Breathing suppliments

[Beccahh]

helloo
i was just wondering if anyone can recommend a breathing suppliment for a horse with COPD my welsh has it but never been a problem however hes recently been having the odd cough and people have mentioned it to me its only kicked of since someone moved into the stable 2 down from him there on straw and think its setting him of have had a word with them also we have go a mouse problem at the back of our stable and it smells so bad no idea if that could also be adding to it.I suffer from asthma so dust is really a no go for us both which does help.hes on shavings and soaked hay (will be going onto haylege end of the month) hes never mucked out while in unless i really cant help it and is currently on 2 scoops of global herbs airway plus in both breakfast and tea.since hes kept in a small block with only my other horse and a friends and a new pony eveyone (well apart from the new ponys owners) muck out and put fresh bedding down before any horses come in so were kinda reducing the dust.I just feel the global herbs isnt doing the job anymore.Should i have the vet out? others on the yard have said since hes not coughing in work and its only in the mornings not to but really dont want him getting anyworse.sadly 24 hour turnout isnt a option but i do try to limit the time he spends in his stable normaly goes out at 8am and in at around half 5 to 6 but in winter will be about 4. anymore info needed just ask x

 

[Happy Hunter]

Hey,
dont dispair - COPD is manageable!
My old IDTB mare had it and was Riding club fit till 23! Melanoma's got her in the end - but she didnt suffer.

From MY experience - (every horse is different!)
We used to have her on Dodson and Horrel Breath Easy - I swear this kept her going for 3 more years!
She was out 24/7 for 9 months a year (I understand this is a no go for you)
NO straw- Not even next door, or on the yard! - Set her off straight away!!!
Clean up the smell - Jeyes fluid ect - and get rid of the mice - they might be bringing fungal spores in with the general 'smell' and this is no good either.
Ventipulmin is the 'serious' drug sometimes used, we used to have it from the vet sometimes during a 'bad spell', 2 weeks of that we were sorted, then back to norm herbs,

DO call the vet - Even if its just for him/her to have a look, suggest some things and ease your mind! - They can spot infection, scarring and generally have a chat about how things will go. Do wait for the Equine specialist to come, you know, the one who has done horses for yearrrrs, not the newby vet who has come fresh out of a text book. - No offence to them, they are cracking in emergency's but COPD needs experience and a calm tactical look at things, not a rush in and use all the drugs to 'beat' it approach.

p.s. How old is the horse

 

[PingPongPony]

i second calling the vet out just for him to have a look and maybe give some suggestions himself. I have my mare on Ventilate( http://www.wormers-direct.co.uk/winergyventilate.html ) and garlic as a) she doesn't like the taste of ventilate so garlic over powers it and b) that helps her breathing too and gets the flies away plus gives her a nice shiny coat. she is very bad during spring-summer when all the pollen is everywhere so she needs small doses of ventipulmin. every horse with COPD is different though, my mare gets a discharge from her nose after exercise and when its really bad she whizzes and her breaths are short but sharp so can't ride her that much, so get your vet out and let him/her suggest some stuff

 

[hairycob]

Definitely talk to your Vet before you try anything as COPD can vary so much. My Vet recommended Ventialte & my boy is doing very well on it.
If I've read your post right you don't muck out - does that nean you deep litter? That could be a problem as ammonia can ittitate the lungs.

 

[thatsmygirl]

My mare suffers quite back and I can't use shavings at all, they really set her off, paper is the only bedding she can have and haylage. The straw bed down from you won't help and iv been lucky that if I keep to paper and haylage I need no supplements. Any chance you have had a slightly dusty bag of shavings? Or what I found was the horse use to grind them down so it produced dust. Since changing to paper she's Been 100% not one cough

 

[Beccahh]

thank you all for replying
right will get my vet to come have a little look at him
however i think i have found the problem the young girl who part loans my other horse has been bringing math in and throwing in dry hay for him to nibble on before i got down so i spoke to her about it today and explained to her what damage it does but still will get the vet make sure hes not done any damage to his lungs
but will let you all know how i get on
poor pony i have asthma so i know how he feels x