Asthma / breathing difficulties in my pony

[Georgie's mum]

I know there are other threads about this, but I'd like some advice. Out of nowhere, my pony developed breathing difficulties when he came in from the field this morning. I called the vet, who said it was asthma. He gave him several injections (some anti-inflammatories and some to expand the airways) and has left me some ventapulmin granules to go in his feed, and an inhaler. After a couple of hours he was still breathing very badly, so I rang the vet again, and he said that the next stage would be to have steroids. I've said no to this, as by the time I'd come off the phone, the wretched pony was looking much better!

Firstly, I'm very worried about steroids - the yard owner and manageress (both of whom have years of experience) say that steroids can bring on laminitis, and we've had a case of exactly that at our yard. Has anyone else had experience of this, or any advice re steroids?

Secondly - the vet thinks its pasture-related, and probably some type of pollen which comes out this time of year which he is allergic to. Our barn is quite dusty, but he hasn't had anything like this in the three years I've had him, so I don't think its the conditions in the barn which set him off. I don't want him out more than I can help because he's a little pig, and will get even fatter than he is already, which I read exacerbates the breathing problems.

Thirdly, has anyone found any herbal supplements which they can recommend?

What doesn't help at all is that I'm really struggling with my confidence at the moment when I'm riding him, as he seems to have reacted really badly to the spring grass and become really spooky and/or super excited in the last month, resulting in me having two falls. Not sure how that could be related to the allergy issue though.

Is anyone else finding their horse has problems this year in particular?
Any advice gratefully received!

 

[ycbm]

If this was sudden in onset, has the pony been tested for an infection? It seems a bit odd to go straight to inhalers and then suggest steroids at first callout without checking for inflammation due to an airway infection first.
.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Our mare had breathing difficulties, vet prescribed steroids and reassured us that the link between steroids and laminitis is much smaller than most people think. The mare didn't get laminitis, although she had Cushings, which didn't help her breathing difficulties. Her problem was certainly made worse by pollen

 

[ester]

OP Sometimes steriods are necessary despite the lami risk.

Was he bad in the pasture when you went to get him in, or once he was in? What sets them off can be very varied and location specific between one yard and another.

 

[Georgie's mum]

OP Sometimes steriods are necessary despite the lami risk.

Was he bad in the pasture when you went to get him in, or once he was in? What sets them off can be very varied and location specific between one yard and another.

Thank you - he wasn't bad until he came in. Seems odd as nothing has changed in his stable.

 

[Georgie's mum]

Our mare had breathing difficulties, vet prescribed steroids and reassured us that the link between steroids and laminitis is much smaller than most people think. The mare didn't get laminitis, although she had Cushings, which didn't help her breathing difficulties. Her problem was certainly made worse by pollen

Thank you - I'm told pollen is very bad this year. He was SO much better when I went back tonight,

 

[Georgie's mum]

If this was sudden in onset, has the pony been tested for an infection? It seems a bit odd to go straight to inhalers and then suggest steroids at first callout without checking for inflammation due to an airway infection first.
.

I guess I'm in the hands of the vet! He seemed pretty certain with his diagnosis but I'll bear that in mind when I report back to him. Thank you.

 

[poiuytrewq]

If this was sudden in onset, has the pony been tested for an infection? It seems a bit odd to go straight to inhalers and then suggest steroids at first callout without checking for inflammation due to an airway infection first.
.

Yes I’d agree. I’d expect a bit of investigation before diagnosing asthma.

 

[ester]

See all those I've seen have very clearly been asthma situation rather than any likelihood of RI. Even in horses who had not had an episode previously.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Our horse developed breathing problems very quickly around this time last year when his herd moved fields. It took a little while to get a diagnosis as at first the vet thought he was breathing fast through colic-type pain - he didn't cough at all. When the fast breathing didn't settle down, he had an endoscopy and bronchal lavage which showed inflammation and lots of cloudy mucus. He started off with ventipulmin granules but that didn't really work. We were reluctant to put him on oral steroids as he was already slightly overweight after a period of box rest following injury earlier in the summer, so we opted for ventipulmin and dexamethesone via a nebuliser. This worked brilliantly (but it meant we were virtually living at the yard at first) and we were able to wean him off the steroids after a few weeks. We made changes to his environment (large shavings rather than straw, soaked hay, had extra ventilation in his stable which was thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom and he's not had any problems since. He's currently living out 24/7 at a different yard and I'm rather nervously watching him to see if it recurs this summer but so far (frantically touches wood) he's been ok so I'm hoping it was a reaction to something particular in that field rather than a general allergy.

 

[Georgie's mum]

Our horse developed breathing problems very quickly around this time last year when his herd moved fields. It took a little while to get a diagnosis as at first the vet thought he was breathing fast through colic-type pain - he didn't cough at all. When the fast breathing didn't settle down, he had an endoscopy and bronchal lavage which showed inflammation and lots of cloudy mucus. He started off with ventipulmin granules but that didn't really work. We were reluctant to put him on oral steroids as he was already slightly overweight after a period of box rest following injury earlier in the summer, so we opted for ventipulmin and dexamethesone via a nebuliser. This worked brilliantly (but it meant we were virtually living at the yard at first) and we were able to wean him off the steroids after a few weeks. We made changes to his environment (large shavings rather than straw, soaked hay, had extra ventilation in his stable which was thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom and he's not had any problems since. He's currently living out 24/7 at a different yard and I'm rather nervously watching him to see if it recurs this summer but so far (frantically touches wood) he's been ok so I'm hoping it was a reaction to something particular in that field rather than a general allergy.

Thank you for this - that's very interesting and quite reassuring.

 

[Fransurrey]

In order to have a definitive diagnosis, you need to have a broncho-alveolar lavage or tracheal wash. Both invasive, but they're performed standing under sedation, so if you have the transport to the clinic it's not a big deal. BAL will tell you if there are excessive inflammatory cells, whilst tracheal wash will give you indication if there's an infection. For a one off, I wouldn't expect either to be performed, but if he hasn't improved, consider it. Asthma, including summer-pasture associated, can come on at any age, after which it's a case of managing the allergens and making sure any mucking out isn't done around the horse/allowing aerosols and dust to settle. Hope he improves for you, but if not, mild to moderate asthma is easily manageable once you have the routine set.

 

[Georgie's mum]

Thank you - that's worth knowing. The vet is coming tomorrow so I'll ask him about both those things.

 

[palo1]

Thank you - that's worth knowing. The vet is coming tomorrow so I'll ask him about both those things.

My mare, aged 5, has had a similar incident - sudden onset of asthma although I had heard her cough once previous to the attack of wheezing. She has had to have one jab of steroids and I have put her on anti-histamines and dilaterol on the vet's advice. He seemed confident that this would resolve relatively quickly and is seasonal and specific though we may never find out what it is. Even if there is something in the field or immediate location, that will change as the hallmarks are all for summer/pollen allergy. It is upsetting and concerning but my vet has also said that he has seen a number of very similar cases this summer and that the warm thundery weather was not helpful. The vet has recommended a supplement and to maintain her on anti-histamines (ceterizine hydrochloride) through the summer pollen season if they help which they may or may not do and if she doesn't need further treatment for acute allergy symptoms. I hope your pony soon gets back to normal too

 

[Highflinger]

My older boy has asthma - had it for years and defo pollen/grass related as fine in winter. He had a steroid injection a few years ago at the age of 25 and only after he had adniministered did the vet ask if he was laminitic........ Fortunately he wasn't and had no side effects and his breathing improved within 30 mins. Since then I have used antihistamine and a human asthma inhaler with a baby spacer which has kept things ok but he could still be quite wheezy. Last year around mid summer I added a table spoon of salt to his feed - he will not touch a salt liick - and after a week or so his breathing dramatically improved and I stopped the inhaler. This sprring as soon as he started to show signs of laboured breathing I started the salt again ( had stopped feeding early spring as out 24/7 on good grass ) and so far this year he has been fine - no inhaler or antihistamines.
I can only assume it is the salt.

 

[SEL]

I used a steroid inhaler last year when mine struggled - much lower lami risk

 

[palo1]

Update on my mare: her cough has completely resolved and she hasn't had any nasal discharge at all for more than 2 weeks (it was never really a feature in fact). BUT her breathing is still very up and down and I am now slightly obsessed with checking her resp rate. Sometimes it is frighteningly high and I have rung the vets on several occasions to check how to deal with that. She will be going for a scope and tracheal wash if possible (vet is to ring today with that appointment) as there seems to be some question over whether she 'just' has asthma or if there is something else going on (epiglottic entrapment, strep zoo infection etc). I am just quite devastated really - she is only 5. She is not insured but I am happy to pay for scoping, meds, nebuliser or standing surgery (not a GA) so I hope that something within that lot will help the poor thing. She is a black Welsh D and the hot weather is really difficult for her. I have tried an Aussie all rounder rug etc to try to cool her down but it really has been too hot for that and she just sweats underneath it (not helped by the fact that her best friend has a rug phobia and will attack and chase my poor girl if they are together when my mare is wearing a rug - horses!!! Honestly) . She is being cold hosed twice or 3x daily and that helps her breathing but I feel a bit lost with all this. I am struggling rather to understand why asthma/severe summer allergies can happen all of a sudden...She hasn't been stabled since she got here 2 years ago, we have decent quality hay fed at just above ground level etc. It appears to be a summer related issue with the heat and humidity of this summer making things more difficult.

My vet (second vet to attend and one who has her own asthmatic horse) says she has never seen such a young horse with asthma and thinks that possibly it is not, in fact, asthma that we are dealing with. I am chucking breathing supplements and anti-histamines at the poor horse (on vet advice) but also feeling very despondent about getting to grips with this and finding a good way forward. It is just awful to have to see my wonderful young horse struggling.

 

[ycbm]

I don't want to read and run, I can't help, but I'm sorry to hear that Palo.
.

 

[scats]

Sorry to hear that Palo, I’d definitely push for the scope and tracheal wash. Having dealt with a very rare breathing disorder in a horse, I know how soul destroying and distressing it is.

 

[palo1]

I don't want to read and run, I can't help, but I'm sorry to hear that Palo.
.

Thank you! I should have posted this in Vet forum I think but was updating on the thread that I had been following! How many times a day is it reasonable to check a horse's respiratory rate??! I have checked it as normal one evening only to have it sky high in the heat (very worrying ) At that point I check about every hour...This morning the respiratory rate of 2 of our 4 horses are about the same; raised slightly; Alw and her best mate who is, to my knowledge perfectly healthy. The other two horses, both pb arab have also had higher resp rates in the heat. I am utterly confused, bothered and anxious really....

 

[palo1]

Sorry to hear that Palo, I’d definitely push for the scope and tracheal wash. Having dealt with a very rare breathing disorder in a horse, I know how soul destroying and distressing it is.

Thank you. I am pushing for the first appointment we can get. I read your thread/post about the very difficult and rare issue your horse had. I am sorry. I have to say that at this point, I don't think my mare is presenting with anything that unusual but I don't have a huge fund and no insurance so it is vital that I move through a diagnostic process as quickly and efficiently as I can. Thankfully my vet is very supportive and understands how we need to proceed. Gawd.

 

[palo1]

Vet has been and scope booked for a week today, if we can wait that long. Poor mare was probably triggered by a virus which our other horses are now also showing. It's a bit of a nightmare really! It really does seem that my young horse does have asthma; I will do whatever I can to get it under control and then hopefully absolutely minimised as other people do seem to have been able to.

 

[Bruce17]

@palo1 do you have any update on your mare? Did you do the scope?

I seem to be experiencing similar...

16 year old mare. No history of asthma, breathing issues or allergies.
Was fine on Wednesday. I arrived on Thursday to find her standing in a corner of her field looking thoroughly miserable. Heavy breathing, flared nostrils, puffed up coat like she was cold (but she shouldn't have been given the weather at the time), looked to be in pain. I initially thought colic and rang for emergency vet.
Vet attented - breaths 32 per min, slight cough, elevated heart rate, but no temperature. She was eating and drinking fine. Vet thought breathing issues, perhaps an allergy to something in the environment (mare is living out at the moment). Gave a steroid shot and ventipulmin injection. Breaths came down to 24pm.
Vet left me with bute and dilaterol to give 2x per day, and said it would take a few days to recover.
Mare seemed worse again next day so emergency vet back out for another steroid injection. Advised to continue with bute/dilaterol and give it time to work.

It's now Monday and mare is no worse, but no better either. Breaths still 24pm, heaving and flared nostrils. Although she looks brighter in herself but symptoms still same, if that makes sense.
I've tried giving her antihistamines on top of the dilaterol and bute, just in case it worked, but made no noticeable difference.

I've left a message with vet to call me back. I know I need to give it time but I'm concerned there is no improvement after 4 days. It must be exhausting for poor horse breathing like that for days on end ?

 

[palo1]

Hi @Bruce17 . My mare had her scope where the vet couldn't see much other than inflammation all along her trachea though they managed to catch a bit of mucous for cytology. I am waiting for those results. However, the picture was complicated for us when our other horses also started to show symptoms of respiratory trouble; high resp rate and coughing. They were tested for Strangles and a couple of other nasties which thankfully were negative. My mare has improved as the weather has quietened down so vets are thinking that as she is young and the others have had some symptoms we are probably looking at a slightly naive immune respone asthma which is mild but has been triggered by a particularly difficult summer environment and possibly a virus. My mare had 1 dex (steroid) jab and 1 week of dilaterol but until we get the cytology results we can't move forward with medication. To be honest my girl is looking loads better - her resp rate is much improved though she has coughed again. I am assuming that I will need to provide some nebulised steroids to get on top of the inflammation and then possibly it will be a management issue or alternatively an occasional/ seasonal medication. My vets say that they have seen loads of this trouble this summer. You have my sympathy; its really awful to see them struggling. I too called the vet back when my horse failed to improve in the short term (around a week or so) but she is now looking better and feeling well enough/low enough resp rate to have started hacking in walk again. Yesterday she was very lively!! I think the 'best' thing to do is to try to provide inhaled/nebulised anti-inflammatories/steroids but it is also important to identify what the underlying cause is; steroids will only make an infection worse. I went for the earliest endoscope possible as I am uninsured so I didn't want to risk repeat vet visits and prescriptions that were headed in the wrong direction! My mare's resp rate was much higher than yours - it was genuinely frightening and very upsetting to think of her not being able to rest. She has been seen 3 times this month by my vets - twice as an urgent call. I do hope your horse shows improvement soon; it may be coincidence but the change in weather really helped mine as she is a large, black horse so the heat made things much worse for her, poor thing.

If you are insured can you ask for a scope to be done so that you know exactly what you are dealing with?

 

[Green Bean]

Reading all of the responses, it really looks as if this year's weather patterns have created a problem. I have been through something similar with my mare, although she had a thick mucus discharge and coughing rather than the heavy breathing. It was suggested allergies may be a thing, but she hadn't had it the previous two years after I bought her. My vet did an infection check (negative), Dilaterol, wet hay then wait. She responded well to the Dilaterol. Two weeks later, the cough came back and she had an endoscope which showed mucous, but no infection and a slight swelling where the trachea splits into two. As my horse is extremely head shy, I could not go for the inhaler pump and had to go for the steroid powder plus Dilaterol. It was quite a phaff to take her off the steroid as you have to do it slowly. At the end of the day, the vet concluded that the steroid had had no impact and that it was the Dilaterol that was resulting in the improvement. We agreed that we would continue with her management and as you can't give a horse Dilaterol as an ongoing treatment, I would just phone up if I needed any. She has been mostly fine with no mucous coughed up and only the very occasional cough so fingers crossed it was just something hinky with this year's weather and its impact on vegetation.
I did make a change to her hay delivery by putting her hay back in a net rather than her haybar as the vet thought her nose in the haybar may breathe in more dust than what you would with a haynet, so this may have been the cause as she has only had the haybar for the last year. I have now ordered a hay steamer as I am really keen for her to go back to using the haybar as I bought it for her back issues. I will only know if this works after using the steamer for a while.