COPD/RAO... Can anyone help?

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Tally223

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My horse was diagnosed as a 4 year old with relatively severe COPD. I was told that he would suffer from attacks and would likely have to retire earlier than others, but that if effectively managed, he should be fine...
He is now 12 and 3 months ago had his worst attack yet (he hasn't had a bad one in 6 years). He is still suffering from this attack and the vets have said out of 10, he is probably 9 on the severity scale and is getting worse... He lives out 24/7 and if given hay it is soaked before hand (he can't have haylage). Apparently he is among the small % of those who are allergic to dust and pollen (according to academic papers its usually one or the other?)
We have tried:
Max dose steroids (120 pills and 10 inhaler puffs per day)
Various respiratory supplements
Moving fields
Decreasing exercise
Stopping exercise altogether
A nose net
His insurance will now not cover any more treatment for this condition and there has been no changes in his lifestyle before his attack....

Does anyone know of anything else I can try, or experienced the same thing? The vets seem to have given up on treatments, and won't give me a definitive answer on his likelihood of recovering...
I'm open to try almost anything to get him better!
Thanks,
Tally
 
did you ever get an allergy test done on him? Maybe you are putting him in contact with something he is allergic to i.e. my mare can't have hard feed as she is allergic to dust mites in hard feed, and on the allergy test sheet this is the only allergen that came up positive. Since I got the diagnosis and cut out hard feed (ie cereals) she has had no copd symptoms.
 
We did have one done as a 4 year old and to be completely honest i cant remember all of which specifically came back positive ( i was 14 at the time!) but I remember there were a lot that came back positive ( i believe around 10) which meant he had to be stabled in a dust free environment during times of a high pollen count and had to have hay soaked thoroughly to remove dust spores... He also had to avoid sand only arenas, Could it be worth getting them to re-run an allergy test to see if he has developed more? Ive had him since a 3 year old and am happy to retire him if thats whats needed, but at the moment even on minimal/ no work he is in serious discomfort with heaving, wheezing and constant coughing and head shaking...
 
Hi Just seen your post, have just had two months working out what triggers my geldings allergy in the summer, been a headshaker for about five years, not bad but has nose net on all the time in the field, he lives out. I worked out that when mine goes on rested grass, we usually rotate our two summer paddocks every 3 to 4 weeks so neither get too lush we have 3 cobs that live on fresh air. If i put trojan on that rested grass his breathing is awful, coughs all the time with discharge from nose. I really thought it was the end of the road for him this year, it was as though he was having an asthma attack. When they were due to swap paddocks, i kept him for a week, he immediately improved and all symptons disaapeared, so have strip grazed him so he stays on really short grass, have two strips so i can alternate him as dont want to end up with dust, or more recently mud. Any grass over 1/2" is a" no no" for him. Really really bizarre, as he surrounded by our two winter fields which are waist high with grass, this doesn't affect him.
He also has pollenez, breathe easy from global herbs and dodson and horrel do a vit and min biscuit which he has, as hes on restricted grazing. Currently supplementing his grazing with 1 section of soaked hay (usually soaked for a min of 10 hrs) can only get down to yard once a day. Hope this info helps and good luck.
 
Who did you use to do your tests? lab or the local vet?

I've been to see a pony this evening as a possible short term loan who has COPD but I've never had a pony who suffered from it before. We only do a walk for my toddler so exercise will be very gentle a couple of times a week but I want to make sure I know what I am getting into before I take him on.

What should be looking for symptom wise when things get worse and what can I can do to help as he will be in my care if I take him on?

He's a really lovely pony beyond this I would have no reservations taking him on.
 
Hi My daughters first pony had copd when we brought him at 13, it was very mild and just needed careful but straightforward management, Keep out as much as possible, if they have to be stabled at night, dont knnow if youll be at yard or own place, use dust free shavings, dampen all feed and definately soak hay, regardless of how good it is. Ben lived to just over 30yrs and was an absolute gem winning showing, showjumping and cond and turnout classes. He was also a laminitic but again found this easy to maanage he just went on a dirt paddock directly the first lawnmower was heard lol and stayed there till middle or end of oct depending on weather. Use a supplement such as global herbs breathe easy, have a look at their website or you can give them a call. If the pony is on ventipulmin check out cost as this i think can be quite expensive ben never got to that stage. If its mild then i cant really see a problem, its all down to management. COPD usually is stable problem and spaod is pasture problem (ie pollen). Never had blood test down with ben or the one i have now, but did speak to the vet and she agreed with what i was doing, basically because it was working. Hope this helps.
 
Damn - I've just written a long reply to Finn in a PM that would be useful to post here - but I don;t know how to get it from sent items - it doesn'e let me see the message text!

Maybe Finn can post it when she opens the message
 
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