Aservo EquiHaler

[SEL]

Anyone used one yet or am I a guinea pig?

Youtube videos are of calm horses having the stuff squirted up their nose. I'm only on day 2 and the pony has been on her hind legs.

I've tried treats and I think I'm going to have to twitch her and hope it doesn't affect the mechanism of the product.

Wondering if the bl**dy device was actually ever tested on horses who weren't complete dobbins before it was released to market.

 

[NinjaPony]

I used one on my Connie. Had no issues at all, he was very tolerate. However, he is the most laidback pony I’ve ever known when it comes to vet treatments, he will let you give him cartrophen injections at home, and had his hocks jabbed without any sedation because he just stands still.
Problem is, it has to be designed that way to get the drug to where it needs to go. It’s so much more effective than inhalers. But not ideal if you have something less quiet, my other pony would have a fit if I went anywhere near him with it. I would try a neck twitch, and lots of treats before and after...

 

[ester]

I know one who has just been given one, mum described it (including the price and I think you can only use the whole unit for a month?) but I didn't know the name. We just used to stick a bit of hosepipe up the nostril, watch the flanks and squirt.

 

[SEL]

Sooooo at some point a chain has been across pony's stable door and the tie points are still there. Cross tied pony and put myself the other side of the door.

Not pretty but it got the job done safely.

Only 8 more days to go so I hope it works....

Ester - REALLY expensive! If the insurance don't pay I'll cry ?

 

[GoldenWillow]

I've been looking them out of interest as so far flexineb has worked well for J, but wondered how easily horses would tolerate them. If I understand them correctly it does seem expensive especially if horse needs long-term treatment. Can I ask why vet decided on it rather than a flexineb?

 

[SEL]

I've been looking them out of interest as so far flexineb has worked well for J, but wondered how easily horses would tolerate them. If I understand them correctly it does seem expensive especially if horse needs long-term treatment. Can I ask why vet decided on it rather than a flexineb?

Not tolerating it particularly well really.

Vet wanted to make sure the steroid got into the trachea where her worst inflammation was. She's also a native and thinks electric fencing is a challenge so I wanted whatever would minimise the lami risk - she can't be ridden right now her breathing has got so bad.

I'm hoping this course of steroids and heading into autumn will get on top of her pollen allergy but if it flares up again next year then I'll be looking at other options.

 

[GoldenWillow]

Thank you, does it make a noise when you use it?

If she really won't tolerate it or needs longer treatment the flexineb may be worth asking your vet about. It delivers the vapour throughout the whole respiratory system and is silent, there are a number of treatments you can put through it, we use a saline/colvasone mix. His pollen allergy was only picked up through a BAL and it he has gone from poor exercise tolerance/unable to work at all to full work for 95% of the pollen season. Looking at the cost of the aservo for anything other than short term use I think the flexineb would be more cost effective.

 

[Esmae]

When my old horse needed an inhaler I used half a spacer for people. Attached the inhaler end into the spacer and held it over his nose and just blocked the other nostril with my hand and waited for him to breathe in and pumped the inhaler. I did expect that he would climb a tree at least, but after the initial shock he was as good as gold. Looking at that video I think he might just have climbed that tree with something actually up his nose. The spacer thing wasn't expensive and I still have it in the medicine box just in case I ever need it again for anything.

 

[SEL]

Thank you, does it make a noise when you use it?

If she really won't tolerate it or needs longer treatment the flexineb may be worth asking your vet about. It delivers the vapour throughout the whole respiratory system and is silent, there are a number of treatments you can put through it, we use a saline/colvasone mix. His pollen allergy was only picked up through a BAL and it he has gone from poor exercise tolerance/unable to work at all to full work for 95% of the pollen season. Looking at the cost of the aservo for anything other than short term use I think the flexineb would be more cost effective.

When you prime it there's a loud click. I'm now doing that away from her and then walking back to do the up the nose bit. The video suggests a treat after the clock but she just wasn't interested.

The Aservo is the only machine delivering equine specific steroid doses apparently. Tbh if I'd realised how invasive it was then I'm not sure I would have gone for it. It is supposed to be the best on the market BUT I'm yet to be convinced it was tested on actual horses with actual opinions!!!

Good to hear yours can work well now in summer. This pony was supposed to be a project to sell on but obviously that's not an option right now. I'm also conscious that my insurance claim should run into next spring so I really owe it to her to get a plan in place which works before finding her a home - which I suspect will need to be a loan home now.

 

[ester]

so is it just that it is delivering more than a human one in one puff?

The person I know who has it I think won't have any insurance claim left for any more, friend of mums so thanks for posting though as I know I know what she was trying to describe to me! Apparently the vet practice had just been on a course hence why they suggested it now and not in the previous 11 months.

 

[GoldenWillow]

That's really interesting thank you. Having previously used a babyhaler I wondered how the aservo would be tolerated. I'm guessing it's using the same drugs that inhalers use rather than the various drugs you can use through the flexineb? You can use inhalers via attachment with flexineb but not sure how effective they would be, as in I think you may lose a lot of the drug, and also you have the noise of each puff.

It is new to the market and I'll be watching with interest feedback on it. Being cynical I'm wondering if vets are pushing it as it bought through them rather than the flexineb which you can purchase without a POM and only need one for the drugs. I do hope I'm wrong on that. There has only been the option of babyhaler/spacer type device and flexineb for quite a few years now so it is an interesting development.

My insurance paid for the cost of my flexineb no problem.

I hope you can find something that works for her, what awful luck for you.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

We’ve just started using a flexineb so very early days as far as effectiveness is concerned, but he tolerates it really well. We were given the option of either the equihaler or nebuliser but the specialist recommended the nebuliser as being a better option for potentially long term treatment. And after having watched the equihaler videos I didn’t fancy our chances of getting anywhere near after doing it for the first time ...

 

[SEL]

so is it just that it is delivering more than a human one in one puff?

I believe so and the aim is to depress the lever as the horse breathes in so it goes to where it is needed. Pony and i have reached agreement that it can now go in her nose but the little madam is holding her breath!

The theory is great .... practice is interesting...

 

[CJoe]

used flexineb for inhaled steriods (severe asthma in horse), made no difference, 10 days on the aservo which is 12 times more powerful drug wise than Dex...horse has clear lungs for first time since june, hugely impressed with Aservo. It is the drug with it that makes the difference, rather than delivery method.

Not sure of longevity but can highly recommend it.

 

[Joanne15853]

I believe so and the aim is to depress the lever as the horse breathes in so it goes to where it is needed. Pony and i have reached agreement that it can now go in her nose but the little madam is holding her breath!

The theory is great .... practice is interesting...

Do you actually see the mist when the medicine is dispensed? I’m not sure I’m doing it right! And my mare hates the click noise!! Ugh

 

[SEL]

Do you actually see the mist when the medicine is dispensed? I’m not sure I’m doing it right! And my mare hates the click noise!! Ugh

I had to bribe with a lot of polos and when I gave the empty machine back to the vet I did suggest they kept it so people could practice! My little pony was in cross ties all the time we used it after going vertical a few times to start with.

I could see mist in the tubes. Have you watched the YouTube videos?

 

[smiggy]

Can I reactivate this to see if it worked and if it had a long lasting residual effect.
am at my wits end with a little pony and would possibly try this if it gets good reviews
thanks in advance

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Can I reactivate this to see if it worked and if it had a long lasting residual effect.
am at my wits end with a little pony and would possibly try this if it gets good reviews
thanks in advance

Hi. Is it a breathing problem with your pony? Have you looked at salt therapy?

 

[smiggy]

Hi. Is it a breathing problem with your pony? Have you looked at salt therapy?

Yes it is
have looked at it but nothing locally and tier 4 makes travel too far tricky
do you have good experience of it !

 

[Sandy200]

Hi I have been using the Aservo equivaler for about 4 months now but only when ridden. It is expensive but it has made the difference between retirement and being able to ride normally. I use it for my old warmblood and can do it without any issues, I don’t need to tie her up. It did take a week or so for her to keep still when it clicked but I didn’t have any violent reactions.

 

[Goldenstar]

I used this with Blue when he came to us .
He was bargy and not trusting at that stage it’s not at all difficult to do it worked like charm to stop the cough without the lami risk as he was huge at that stage .

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Yes it is
have looked at it but nothing locally and tier 4 makes travel too far tricky
do you have good experience of it !

Where abouts are you? Yes had it for my horse just to see what it was all about!! A lady near me does it and its literally saved her horse and made another client's horse well again.

 

[smiggy]

Where abouts are you? Yes had it for my horse just to see what it was all about!! A lady near me does it and its literally saved her horse and made another client's horse well again.

Sussex

 

[smiggy]

Hi I have been using the Aservo equivaler for about 4 months now but only when ridden. It is expensive but it has made the difference between retirement and being able to ride normally. I use it for my old warmblood and can do it without any issues, I don’t need to tie her up. It did take a week or so for her to keep still when it clicked but I didn’t have any violent reactions.

That’s really useful, thanks
so do you literally just use it before exercise ?
did you do a loading period first at all ?

 

[Sandy200]

That’s really useful, thanks
so do you literally just use it before exercise ?
did you do a loading period first at all ?

Hi I only used it for exercise and didn’t do a loading period. Apparently it’s being used by some racehorse trainers that way and it worked really well for me. I now use it depending on what work am doing, if just going for a quiet ride without steep hills I don’t use it but for anything more than that I do.

 

[SEL]

The pony I was using this on when I started the thread sadly turned out to have more severe problems and ended up in surgery.

I did suggest when I gave the empty inhaler back to the vets that they kept it so other owners could see how their horses reacted / train them without the risk of releasing expensive steroid into the air! But if your horse needs steroids then it will do the job

 

[Goldenstar]

Our vet have an old which he used to show us how to use it and get the horse to used to it .
My view is it’s a brilliant if expensive thing particularly if you have fat horses who need steroids .

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Sussex

The lady who came to me bought her machine from Germany for around £50. Basically you pop water in, add Epsom salts, let it heat for 15mins it then expels the steam. Not sure what you would search under to find it x

 

[WanderingHorse]

I know Aservo is new, but has anyone who has used it needed to do more than one course relatively soon? My horse just finished her first round of Aservo last Saturday. By day 7 of 10, she had the most normal breathing pattern she has had in 5 months! On day 10, I saw my spunky talkative girl. Two days later, the slightest exercise set off her breathing. Granted it's not anywhere near as bad as when we started the Aservo but she was feeling so good for the first time in so long that I hate to see her feeling cruddy again.

 

[SEL]

I know Aservo is new, but has anyone who has used it needed to do more than one course relatively soon? My horse just finished her first round of Aservo last Saturday. By day 7 of 10, she had the most normal breathing pattern she has had in 5 months! On day 10, I saw my spunky talkative girl. Two days later, the slightest exercise set off her breathing. Granted it's not anywhere near as bad as when we started the Aservo but she was feeling so good for the first time in so long that I hate to see her feeling cruddy again.

It had some effect on mine, but turned out pollen wasn't her biggest issue and she went on to need surgery.

I think I remember the vet saying there would be cheaper long term ways to deliver steroids if we'd needed them for longer than the 10 day course