Heavy Breathing - a little worried

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Rattie

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Whilst grooming my mare today I noticed as she exhaled through her nose it sounded loud, like us when we have a chesty cough or something (she isnt coughing at all though) Her nostrils had a little mucus but nothing concerning. Her breaths per minute were normal and she wasn't *taking abnormally deep or shallow breaths.

If it continues I'll call the vet but wondered has anyone else ever come across this? Or got any advice?
 
Has she been stabled recently? If so, it could be the dust. Making a noise while exhaling is not as worrying as when inhaling but obviously it is a concern if it isn't normal. Have you taken her temperature? Is she her normal self? It could be a virus. I would ask your vet if no improvement in the next few days
 
No she has lived out for the first time this summer, hasn't been in a stable since about April. I checked her haylage that she gets fed in the field and its good quality as I wondered if that could have something to do with it.

Her temp is normal and she is fine in herself.

The signs are typical of a dust allergy though but can't see it could be that, which is why Im worried.

Will be calling the vet today.
 
Let us know how you got on with the vet, I am interested as my mare had breathing problems in the summer but they have resolved themselves with the cooler weather. I had her scoped, tracheal wash, blood tested etc but vet couldn't find anything
 
Heavy breathing - as if the horse has just come back from a good gallop - probably means that she is struggling to get enough oxygen into her body. This can be caused by many things eg internal bleeding or anaemia, heart problems or COPD/RAO. My horse has a severe allergy to pollen and has COPD/RAO. He always gets a little better once the pollen has finished for the year but it takes longer and longer every year for him to recover, bless him. He's ok-ish now and is ridden 4 or 5 times a week (amble round the block on a loose rein takes about 40 mins) to keep his lungs and limbs working but he struggles on even gentle hills. His breathing is just as you have explained so it may be your horse has a dust or hay allergy. If so, I'd urge you to talk to your vets asap because the longer a horse goes with a breathing problem not properly controlled, the more damage is being done.
 
Rattie said:
No she has lived out for the first time this summer, hasn't been in a stable since about April. I checked her haylage that she gets fed in the field and its good quality as I wondered if that could have something to do with it.

Her temp is normal and she is fine in herself.

The signs are typical of a dust allergy though but can't see it could be that, which is why Im worried.

Will be calling the vet today.
Click to expand...

What I think you are referring to is what we used to know as COPD. As someone else has posted already this is now known as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). The changed name didn't just occur because we got bored!! ;)
COPD referred to the typical presentation of a dust allergy or horses that were affected mainly but stabling, dusty, mouldy or poor quality hay or straw bedding. The trouble is, a lot of horses didn't fit this category and got respiratory trouble when they were out during the summer on pasture. These horses had more of a pollen allergy (hayfever style syndrome). This used to be termed summer pasture associated obstructive pulmonary disease (SPAOPD). The thing is, this was not only a lot of a mouthful, but also most horses fell into both categories....so the whole lot was termed RAO for simplicity.

Your horse may have picked up infection, but RAO is probably more common IMO. I would get him/her checked over and possibly scoped.

For the other person who as done this and the vet found nothing....what was nothing? was there any result on the cytology to suggest even low grade inflammation? It can be subtle but truely nothing is rare with a tracheal wash.
I'd be tempted to trial antiinflammatory treatments if clinical signs still persist - or even better scan the chest and poss xray, I'd be considering doing a BAL too.

Hope that helps,
Imogen
 
ImogenBurrows said:
What I think you are referring to is what we used to know as COPD. As someone else has posted already this is now known as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). The changed name didn't just occur because we got bored!! ;)
COPD referred to the typical presentation of a dust allergy or horses that were affected mainly but stabling, dusty, mouldy or poor quality hay or straw bedding. The trouble is, a lot of horses didn't fit this category and got respiratory trouble when they were out during the summer on pasture. These horses had more of a pollen allergy (hayfever style syndrome). This used to be termed summer pasture associated obstructive pulmonary disease (SPAOPD). The thing is, this was not only a lot of a mouthful, but also most horses fell into both categories....so the whole lot was termed RAO for simplicity.

Your horse may have picked up infection, but RAO is probably more common IMO. I would get him/her checked over and possibly scoped.

For the other person who as done this and the vet found nothing....what was nothing? was there any result on the cytology to suggest even low grade inflammation? It can be subtle but truely nothing is rare with a tracheal wash.
I'd be tempted to trial antiinflammatory treatments if clinical signs still persist - or even better scan the chest and poss xray, I'd be considering doing a BAL too.

Hope that helps,
Imogen
Click to expand...


What is a BAL? Thanks
 
Just been through something similar with my boy, although his respiration rate was greatly increased and he was almost heaving. finally after 6wks I basically begged my vet to scope him and found bronchiolitis with low grade infection. My vets had him down with colic for the first 3 wks :mad: I don't know if this is going to be more permanent (RAO) although he's improved alot in the last wk, after his 3rd, stronger course of antibiotics.
I'd be getting vet out I think. Otherwise keeping a regular eye on his resp rate etc. Hope shes ok!! :)
 
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