Horse wheezing, dilaterol not helping

[Spottyappy]

My mare had a bout of wheezing about 3 years ago. Been fine until this week, when she has started again.
Previously, ventipulmin given and she improved within 12 hours.
This time the vet gave me dilaterol, a liquid, and 48 hours on there's no improvement.
I have asked for ventipulmin but they just say it's the same and they don't stock it now.
Vet about to come out and said I need to give her an inhaler. I really don't want to be going this route, not least of all because it's steroids and expensive. I am thinking of asking for a private prescription to buy ventipulmin over the Internet.
Has anyone else used dilaterol without success, but switched to ventipulmin and it's worked?
Or, any other tips on something to help her.
Thanks!

 

[Murphy88]

Dilaterol is clenbuterol, which is what is in ventipulmin - if that doesn't work, ventipulmin won't either. Ventipulmin dilates the airways but doesn't treat the primary cause e.g. allergic respiratory disease, hence why the steroids are needed to settle the inflammation in order for the clenbuterol to act. Horses can also develop tolerance to clenbuterol and the other beta-2 agonists, especially if used without steroid pre-treatment. The best treatment for these cases is a combination of steroids and clenbuterol both via inhaler/nebuliser; inhaled steroids are not an issue with laminitis as they go straight to the respiratory tract (in fact a recent paper showed no link between any steroid use and laminitis). Equine inhalers are expensive but human paediatric inhalers work well and are cheap; I use a paediatric nebuliser for my horse and use bottles of injectable steroids/beta-2 agonists, mainly because as a horse vet it's easier to buy injectables from work rather than having to order in human inhalers.

 

[Spottyappy]

Thank you Murphy.
I wonder if it's the different form, even though meant to be the same, which she doesn't tolerate so well. I have several human illnesses and know if they give me a different brand, it can have quite an adverse effect even though the contents are indentical
Vet been and said he will see if ventipulmin can be obtained by the office as agreed it's odd it's worked previously but the liquid form isn't.
Given her inhalers which made a dramatic difference quickly, but I would rather not use inhalers if possible.
Sadly even if I could obtain inejctable, the mare is needle shy and would be too much of a trauma on a daily basis! Once a year annual injection is bad enough!

 

[Murphy88]

I'm sure the practice will be able to order in some ventipulmin for you to try. And should you end up the inhaler/nebuliser route, don't worry, I don't inject the drugs, just need the liquid form to put in the nebuliser! The one that has respiratory issues is good for injections but I have a needle shy one so I feel your pain!