breathing problems

lucymay9701

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 March 2006
Messages
269
Visit site
Hi everyone, my horse is having some problems with her breathing and I was trying to figure out if it is just COPD or if anything else could be going on and wondered if anyone may have any ideas?

I had the vet out last week as she was having trouble with her breathing and her nostrils were flaring at rest and you could also noticeably hear her breathing out. She was diagnosed with a dust allergy about 8 years ago and is on dust free management although I'm going to be changing her from soaked hay to horsehage and also thinking of changing from dust extracted shavings to a different bedding.

When the vet came this time she heard 'noises' on her lungs, we think its dust related and has gone on ventipulmin (shes never needed ventipulmin before).

The only thing is she isn't coughing much, only the odd cough (which is usual for her since being diagosed with the dust allergy and hasn't been coughing more than normal - you usually here her once or twice when she first goes out and thats all - no prolonged coughing) so don't know if something else could be going on aswell as dust problem?

My main query is would they usually cough more if just dust related or can copd mainly affect breathing in some horses without worsening of cough?

She's been on ventipulmin over a week now but her breathing is still not 'right'. Shes OK in herself and eating well. Shes not a greedy horse and always goes off her food when ill so she can't be feeling too bad, although hasn't got as much energy as normal. She's retired but usually 'jogs' on her way in at night and that has stopped. I've got to ring the vet with an update on Monday.

Also does anyone know of any other reasons she may be more noisy when breathing out?

Aswell as that her nostrils seem to move twice sometimes as she breathes in - kind of a little nostril flare then sometimes a bigger nostril flare. Thats a bit difficult to describe without seeing though but almost looks like shes breathing in twice before breathing out if that makes any sense.

I'm worried if something else could be going on and just really wondered if anyone else's horse had COPD/dust allergy without much coughing and it just affecting breathing. Just trying to get my brain organised before ringing the vet Monday!

Thank you

Lucy x
 
Last edited:
I think my concern would be that there is some infection in the lungs despite the lack of cough - definately worth asking the vet about and asking about antibiotics as well as the ventopulmin. Also you could soak or damp down even the haylage - my mare developed a dust thing following pneumonia and the vet recommended damping down even the haylage for the first few weeks.
 
She'll be noisier breathing out because she's having to use abdominal muscles to force the air out of her lungs. It's this action that eventually causes a "heaves" line round the belly. The flaring of the nostrils is the horse's desperate attempt to get more air into the body. You can test the extent of the problem yourself by waiting until she's stabled and at complete rest, then count her breaths per minute. 1 breath in + 1 breath out = 1 breath. Watch her flanks for a few moments to familiarise yourself with the gentle movement then count the number of breaths for 30 seconds and double it - easier than trying to count for a whole minute! Normal breaths per minute should be between 8 and 12. My pollen allergy horse's are 45 at rest and off the scale if stressed or too hot. You need to try to get on top of the problem asap because all the time the RAO/COPD remains uncontrolled the lungs will be getting more and more damaged. The noises deep in the lungs that your vet can hear will be the crackling and whistling of damaged tissue, probably permanent.
 
Thanks for both the replies. I asked the vet about infection but she said she couldn't hear anything to suggect an infection. Maybe she may try precautionary antibiotics if no improvement. She's said to carry on with the ventipulmin for another 2 weeks and then let her know how she is. Her breathing rate is about 16 per minute so a bit fast but not really high. x
 
Top