Breathing supplements for COPD mare

Sanolly

Sanolly

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I have a mare with mild COPD, she is currently on NAF Respirator but it doesn't really seem to be doing much. Ideally I don't want her on Ventipulmin as it is only mild and I want to save that for later in case her breathing gets worse. Has anyone got any ideas on what else I could try?
 
I tried all sorts of ones and although I had never rated Naf before. found the best one was respirator. you start with the liquid then switch to the powder
 
No disrespect intended to the supplement mfrs but assuming your mare's COPD/RAO is caused by a dust allergy, then no supplement yet invented can do anything more than ensure she's getting all her vits and mins. Probably would give her expensive pee too. If they worked, every vet in the land would be prescribing them and COPD/RAO wouldn't be the nightmare it often is. If it's a dust allergy, you can manage it without spending a penny by having an immaculately clean and non-dusty stable, feeding soaked hay or haylage and giving her as much turnout (or 24/7 turnout) as possible. Ventipulmin just relaxes the airways but doesn't address the source of the allergens. Pollen allergies are a zillion times more difficult to manage because during spring and summer it's everywhere and in every breath the horse takes. If your horse has a pollen allergy, then expect her to struggle on for about 3 months after the last of the pollen because that's the approximate life span of the mucus producing cells that are kicked into life by the pollen.
 
I have to agree with Box of Frogs. My mare had chronic COPD last winter. It was horrific..the coughing brought on a nose bleed etc. I tried everything!....supplements...soaking/steaming hay..dust free bedding, removing dust/cobwebs from the walls etc. Cough mixtures..and the list goes on. Ventipulmin from vet too.

Well(touch wood) she has not coughed for weeks.....I put this down too feeding the Blue Horsehage. I do not deviate from this..she has no medication whatsoever or supplements. She is turned out from 7am until 4 but she was out all the time anyway and still coughed. I honestly think my mare could not tolerate hay..be it steam or soaked. Long may the no-coughing continue.
 
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