Advice on Nebulisers

[mwalsh86]

My vet has recommened that I get a nebuliser for my 15 year old beauty who has been diagnosed with COPD for long term treatment with steroids and bronchodilators, I have seen human nebulisers in action but have no idea about ones for horses. Does anyone have any experience with nebulisers or any recommendations on what ones are out there

Cheers

 

[Smogul]

Our vet recommended getting the type used for babies.
Inhalation didn't help my horse in the slightest and she was put on Prednisolone tablets. She was on them for several years with absolutely no problems and competed happily until arthritis forced retirement. So, if treatment with nebuliser doesn't work, I would go down the pills route. Very simple and far less time consuming.

 

[Chocy]

When u say nebuliser do you mean a spacer device for using with inhalers or a nebuliser for using with liquid drug vials?
I've only got experience of the spacer but after using the baby spacer/adult aerochamber/equine aerohippus and then the Aeromask I found the Aeromask to be the best & easiest 2 use-velcros on & stayed in place with all my horse did 2 it (and she DID NOT like it 2 begin with!!) also the Aeromask has data to show more of the inhaled drugs end up where they're meant 2 so therefore more effective - Aeromasks are expensive but my insurance paid out for it (eventually!!)
I've can give you lots more info on them if you need (just PM me)

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I presume you mean the standard inhaler type "puffer". For god's sake don't get the horse one - they cost in the region of £250. Buy Boots own baby one at £15. You put one hand over one of the horse's nostrils and fit the baby inhaler over the other and puff away. My horse (last summer) needed 10 puffs of ventopulmin then 5 puffs of steroids. I could do it single handed, though it didn't make the blindest bit of difference, largely we think because his way of dealing with his severe pollen allergy COPD was to take very very fast tiny shallow breaths. We think the inhaled drugs didn't reach the area of lung it needed to. He was on tablets before that and they didn't help either. Take care with oral steroids - inhaled are much safer. Oral can cause laminitis.