Best respiratory supplement please

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CBAnglo

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My horses are stabled in an indoor barn, on straw, so there is a lot of dust around. I would like to feed them something to ease any stable coughs (mare next door has started coughing like crazy).

Thanks
 
Unfortunately, the only bedding allowed on this yard is straw and flax, and they found the flax dustier. The straw itself isnt that dusty (although obviously more than shavings, which I would have preferred), but being in a barn is a lot more dustier than outside stabling (which would have been my preference). So I would like to feed them a supplement to help deal with living in a barn and the increase in dust in the air.

If the straw does get dusty, I will change to cardboard.
 
Global herbs Airway Plus works for us although it is a strong smelling powder so may take some getting used to. I fear you may be trying to win a losing battle if everyone else is on straw in your barn. Perhaps try and keep him out of the barn as much as you can especially when the others are being mucked out. You could try making up a water spray with a bit of eucalyptus oil in it to settle the dust after you have mucked out. Hope that helps.
 
Thanks Blagdon. I looked at the list of respiratory supplements and just didnt know where to start! GH are usually quite good so might try that one first.
 
I'd 2nd the Global Herbs Airway Plus!

FTR good quality straw is less dusty than a LOT (if not all) shavings! And yes I can back that statement up, but I've lost the ruddy research article!
 
I am sure you are right S_N, the straw itself isnt very dusty and even the next day when it has broken down it isnt too bad. I always used Hunters previously, and noticed that in the last couple of months it was actually getting to be quite dusty and very small flaked.

Am sure the coughing is more to do with the hay (which isnt the best but certainly not the worst) which is why I have switched mine to haylage anyway. Just thought I may as well come double prepared with a supplement as well, I did notice they coughed a couple of times when "in work" so I want to make sure I do everything before they start coughing like that mare.

They have respiratory licks in their stables as well - am aware that this is about 99% molasses and 1% anything to help with the respiratory system but they enjoy them! Off to get some Airway Plus.
 
Ive used Resipirator before with good results, im always wary of global herbs stuff as i compete affiliated and they dont put any ingredients on their pots or leaflets!
 
Many different people have told me that thyey found Winergy Ventilate to be the best. It's very pricey though. My mare developed a short-term coughing problem a while ago due to dusty hay, and I used NAF Respirator Boost liquid for a week in the hope that it would clear it up. I wasn't overly hopeful but as with 99.9% of the NAF products I've used, it worked a treat. She stopped coughing within five days, and that was without soaking the hay as I wasn't actually able to.
Global Herbs usually does what it says on the tin, but the issues I have with them are that 1) they don't give out lists of ingredients unless you really push them... and 2) they stink to high heaven and I wouldn't eat something that smelt that bad so I'm not going to make my horse eat it!
 
Thanks Silmarillion - that was very helpful.

My boys arent very fussy eaters, but they dont like odd smelling food (they refused to eat Pernamax because of the smell) so maybe I will try the NAF respirator boost first (although already bought the GH one so will have to try that anyway). I think the mare next door is similar to yours - coughing because of dusty hay so hopefully the NAF one will do the trick if the refuse to eat the GH one.

If they do start coughing in the stable then I will get the winergy ventilate.
 
My pony started coughing a little this winter and I have had her on Global Herbs Airway - but the liquid stuff (can't think of the actual name) Yes it does smell quite strong - and this pony is about the fussiest eater I have evern come across, and she seems to really like it. It works a treat - I can highly recommend it.

The supplies of this do seem to hav disappeared around me right now though - so I have had to swap to the NAF respirator - which I was trying to avoid as the pony is so fussy I though she would just stop eating her food. However, pony still eats this, and it does smell a little less. Pony is still completely cough free - so thumbs up for that too!.

I found that the respirator is a thicker gooey-er liquid and found it easier to mix it up with the liquid on the food, rather than it getting all spread on the bowl.

x
 
Thanks for that Flo_Bell.

I was planning on getting the powdered supplement as it is easier for me (they are on livery) but wonder if perhaps the liquid version is better ...

Will get both and try them and see how they get on!
 
Mine's on Global Herbs Airway Plus and I've def seen a big difference (he had to go on Ventipulmin halfway through winter as we had bad batch of hay and he really went downhill) but after the Ventipulmin & weaning him onto GH he does the occasional cough first thing in the morning but that's about it so I'd def say it works!

It DOES stink tho!!! And you have to use a decent sized amount for it to work! Good luck!
 
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