

Additional diagnostics may include bloodwork, diagnostic imaging (ultrasound examination and chest radiographs), specific airway diagnostics like endoscopy, and—if equine asthma is suspected—bronchoalveolar lavage, she explains.

Management

Once the trigger is identified, management changes to reduce or eliminate the issues causing breathing distress are imperative for the horse’s health. This can be tricky—especially in cases of inflammatory airway disease, according to Christie.

Though the “gold standard” of care would be to remove all dust and allergens from a horse’s environment, it’s simply not possible to completely eradicate these, as horses are expected to be ridden in arenas, to eat forage, and often to sleep on some form of bedding.

“Although it’s really difficult, environmental management is the cornerstone of treating inflammatory conditions of the lower airway,” says Christie. “You could provide the horse with all the medication in the world, but if the environment isn’t improved, the horse won’t respond as well [to treatment]. Our recommendations for environmental management are all aimed at decreasing exposure to airborne allergens, including dusts and molds.”

Some of the modifications need not be as overwhelming as they initially appear.

Horse Respiratory Health Myth No. 1: All horses with allergy issues should have wet hay.

Reality: Wetting hay is not the cure-all solution it was once believed to be.

“[Wetting hay] actually increases the amount of mold and exacerbates conditions like equine asthma,” says Costa. “Washing the hay, or—better yet—steaming the hay are effective ways to decrease organic particulate matter.”

Management change: While not everyone will be able to afford a hay steamer or the time to go to the barn twice a day to make cleaning the hay a reality, there are other ways to make a forage change work, according to Costa. A complete pelleted diet, pelleted hay, and haylage are a few options to consider, but no diet change should be done without the input of a veterinarian or an equine nutritionist to be sure the horse receives adequate and appropriate fiber and nutrients.

Horse Respiratory Health Myth No. 2: Bedding doesn’t matter if the horse isn’t in the stall when it’s cleaned.

Reality: A horse stalled on any type of bedding that contains contaminants that trigger a pulmonary response is at risk, and not just when the stall is being cleaned. Simply walking around in the stall can stir up enough dust to cause breathing issues.

While no horse should be kept in the stall while it’s being cleaned, asthmatic horses must be removed before the stall is mucked, and should remain out of the barn for at least one hour after cleaning.

Management change: Straw is one of the dustiest (and moldiest) types of bedding that can be used, with rice hulls and sawdust not far behind. Good quality wood shavings are not as bad.

“Severely asthmatic horses have to be bedded on shredded cardboard bedding or rubber mats with no bedding at all,” says Costa.

An even better solution? Turn the horse out 24/7.

“Many horses resolve [their breathing issues] completely with 24-hour turnout alone,” says Christie. The only time this recommendation varies is when horses are diagnosed with summer pasture associated recurrent airway obstruction (SPARAO). This condition is more common in the southeastern United States and is characterized by difficulty breathing when pastured in the summer. Pollens and other seasonal allergens are suspected to be the cause, according to Christie.

Similar to the barn-associated equine asthma, implementation of management changes is crucial for effective care of SPARAO, and without them, these horses do not respond to medical therapies, Costa says. This is a seasonal recurrent condition that can be controlled successfully with management changes and minimal medical therapies.

Horse Respiratory Health Myth No. 3: Stall location doesn’t matter.

Reality: Similar to a real estate expert, the owner of a stalled horse with breathing issues should be concerned with one thing: Location, location, location. While owners may think stalls located near doors are more uncomfortable for the horse in cold, blustery weather, the reality is the more airflow, the better.

Management change: Though horse and barn owners can get stuck in routines that are hard to change, this adjustment is one of the easier ones to implement. Moving a horse closer to a doorway, away from the indoor arena or even to a stall with a window can offer some immediate relief to the afflicted equine.

Equine asthma is a lifelong condition for which there is no cure. But be assured that even small changes can make a big impact for a horse that has a difficult time breathing.

“I often stress that [owners] can spend a lot of money on medical therapies, but these won’t make a difference if the environment is not controlled,” says Christie. “If people are able to adhere to environmental changes and keep flare-ups to a minimum, it’s less likely that the horse’s condition will progress to recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) or heaves—a much more serious and severe category of equine asthma.”

Costa also feels that management should be the No. 1 priority.

“Our job as veterinarians is to help owners and caretakers understand the importance, although sometimes challenging, of implementing management changes [that go hand-in-hand with treatment],” says Costa. “The management changes have to be realistic. Sometimes we have to be creative. The best [way to handle the situation] is to keep a positive outlook and do the best that is possible.”

While these changes may take some planning to implement, the horse’s quality of life can quite literally depend on it.

Smoke Inhalation Horses affected by barn fires and wildfires face a different set of issues that those with equine asthma and other airway diseases. Lais Rosa Costa, MedVet, Ph.D., DACVIM, DABVP, a veterinarian at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in California, has seen multiple horses affected by smoke inhalation from wildfires. “Smoke inhalation affects both the upper airways and the lower respiratory tract,” Costa explains. “Much of the acute signs of smoke inhalation injury are associated with toxic compounds released upon combustion [plus] inhalation thermal injury. “ The immediate concern is treating the acute smoke inhalation injury, which entails managing acute respiratory distress, decreasing inflammation, and preventing secondary infection. Kate Christie, DVM, DACVIM, an associate veterinarian with Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., notes that horses involved in fires can be severely affected by smoke and particulate inhalation—sometimes days after the initial insult to their lungs. “A massive inflammatory response may be initiated [by smoke and particulate inhalation] that causes severe pulmonary disease,” she says. “This response can be delayed from the initial exposure and is a huge problem for horses that survive barn fires. Permanent damage from smoke inhalation is also possible, and these horses may have prolonged respiratory disease that is difficult to manage.”

This article about management of horse respiratory issues like asthma appeared in the September 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Horse Respiratory Issues: Management of Asthma and Other Disorders appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“In my experience, horses almost never say no,” says Steve Allday, DVM, an equine lameness specialist with more than 35 years’ experience caring for an impressive list of equine athletes. “Horses can talk, and it is our job to learn how to speak their language and above all, to listen and be their advocate.”

Allday has been the lameness specialist for equine legends that include Triple Crown race winners, 29 Breeders’ Cup race winners, and five Thoroughbred Horses of the Year—including legendary racehorses A.P. Indy and Cigar—among other elites, such as World Equestrian Games jumpers. In addition to being a top sport horse veterinarian, Allday has also founded and developed a line of joint supplements.

1. What is equine osteoarthritis?

Sometimes hidden and other times obvious, equine osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that impacts horses regardless of age, breed or discipline. It’s estimated that OA is responsible for up to 60 percent of all lameness in horses, according to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP).

Also referred to as equine degenerative joint disease, OA is a chronic disease-causing degeneration of the joints and resulting in pain, inflammation and reduced flexibility and range of motion. To understand OA, it’s important to understand the three different types of joints horses have:

1. Synovial joints: These allow different degrees of movement and rotation, acting as a hinge for the primary mode of flexion and extension. Examples include fetlocks, knees and hocks.

2. Fibrous joints: These do not allow for movement between the bones, such as the joints between bones of the skull.

3. Cartilaginous joints: These connect bones with cartilage, allowing limited movement and shock absorption, like the joints between the vertebrae of your horse’s spine.

Osteoarthritis can occur in synovial and cartilaginous joints, and it’s a common condition horses can experience.

“Osteoarthritis is ubiquitous in all mammals, and progressive as a rule,” says Allday. “It can occur anywhere on the horse: in their hips, hocks, stifles, knees, fetlocks and other joints.”

2. What causes equine osteoarthritis?

You may have wondered if different equine sports affect specific joints. Although any horse in any discipline can be affected by OA, there are common themes and joint problems that occur in the varying equine sports.

For instance, cutting and reining have greater impact on the hocks and stifles, causing horses to have heightened OA risk to these joints. And jumpers are more likely to have front-limb lameness in the coffin or fetlock joints. The bottom line is that any joint that is more significantly used on a horse increases its likelihood for developing OA.

3. Can osteoarthritis be prevented?

To help avoid joint health problems, you need to get ahead of what problems can—and unfortunately, likely will—arise due to a horse’s conformation flaws, stabling or training environments and everyday injury risks.

“Whether a racehorse, dressage horse, cutting horse or a barrel horse, by maintaining things preventatively and staying a step ahead of potential problems before they become a major issue, you can help ensure your equine partner’s performance,” says Allday.

You can help prevent equine joint health problems by:
◆ Offering quality nutrition for strong bones and healthy cartilage.
◆ Prioritizing hoof care and keeping horses on a regular trim schedule.
◆ Keeping horses at optimum weight and avoiding obesity, which stresses the joints.
◆ Riding on softer footing and limiting work on hard surfaces.
◆ Incorporating joint supplements to help maintain their joints and cartilage.

4. How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?

Allday assures us that as the No. 1 human in your horse’s life, you are the best diagnostician of any changes in your horse’s joint health.

“This is simply because you know your horse,” he says. “I don’t have a crystal ball. When I go look at a horse, I’m taking a snapshot of that moment, while you have known the horse for days and years—sometimes, his entire life—before I got there that day.”

Every time you’re grooming or tacking up for a ride, check your horse for symmetry: If you fear one side is larger than the other, you can just compare it to his opposite side.

Give your horse a proper once-over: Rub his back and palpate it, checking for soreness.

When you pick up his hind leg, check the hock for any fluid. This daily interaction with your horse, coupled with knowledge of his particular history, will be invaluable to your veterinarian when diagnosing any joint problems.

Should your veterinarian suspect joint problems, it’s likely he or she will perform a routine lameness evaluation. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, this includes summarizing the horse’s medical history; a visual appraisal of the horse at rest; a thorough, hands-on examination, including palpating the horse’s muscles, joints, bones and tendons for any heat or swelling; an evaluation of your horse’s three gaits in motion; and a joint flexion test.

“Every horse deserves a full and thorough veterinary examination,” says Allday. “It’s not just a choice—it’s a necessity to help maintain these equine athletes and keep them at their best.”

In addition to lameness evaluations, diagnosis of OA can also involve diagnostics such as:
◆ Radiographs
◆ Fluoroscopy
◆ Nuclear scintigraphy
◆ CT
◆ MRI
◆ Nerve and joint blocks
◆ Ultrasound
◆ Thermography

5. Is equine osteoarthritis curable?

While there is, unfortunately, no definitive cure for OA in horses, the pain and inflammation associated with it can be treated. Prevention, along with early diagnosis and treatment, is critical to keep the condition from progressing.

“OA isn’t the end of their career, but it’s certainly something you have to be on top of, address rapidly and maintain routinely,” says Allday. “You have to remember that osteoarthritis is progressive, and as it gets worse as the horse gets older, you’ll need to be very proactive. You may even have to go to anti-inflammatories to maintain a horse’s athletic career.”

6. What are treatment options?

Treatment for equine OA focuses on alleviating pain and inflammation in the joint, allowing horses to have improved mobility. For horses diagnosed with osteoarthritis, veterinarians may recommend prescription medications, like Equioxx, Adequan I.M., Legend or Surpass Topical.

Should OA be diagnosed, your veterinarian will work closely with you on joint health supplements to prevent further progression of joint damage, as well as anti-inflammatory treatments available to manage the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis.

Allday recalls a conversation he had with Allen Paulson, founder of Gulfstream Aerospace and renowned owner of more than 100 graded stakes race winners. Paulson’s horse was the favorite for the Kentucky Derby, but due to a joint injury, he was scratched.

“I told him, ‘A horse isn’t like the planes you build—you have to go with the original equipment.’ And it’s true—you can’t put a horse up on a rack and switch in a new part. Taking care of their original equipment is the epitome of how you can preventatively maintain your horse throughout his career.”

The post Answering 6 Questions About Equine Osteoarthritis appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Two potential dangers for your horse are strangles and equine herpes virus (EHV), both of which are highly contagious and can easily infect a horse at any barn, arena, or other facility. As cases increase during show and rodeo seasons, Kelli Beavers, DVM, clinical assistant professor of equine veterinary education at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Veterinary Education, Research, and Outreach (VERO) program, housed at West Texas A&M University, gives advice on how to prevent illnesses like strangles and EHV.

Preventing Exposure

Preventing exposure to strangles or EHV starts by taking simple precautions when you travel with your horse to new facilities around other horses.

“Both of these illnesses can be transmitted by horses and by people. Most disease transmission occurs from horses that do not yet show signs of illness.” Beavers says. “Be very careful about traveling with your horse. Make sure to clean the stall you will be using before you unload everything, including your horse. Washing with soapy water is good and using a hand-held disinfectant sprayer on the walls of the stall as well. One example of a disinfectant is Virkon-S. As far as avoiding exposure, just make sure that you don’t comingle your horses with others that you are unfamiliar with.”

It is also important to ensure your horse is healthy prior to any travel. It is best to avoid any travel if your horse has signs of illness.

Beavers explains that having a quarantine barn is important for coming back home from an event.

“It’s a really great practice to protect your home farm by having a quarantine barn,” Beavers says. “If you come back from a show and realize that your horse has been at risk or exposed, you can make sure to keep other horses safe, whether it be your own horses or others sharing a boarding facility.”

Using Public Utilities

Wash racks and other areas at public facilities can be helpful but should also be approached with caution. Beavers explains how to use these amenities properly to keep your horse from becoming ill.

“When using public utilities at shows or rodeos, be sure to give yourself enough time to get done what you need done without being crowded by other horses,” Beavers says. “You can certainly wash down or disinfect any walls or railings. Make sure to keep your distance from unfamiliar horses if you can and use your common sense in those situations. You can’t completely avoid all risks, especially in common use areas. Using your own grooming equipment, and not comingling your equipment with unfamiliar people or horses can reduce the risk of these illnesses.”

Veterinarian Help

Working with your veterinarian when you suspect your horse might have contracted an illness is crucial, especially if it could be strangles or EHV. Beavers explains how veterinarian help is important to give your horse the best chance of recovery.

“When working with your veterinarian, you can make sure to stay up to date on medication and vaccinations for your horses that do travel and your horses that stay at home. With your veterinarian you can also create an individualized plan for you and your horse,” Beavers says.

Some horse shows and facilities require that a horse be vaccinated with EHV and equine influenza vaccines within a certain timeframe before the event. Be sure to check state and local regulations before traveling.

Next Steps After Horse Illness Exposure

Exposure to strangles or EHV can be shocking and even scary, so focus on the steps to a solution if this occurs.

“If your horse has been exposed, make sure that you have a plan for quarantine set up where you keep your horse. Make sure to monitor your horse for any signs of fever and take their temperature daily,” Beavers says. “If you’re taking care of sick or exposed horses, be sure and take care of them last. That way you can change clothes and get yourself clean without going back to tend to healthy horses.”

Isolate Horses with These Symptoms

It’s essential to know the early symptoms of illnesses like EHV and strangles. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, symptoms to watch for include:

1. Body temperature greater than 101.5°F (38.9°C)
2. Ataxia or recumbency
3. Aggressive behavior or stupor
4. Profuse diarrhea
5. Oral or coronary band vesicular or ulcerative lesions
6. Nasal discharge, coughing, and/or lymphadenopathy

Tell your veterinarian, farrier, trainer, and any other individuals who might come into contact with your horse becomes symptomatic. These professionals work with multiple horses every day, so it is important to notify them of exposure to keep other horses safe.

“It’s important to stay informed, Equine Disease Communication Center is really great because it tracks incidents and when horse illnesses occur so that you know if [strangles or EHV] is in your area,” Beavers says.

Travel with horses can bring excitement and new opportunities for equestrians of all kinds. Keep the excitement going this summer and integrate these tips into your travel routine to keep your horses safe from illness.

The post Preventing Exposure to Illness When Traveling with Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Top 5 Horse Health Worries:

1. Rotating Dewormers

One of the first horse health worries that you shouldn’t worry about is rotating dewormers. It feels a bit nostalgic now to think back on those old school eight-week rotational deworming plans, doesn’t it? Did you hang your deworming calendar in the feed room? In recent years, equine researchers focusing on parasite resistance have determined that regular rotational deworming without monitoring fecal egg counts does not necessarily benefit your horse. In fact, it may constitute overuse, which helps parasites become resistant to deworming drugs.

If you’re still worrying about which dewormer to use, when to use it, and what to rotate it with next time: Stop. Now’s the time to have a frank discussion with your veterinarian about your horse’s parasite control program and visit the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) website for their comprehensive and current deworming guidelines.

In general, for healthy horses over the age of 3 that have been deemed low egg shedders based on a fecal egg count, this means deworming once in the spring and once in the fall. Talk about a load off your mind!

However, before you make changes to your horse’s parasite control program, have your vet do a fecal egg count test. Use the results to determine what deworming frequency and chemical class best fits your horse’s health needs, also taking into account his environment and herd mates.

2. A Well-Balanced Diet

Another one of the five horse health worries that you shouldn’t worry about is maintaining a well-balanced diet. Supplements, complete feeds, fortified grains, and more—the world of equine nutrition is ever-growing as research and consumer demands challenge the industry to produce higher-quality feeds for horses.

While it may sometimes feel like you have too many choices, fear not. Twenty years ago, it was a challenge to feed a Cushing’s horse, keep weight on a senior horse with poor teeth, or to reduce weight in a horse with insulin resistance. Now, there’s a feed out there for almost every horse.

If you’re concerned about what to feed, talk to your vet. Chances are there’s a worry-free solution to ensure the best dietary balance for your horse’s individual needs. Agricultural university extension agents are also a great livestock nutrition resource.

3. Cognitive Disorders

Horses live a long time compared to our other common companion animals. Senior equines reaching the 30+ milestone are on the rise as advances in veterinary science and care have arrived to meet their medical needs.

In other good news, a horse’s mind tends to stay relatively sharp as he ages. As new research emerges about brain diseases such as canine cognitive dysfunction, sometimes colloquially termed “dog dementia” due to its similarities to Alzheimer’s disease, horses have been mostly spared from similar conditions. And that’s a huge weight off a horse’s mind, not to mention the horse owner’s.

4. Anesthesia

Another one of the five horse health worries that you shouldn’t worry about is anesthesia. Laying a 1,000-pound animal down for any length of time and then getting that animal back up again safely has historically been a tricky business in the veterinary field. Respiratory and circulatory complications, not to mention nerve and muscle damage, were high among the worries of equine veterinarians during surgical procedures using general anesthesia. This understandably also resulted in considerable stress for the horse’s owner.

But over the past few decades, safer anesthesia protocols, advances in anesthesia monitoring technology, and improved recovery methods have better protected our horses throughout surgery and during recovery.

Pain management in the equine species has come a long way, too. With newer non-steroidal anti-inflammatories that are gentler on a horse’s kidneys and stomach, and many more options to create a personalized pain control plan for each individual, equine surgical patients today have a more comfortable and safer journey than their previous counterparts. And that’s something to really ease your worries.

5. Dr. Google’s Maladies & Miracle Cures

One of the last horse health worries that you shouldn’t worry about are miracle cures and diagnosing from Google searches. It’s great to be an informed horse owner and vet client. But please don’t let misinformation on the internet freak you out or potentially delay the treatment your horse needs. Look for reliable sources when researching online, and discuss your horse’s particular case with your vet. If you’re concerned about something that might be an emergency situation (colic, trouble foaling, et cetera), please call us ASAP instead of crowdsourcing.

However, while history and human nature have proved that the internet is not always the best place to search for advice (equine-related or otherwise), it can help you find a supportive community of like-minded horsey people who just may be dealing with exactly the same thing you are.

Whether it’s meeting local riders in your area, finding an equine rescue to support, or sharing photos and stories with a like-minded individual far away, the online equine community can offer horse owners solace by knowing there are others out there who care.

Whatever your equine hobbies and subsequent worries may be, chances are there is someone else out there who can empathize and help you through it, maybe with a little shared laughter and learning along the way.

This article originally appeared in the January 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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