Loughlin
Active Member
Is it just me sucking on the inhaler and choughing my guts out every winter. I do wear a mask, but with 2 in, grooming one with an issue, clipping, hay etc. I'm really struggling thiis year.
Chest trouble and winter care/feeding (humans)
- Thread starter Loughlin
- Start date
HopOnTrot
Well-Known Member
I take antihistamines before I do any grooming, this year I’ve moved to straw pellets which are really low dust IMO. One of the ponies is also asthmatic so I try and keep them out as much as possible, usually only in for a few hours in the day.
maya2008
Well-Known Member
Haylage and a dust free bedding were always my friends. And a mask if needed.
Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
Do anything you can to avoid having to breathe dust. Do they really need to be in part of the time? Not at the expense of your health if you can possibly avoid it. If they need to dry their legs off can you have an outdoor stoned or matted pen? Can you afford a free lancer or livery?
Speaking as somebody who suffered and is living with the results of too many winters on steroids and whose mother and sister succumbed to COPD.
Now with pony on full livery which is fortunate as I have yet another dose of bronchitis.
Speaking as somebody who suffered and is living with the results of too many winters on steroids and whose mother and sister succumbed to COPD.
Now with pony on full livery which is fortunate as I have yet another dose of bronchitis.
starbucker
Well-Known Member
Some bales have been really dusty for us this year I've quite felt it at the back of my throat/ on my chest. Rinse the hay off to keep the dust down in your stable and make use of any covid masks you got lying round !! Possibly pay for your nets to be filled and try blue frog bedding to reduce dust too.. I know it sounds back but i only do a deep groom every couple of weeks and just brush off the tack area .
paddy555
Well-Known Member
is your mask good enough?
I use a FFP3 mask to unload hay. Lungs are perfect afterwards and the next day. Without that I would be struggling to breathe.
I use a FFP3 mask to unload hay. Lungs are perfect afterwards and the next day. Without that I would be struggling to breathe.
starbucker
Well-Known Member
Cloball
Well-Known Member
This is the first year I've started using an ffp3 to hay as I struggled last year. I've also stopped putting hay bales in the panda. I had bad flu last winter and it's definitely worsened my asthma, not that the nurse seems bothered.
Loughlin
Active Member
I am a 24/7 out girl, but this year we had various reasons, including the blimin' awful weather - to bring them in. Sorry to hear you having such a rough time. I feel highly aware of my chest struggling this year. Quite freaked out. Seeing Doc today.Do anything you can to avoid having to breathe dust. Do they really need to be in part of the time? Not at the expense of your health if you can possibly avoid it. If they need to dry their legs off can you have an outdoor stoned or matted pen? Can you afford a free lancer or livery?
Speaking as somebody who suffered and is living with the results of too many winters on steroids and whose mother and sister succumbed to COPD.
Loughlin
Active Member
You do need to mind yourself. COPD is my greatest fear going forward into middle age. Yes, the hay - even good hay. It's a nightmare.
Widgeon
Well-Known Member
Could you pay someone else to clip them or is that an expense too far? Your lungs are so important, like @Gloi says I would do absolutely anything you can to minimise your own exposure to dust.
I hope the doctor's appointment is helpful and you can figure out some ways to manage it better.
I hope the doctor's appointment is helpful and you can figure out some ways to manage it better.
Loughlin
Active Member
How kind, thank you. I think we all need to look after our lungs. Horses are dusty, rugs are dusty, feed is dusty.... perilous.
Smitty
Well-Known Member
Research nutrition for lung health. I find lots of leafy greens help me.
Mrs Jingle
Well-Known Member
Please all of you, do be very, very cautious around any possible dust. My lungs are now completely trashed and it is no fun at all, in part due to many years of being far too gung ho around the horses. Even if you can't see the dust in your hay or bedding, believe me if a ray of sunshine casts on it as you are moving it around you will see all the dust that you are unwittingly breathing in day in day out. You think you are Ok for years and years, until suddenly you aren't, by then it's too late.
I just wish I had been more careful when I was younger and worn a mask whenever possible, grooming, clipping, mucking out, bringing the hay in etc. etc. Too late for me but hopefully not too late for lots of you younger horse owners.
I just wish I had been more careful when I was younger and worn a mask whenever possible, grooming, clipping, mucking out, bringing the hay in etc. etc. Too late for me but hopefully not too late for lots of you younger horse owners.
Loughlin
Active Member
Great advice Mrs. Jingle. I think this is a good one to air (pun intended). Yes, even good hay is shocking and my chip bedding not much better. I'm moving to rubber mats and haylage. Damn the expense..... I'm worth it!
Loughlin
Active Member
Will do! Thanks Smitty.
Loughlin
Active Member
I hope you're feeling well at the mo'. We've all done it, but yes, time passes and the bounce back isn't what it was. just got a new inhaler, and I'm not going into the box again without a mask on... EVER. Thanks for that warning. x
teacups
Well-Known Member
I have this one:
thefacemaskstore.co.uk
It is compatible with a range of filters - there is a link in the details - and these are the ones I use:
thefacemaskstore.co.uk
they need replacing after a period of use.
It can be more difficult to find respirators in smaller sizes to fit women. This one has fairly soft flexible edges to make a good and more comfortable fit, too.
It might seem expensive, but it’s less than most people would spend on one physio session for their horse, and I’ve stopped coughing!
However I never wear it when grooming, only for mixing hay and straw, and what Mrs. Jingle says made me think…clouds of dust this morning as I was brushing off dried mud
3M 7501 Half Mask Reusable Respirator | The Face Mask Store
Ideal for professionals in various industries, this small-sized, lightweight mask features a soft silicone seal and Cool Flow™ Valve for enhanced comfort and reduced heat build-up. Compatible with a range of 3M filters for comprehensive protection against gases, vapors, and particulates. Perfect...
thefacemaskstore.co.uk
It is compatible with a range of filters - there is a link in the details - and these are the ones I use:
3M 2135 P3 R Particulate Filters | The Face Mask Store
3M 2135 P3 R Particulate Filters provide longevity and can be used with numerous 3M masks. Available in packs of 2 at the Face Mask Store.
thefacemaskstore.co.uk
they need replacing after a period of use.
It can be more difficult to find respirators in smaller sizes to fit women. This one has fairly soft flexible edges to make a good and more comfortable fit, too.
It might seem expensive, but it’s less than most people would spend on one physio session for their horse, and I’ve stopped coughing!
However I never wear it when grooming, only for mixing hay and straw, and what Mrs. Jingle says made me think…clouds of dust this morning as I was brushing off dried mud
Lucetastic
New User
I’m allergic to hay, dust, dander and (according to Adenbrookes) the SMELL of a horse is enough to set me off
. Invest in a really good proper brick-dust mask from somewhere like B&Q. I wear mine when grooming, filling haynets etc. I also take 180mg of Fexofenadine 2/3 times daily at peak times like spring or after a really hot spell-rain.I’ve got better as I got older but it still catches me sometimes xx
Lucky Snowball
Well-Known Member
I groom outside to help me and reduce dust in the stable. If it’s raining then just brush saddle area and tack up.
poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
I do pay someone to clip, it’s my one luxury as that makes me feel awful. Not just breathing but my eyes are bad for days after.
I’m bad with masks, I think you need to make a routine- ie, do all haynets in one go with a mask on. I tend to do so one or two and as it’s only one and I’ve left my mask somewhere I don’t bother.
As above I also try to mud outside as that’s the worst for me. I try and keep my horse clean, wash sweat off rather than brush when dry (worse than mud!)
It’s a rubbish condition to have
I’m bad with masks, I think you need to make a routine- ie, do all haynets in one go with a mask on. I tend to do so one or two and as it’s only one and I’ve left my mask somewhere I don’t bother.
As above I also try to mud outside as that’s the worst for me. I try and keep my horse clean, wash sweat off rather than brush when dry (worse than mud!)
It’s a rubbish condition to have