Breathing supplements

[Eriskayowner]

Does anyone have any recommendations for an effective breathing feed supplement?

Mouse, my 20 year old Eriskay gelding, has always had dodgy breathing but is usually only bad in the winter when he's stabled more and on hay and bedding etc.

Recently, however, he's been wheezing whilst exhaling (like an asthmatic) and coughing quite a lot. He's still ridden out gently to try to open his lungs up a bit and going forwards as usual but his breathing is causing me concern.

He's currently living out 24/7 but has full time access to the stables as field shelters from the heat/flies etc. There's no bedding in the stables - just rubber matting - and they are not given any extra forage, apart from a feed after exercise. The stables were also recently scrubbed free of dust etc.

The plan for the winter (October/November onwards) is to bed on straw rather than shavings, as I'm currently 5 months pregnant and straw is easier to manage, but Mouse's breathing might have to change this. They had ad-lib good quality haylage to keep the weight on Jazzy so there's not much more I can do to reduce Mouse's dust intake.

Is there anything I can add to his feed which might help him to breathe more easily?

Thanks x

 

[L&M]

I would avoid straw if he is prone to breathing problems, as can be a major contributing factor to the copd/rao symptons that you describe. I would deep litter on dust extracted shavings, so less work for you, and can clean the bed out after winter and you have sprogged!!

Re the breathing issues we found Winergy Ventilate very helpful, but like a lot of these supplements it is trial and error.

 

[Eriskayowner]

Thanks Sidney.
The straw plan was before Mouse's breathing was this bad - it's never been this bad in the summer

Last winter they were all on good quality dust extracted shavings or easibed, depending what was in stock or on offer etc. Mouse's welfare won't be compromised - I've had him since he was 6 months old and just want him to be ok and live and long, happy life for years to come - he's mini-me's lead rein pony!!!

I'll look into the Ventilate and see if it eases his symptoms

 

[Eriskayowner]

Any more suggestions?

 

[OLDGREYMARE]

I have found in the past that Feedmark's Clarity is very effective for horses that cough and have snotty noses,but I have never had a horse that had breathing difficulties so I can't comment on that aspect,hope you get him sorted.

 

[zigzag]

A call to a vet and some medication like ventipulmin?

 

[TheMule]

Ventipulmin is really the only thing I've found effective, though there is a cheaper alternative the vet can prescribe... I just cant remember its name! It sounds though like this is a vet job

 

[Eriskayowner]

I have found in the past that Feedmark's Clarity is very effective for horses that cough and have snotty noses,but I have never had a horse that had breathing difficulties so I can't comment on that aspect,hope you get him sorted.

Thanks OGM - hes never had a snotty nose or a mucusy cough or anything - just this nasty wheeze/cough

A call to a vet and some medication like ventipulmin?

Ventipulmin is really the only thing I've found effective, though there is a cheaper alternative the vet can prescribe... I just cant remember its name! It sounds though like this is a vet job

Thanks ZZ and TM - had a feeling vet and ventapulmin would be suggested. I want to see if an off the shelf supplement will make any difference in the short term before he's back on bedding and haylage etc. I'll definitely go down that route if necessary though. I have seen ventapulmin used to very great effect in other horses so I know it is good stuff.