COPD

[dbendell]

My horse suffered from COPD last winter and was put onto Ventapulmin for several weeks. This cleared things up beautifully but I am a little anxious regarding the same thing happening this winter. He is out all day but has to come in at night, but is in a well-ventilated stable. His hay is soaked. Any suggestions that could help him?

 

[Ludi-doodi]

A supplement for the respiratory system? NAF Respirator or Respirator Boost seem quite good - the Boost version comes with a money back guarantee if you don't see a difference within 48 hours! What bedding is he on? Shavings or cardboard might be best if on straw. Feed hay off the ground or in a hay bar rather than in a haynet - that's about all my suggestions. Someone else may have a few others

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Save your money on supplements. COPD/RAO is an allergic response to specific allergens and can be a barsteward to treat. Said this before and I'll say it again and again and again, if supplements work so well why isn't COPD/RAO a footling, easy condition that VETS treat with a supplement and bingo, the horse is 100% sound again? My horse has had summer pasture COPD/RAO for the last 4 years, with increasing problems breathing every year as his lungs get more and more damaged. He's sadly at the stage now where only palliative care is possible so believe me, I know about supplements. If you read ALL the fine detail of the various over-the-counter supplements they all say things like "supports the horse's airways" and vague things like that. Not one of them will state that their supplement can reverse COPD or clear thick secretions in the lungs or prevent the allergic reaction in the first place which is the only real and permanent solution.

Dbendell, the allergens for your horse almost certainly include dust. In addition to soaking your horse's hay (or switch to haylage might be easier), you need to bed him on dust-free bedding that doesn't trigger his allergy (straw might). Then you need to attack his stable with a hoover (make sure he's turned out while you do this) to get every speck of dust and every cobweb out, check that the stables near him don't use hay or straw, make sure he's not stabled near the muck heap and keep him turned out (rugged up as necessary) as much as possible. If he gets worse, you may need different drugs or different dosage or different method of delivery (eg inhaler). Try to keep your horse's weight down and make sure he has a diet that contains everything his body needs for good health. And finally, keep an eye open for any viruses that sweep the yard because your horse may be more prone to a nasty chest infection ON TOP of his COPD. Good luck hun x

 

[ozpoz]

As well as the useful stable management advice above I had great success treating this with homeopathics. I think it was bryonia. (sorry can't remember exactly as it was a long time ago.)
I remember it worked, for a fraction of the cost of ventipulmin and then we just didn't need to use anything.

 

[ImogenBurrows]

Save your money on supplements. COPD/RAO is an allergic response to specific allergens and can be a barsteward to treat. Said this before and I'll say it again and again and again, if supplements work so well why isn't COPD/RAO a footling, easy condition that VETS treat with a supplement and bingo, the horse is 100% sound again? My horse has had summer pasture COPD/RAO for the last 4 years, with increasing problems breathing every year as his lungs get more and more damaged. He's sadly at the stage now where only palliative care is possible so believe me, I know about supplements. If you read ALL the fine detail of the various over-the-counter supplements they all say things like "supports the horse's airways" and vague things like that. Not one of them will state that their supplement can reverse COPD or clear thick secretions in the lungs or prevent the allergic reaction in the first place which is the only real and permanent solution.

Dbendell, the allergens for your horse almost certainly include dust. In addition to soaking your horse's hay (or switch to haylage might be easier), you need to bed him on dust-free bedding that doesn't trigger his allergy (straw might). Then you need to attack his stable with a hoover (make sure he's turned out while you do this) to get every speck of dust and every cobweb out, check that the stables near him don't use hay or straw, make sure he's not stabled near the muck heap and keep him turned out (rugged up as necessary) as much as possible. If he gets worse, you may need different drugs or different dosage or different method of delivery (eg inhaler). Try to keep your horse's weight down and make sure he has a diet that contains everything his body needs for good health. And finally, keep an eye open for any viruses that sweep the yard because your horse may be more prone to a nasty chest infection ON TOP of his COPD. Good luck hun x

Brilliant stuff....great advice....now where's that "like" button!

Other info - there are a lot of other threads about RAO on here, try sifting through a couple of those for more details?

Imogen