Anyone use a nebuliser for an allergy horse

[Winters100]

Hi,
One of mine has unexpectedly developed allergies. He is 9 years, fit and strong, so it was quite unexpected. On the advice of our vet I have bought a 'flexineb' nebuliser for him, does anyone else have experience of this product? I would be interested to know whether you had good results? I expect to give him ventolin and pulimicort 2 to 3 times a week.
Thanks so much!

 

[Sail_away]

A little different to your horse but we used it for mine who had equine asthma. Oral steroids and ventipulmin had no noticeable change but the flexineb brought his breathing rate back to normal firstly directly after using and then long term. We used dexamethasone and ventipulmin so again different - but in terms of effectiveness it was much, much better than oral drugs.
They get used to it pretty quick too, we had ours running within a week. If your horse isn’t going to stand like a dobbin then don’t leave him tied up though! Mine shook his head, banged the nebuliser against the post and broke part of it... we walked him around after that.

 

[Winters100]

Thanks, that is very encouraging We received ours on Tuesday and used it for the first time yesterday. He is fine wearing it, but was a bit nervous when receiving the medication, I suppose it is a strange feeling for them. Fingers crossed for the same good result as you, and thank you for responding.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I have a Flexineb for my horse with allergies. I haven't used it in almost a year though. Watering his hay, using a certain type of bedding, and living in a stable with paddock attached seems to be keeping them at bay. He does get MSM as well.

Anyway, I used Pulmicort and Atrovent in the Flexineb. This horse is a sensitive weirdo but never objected to the Flexineb and acted like he'd done this before (he hasn't). The Flexineb is so convenient and easy to clean in comparison to the AirOne I had on loan from a friend.

Usually when my horse has a flare up, I give him Balsamic Air orally (do not nebulize) before work for 2 days, and if this doesn't soothe the situation-which is sometimes a very minor irritation, I go for the Flexineb. I use it for 7 days straight prior to working to try to knock out any inflammation and keep his airways as open as possible. After that I see how he is and usually he's fine by that point.

I've also supplemented with Equistro Sekrosan liquid. My approach during a real flare up is to remove inflammation (Pulmicort), open the airways (Atrovent), and soothe irritation (Sekrosan). This combo always works for him.

I did an allergy test initially and he's highly allergic to dust and mold. I wet his hay, but he actually ate dry hay in the field this summer when the grass was nearly gone and faired fine, might have been fairly low dust. Haylage works too but the yard didn't have any last year and I didn't want to buy some for one horse. He's also allergic to some plants. The test at least confirmed my suspicions on him having an allergy. A previous vet wouldn't buy it. Just thought it was a reoccurring infection although his lungs were clear - the swelling is in his larynx mostly.

So try to manage the environment and you might be able to medicate less. Otherwise the Flexineb is fab.

 

[Auslander]

We'v got one for a mare here with asthma - she didn't respond particularly well to oral medication, but the flexineb sorted her out very quickly. She tolerated it very well too - once she'd stopped snorting with it on and making herself jump!

 

[GoldenWillow]

I've used a flexineb for the last four years on my cob who developed equine asthma. He is fine through the winter mainly living out but pollen affects him badly through spring to autumn. He has the flexineb either every day or every other with colvasone and saline solution. It has been fantastic and on it he is generally able to be in full work.

 

[Fruitcake]

I have a horse who was diagnosed with asthma a few years ago. We tried Ventipulmin and inhalers (steroid and Ventolin) with only limited effect. The flexineb was a total game changer. He had dexamethasone, thinned with saline in decreasing amounts for a few months and was eventually able to come off it altogether.

He seemed to quite like it and would almost go to sleep.

 

[Winters100]

I have a Flexineb for my horse with allergies. I haven't used it in almost a year though. Watering his hay, using a certain type of bedding, and living in a stable with paddock attached seems to be keeping them at bay. He does get MSM as well.

Anyway, I used Pulmicort and Atrovent in the Flexineb. This horse is a sensitive weirdo but never objected to the Flexineb and acted like he'd done this before (he hasn't). The Flexineb is so convenient and easy to clean in comparison to the AirOne I had on loan from a friend.

Usually when my horse has a flare up, I give him Balsamic Air orally (do not nebulize) before work for 2 days, and if this doesn't soothe the situation-which is sometimes a very minor irritation, I go for the Flexineb. I use it for 7 days straight prior to working to try to knock out any inflammation and keep his airways as open as possible. After that I see how he is and usually he's fine by that point.

I've also supplemented with Equistro Sekrosan liquid. My approach during a real flare up is to remove inflammation (Pulmicort), open the airways (Atrovent), and soothe irritation (Sekrosan). This combo always works for him.

I did an allergy test initially and he's highly allergic to dust and mold. I wet his hay, but he actually ate dry hay in the field this summer when the grass was nearly gone and faired fine, might have been fairly low dust. Haylage works too but the yard didn't have any last year and I didn't want to buy some for one horse. He's also allergic to some plants. The test at least confirmed my suspicions on him having an allergy. A previous vet wouldn't buy it. Just thought it was a reoccurring infection although his lungs were clear - the swelling is in his larynx mostly.

So try to manage the environment and you might be able to medicate less. Otherwise the Flexineb is fab.

Thanks, I used it today with Pulmicort, ventolin and atrovent, but you are right managing the environment is probably the key. He has soaked hay and I have a steamer on order. Bedding is pellet, but stable is barn style. Each box has a window, but in winter they are closed, so this is probably a big part of it. For now he seems very good, but I have found the balsamic air with my food supplier and will order for him. I think we are in similar situations with no real grass in paddock - unfortunately there I don't have much of a possibility to wet the hay, but I suppose if this continues I may have to find a way.

Thank you to everyone for your comments and advice.

 

[Winters100]

Just an update in case anyone is interested - I am a massive fan of this product. To me his breathing sounds normal. Rode him for 35 minutes today and no signs of problems - in fact he was full of power! Long may it continue!