Help please, pollen allergy!

P

phaseone

Active Member
Joined
19 May 2007
Messages
42
Visit site
My lad has for the second year running developed breathing problems at this time of year.

Last year the vet was sure he has an allergy to pollen. I wasn't convinced because he'd never had it before. But this year, same time, same symptoms.

Last year he had ventapulmin and to me this was way too strong for him. Loads of hair fell out and he looked worn out, even though his breathing improved.

This year he has been on Global Herbs Airway and this has lessened the symptoms. He has a heave line and is often breathless when he comes in from the field. He is off work until his breathing improves and is no where near as bad as he was last year, but is there anything else I can do for him?

I am sure he'll be fine from about May but it is such a shame to be out of action for so long each spring.

Does anyone have any advice please?
 
We have a mare with the same problem - she's allergic to oil seed rape and tree pollen & we have and OSR field next door and are surrounded by forestry. We found the Global Herb Airways Plus works really well but we have to keep her on it year round although at a minimal dose through the winter. We also used Global Herbs Polleneze.
When she was first poorly our vet gave us an inhaler mask and some Becotide and another inhaler (green colour!) and she had this twice a day. We also gave her steam inhalation with menthol twice daily (easiest way is a bucket of boiling water with a tea towel hung through the noseband of a headcollar) just make sure that she doesn't drop her nose into the boiling water! We also put childs vick on her nostrils which helped a lot. Steaming her hay in a dustbin was more beneficial that soaking it and it stopped the coughing. The first summer was the worst but once we had everything under control subsequent spring/summers have been much easier. Is there anyway that you can bring your horse in during the heat of the day as we found this very beneficial too?
 
Wow, so many ideas. Not thought of an inhalation or using vicks.

Re staying in during the day..I kept him in during the day once I twigged what was happening and he improved. I was able to move him into a field not lined by lots of trees and he wasn't too bad for the first couple of days. Now though he is getting worse again. I'll try reducing his time in the field.

Will try all you suggested. So distressing to see a horse in this state. I cancelled the vet when he improved but will call again if all else fails.

BTW I had no idea horses could use inhalers. It's reassuring
that there are options.
 
Hi I remember reading somewhere - could well of been on here - that local honey is good for hayfever/pollen allergies?
Might be worth googling and seeing if anything comes up?
We have someone who makes honey behind our field so was thinking of trying it this year as my mare headshakes and gets all snotty in the spring.
I did find Global Herbs pollen-x had enough of an effect to make her ride-able too
smile.gif

Obviously it sounds like you will need more as your horses breathing is being badly effected but it might help as an addition
smile.gif
 
My gelding had the same problem last november when he moved fields on to the winter grazing - he lives out all year - it lasted about 6 weeks and he had low dose of ventipulmin and global herbs airways plus.

The herbal stuff takes about 6 weeks to work though and interestingly enough that was when he got better. He is now on the global herbs all the time - so either what he was allergic to has gone or they are working!
 
Eating local honey is meant to be good for human hayfever but it does need to be very local
smile.gif
Can't see why it wouldn't work in horses.
Mine has sweet itch so I give him homeopathic drops before the season kicks in and they are marvellous. Only costs £21 for 2 bottles of the relevant tinctures, easy to administer too
smile.gif

Try giving these guys a ring as they are used to dealing with horses problems too
smile.gif

http://www.allergy.org.uk/
 
Aloe vera is meant to be very good for allergies. my horse has allergies to loads of things, to dust and forage mites, mice, feathers and some weed pollens. She was referred to a specialist, 'the' lady in england. she has had good results with aloe vera, had a horse in for allergy test, and nothing showed whilst on it, had it back once off and lots showed up. if it is a big problem for you which it sounds like it is, you can get your vet to refer to this lady (can pm you the name) she will do an intradermal skin test for allergies, then you can order a vial of immunotherapy vaccine, obviously too late for this year, but takes a while to work so may be good idea for next year? pm me of you want any more info
 
Hi Driftersmum,

Sorry to hear about thr problems your boy is having with his breathing.

I can see that someone else has mentioned it - but do try and get hold of some locally produced honey - I have seen it totally cure a friends horse who had terrible breathing at this time of year.

Its vital that the honey is made by local bees though - as it will be made from local pollen.

I hope you manage to sort out your lads breathing - it must be very upsetting to see him struggling at this time of year- as well as frustrating that you cannot ride during the spring sunshine..

Gem
 
Thankyou all so much for your advice. I'll look into the honey thing and plan on being prepared for next year.

I don't feel so hopeless now about the situation. I have Pollenex on order too!

smile.gif
 
I second the Pollen-X! My mare headshakes every year, went for full work up at Dick Vet in Edinburgh, found nothing neurological (put my mind at ease) and then we started Pollen-X last year and can't recommend it enough! The people are always so helpful on the phone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top