Equine inhalers

B

brucea

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 October 2009
Messages
10,457
Location
Noth East Scotland
Visit site
Just to share some experiences

Over the last 2-3 years we have had spring and summer time RAO with our driving pony. We've spent a lot on inhalers, mostly Ventolin and the inhaled steroids such as beclometasone.

For the last couple of years we have been attempting to use the Equihaler. What we found was that the Ventolin was not that effective and the steroids were almost ineffective.

We bought an AeroMask recently. It was really expensive, about £320, a price that quite steep for what the product is. However that's just my opinion.

What's obvious is that the AeroMask is a far better delivery system - the Ventolin MDI is much more effective and we've gone back to using the inhaled steroids as a preventative and in the time we have been using them they've had some benefit.

It's a fait assumption that the AeroMask is ensuring a better delivery for the inhaled steroids than the EuqiHaler. Perhaps it is because it is easier to use than trying to use the puffer with one hand and restrain and hold an uncooperative pony's nostril closed with the other.

The AeroMask also comes with a wet nebuliser attachment that can be used with either simply isotonic saline or a Ventolin Nebule (2.5 or 5mg available). I bought a £45 Omron nebuliser off ebay and this works a treat. It's good to know that if things really get too wheezy there is the nebuliser to fall back on.

So lesson learned - should have listened to the vet the first time round and not tried to use the low cost, but effectively poor, solution.
 
Hi, thanks for posting this, it is really interesting to read your experiences. My boy was diagnosed with RAO in Jan, he had a course of fluticasone to start with and now he is on beclametasone, all been adminstered via an infant spacer device. He as shown great improvements, barely coughing, resting breaths down to 10per min, but the lab results from his last scope showed just as many inflammatory cells as before :( I worry that the drug isn't all going where it is meant to, as it is tricky to administer (despite my boy being a saint about it :)), especially as it's difficult to tuck his huge nostril into the 'mask'!

I may have to re think the expensive option! Can I ask if you have found anything else to be beneficial other than the usual dust free bedding, soaked hay/haylage, lots of turnout?
 
That's about it really - there is only so much you can do. The nose net option is impossible - it will be off as soon as possible.

I'm using the global Herbs Pollonex as well.

It's actually quite fascinating to see the inhaler mist going in tot he spacer and being sucked right in. I think the AeroMask is much more efficient and less wasteful than the alternatives.

Hard to part with that much cash though!
 
This brings back memories of the horrible time we had with one of our mares. I bought a Trudell aeromask direct from Canada and I agree it's very efficient as you say you can see the product disappearing from the chamber. I used to time the pumps with the breathing to make sure it went in. She did eventually learn to avoid the product by holding her breath and then exhaling hard. She eventually graduated to the wet nebuliser. Two sesions per day only brought minimal relief. Ultimately we lost the battle after trying every product available. There's nothing worse than finding a horse in the field fighting for air with a terrified look. We had to have her put down as this couldn't go on. You're lucky you've found something that works.

PS we never did find out what caused the attacks.
 
No lazybee neither have we. they came on suddenly one year after he had had a massive episode of laminitis. We've had the vet out a couple of times to give him atropine over the last few years.
 
Love my aeromask too-keeps my boy xc-ing happily all season long :). Well worth the money and mine is still going strong (bought 5 years ago).
 
if any 1 wants one of these AERO MASK from canada my friend is selling hers as her horse is ok now

I personally have the ERA Mask which is from Australia i think its brill i damp cotton wool with obias oil and put it in as well as the usual flixotide from he vet its gr8 way guarantee they breath it in
i also use global herbs airways +



http://www.eramask.com/













,
 
Last edited:
Just a question as im not very well up on RAO, are these inhalers and other types of nebulisers better than ventipulmin granules? I used to manage a pony with RAO and she was given ventipulmin but never any kind of inhaler. Is this a newer treatment now?
 
alsiola said:
That is one good reason why...

I have heard mixed messages about insurance paying for it as well.
Click to expand...

My insurance would not pay for the AeroMask - they would pay for the Equihaler, and then lots of drugs that failed to be properly delivered - would have been more cost effective to just pay for the Aero Mask!

I just bought it meself.
 
Toast said:
Just a question as im not very well up on RAO, are these inhalers and other types of nebulisers better than ventipulmin granules? I used to manage a pony with RAO and she was given ventipulmin but never any kind of inhaler. Is this a newer treatment now?
Click to expand...

Yes - far better than Ventipulmin and fewer side effects.

You are using a much lower dose becuase the drug is delivered directly where it is needed, and there is not the same paradoxical bronchospasm you get with Ventipulmin.

The medications you use are exactly the same as those used to manage human asthma and COPD.
 
Toast said:
Just a question as im not very well up on RAO, are these inhalers and other types of nebulisers better than ventipulmin granules? I used to manage a pony with RAO and she was given ventipulmin but never any kind of inhaler. Is this a newer treatment now?
Click to expand...


Yes much better as ventapulmin is going in feed also you can only use it a short time where as these inhalers you can use daily .

specially if you buy obios oil eucalyptus oil put on cotton wool and put in lower container for horse to breath in as well as the flixotide.
 
Last edited:
brucea said:
My insurance would not pay for the AeroMask - they would pay for the Equihaler, and then lots of drugs that failed to be properly delivered - would have been more cost effective to just pay for the Aero Mask!

I just bought it meself.
Click to expand...


I have an Equihaler, £100 it was , its ok if your horse keeps her or his head still but they only have to turn their head away after you puff the meds in and you have lost the medicine. I keep mine for the horsebox now a quick puff before an event. I use the Era Mask at home.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top