How to manage a horse with hayfever/asthma (SPARAO)?

[MissP]

Any recommendations for how to manage a horse who sometimes gets short of breath during exercise in the summer months? No mucus or cough, just puffy (its not a fitness issue). He is way better straight from the stable in the morning than if I ride later in the day from the field, so I am guessing it's not a dust allergy, but to do with pollen/pasture allergens. This is the first year its really been a problem. This year his grass glands are up nearly every day too - maybe related?

He's not severe enough for steroids (?), but I worry he would struggle to get around a hunter trial on a day when pollen is high.

Anyone had success with antihistamines?

 

[Mary jones]

Yeah maybe talk to the vet about antihistamines

 

[SEL]

Talk to the vet about trying something like cetirizine which is non drowsy. You can buy cheaply on line

 

[Ownedby4horses]

Do you have any fields of oil seed rape around? We had four years of managing COPD in an old boy and Asthma in one of our tinies, used antihistamines, ventipulmin, inhalers all the time and then we moved. Both equines symptoms completely stopped within 24hr-ish and have never returned. I phoned the vet after we moved to tell him and he was very surprised it had such a profound effect.

 

[MissP]

Do you have any fields of oil seed rape around? We had four years of managing COPD in an old boy and Asthma in one of our tinies, used antihistamines, ventipulmin, inhalers all the time and then we moved. Both equines symptoms completely stopped within 24hr-ish and have never returned. I phoned the vet after we moved to tell him and he was very surprised it had such a profound effect.

Oh interesting! The nearest rape field is probably a mile away but think it is past the flowering stage. Adjoining farmed fields are barley (or wheat I'm not sure which) and lavender. Our yard is closing down in 6-18 months so will be interesting to see if he gets better when we move. Will aim not to move next to rape.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

We never even gave the oil seed rape a thought and neither did the vet, we had fields surrounding us up to just under a mile away that all had oil seedrape at some point. Only when we moved to a property surrounded with hay fields all symptoms stopped.

I would be really interested to hear if things improve when you have moved. We had a product that we tried with the old boy that did seem to help, it was a powder that you squirt up the horses nose (takes them a little getting used to), it was a lot cheaper than meds and did help, our tiny was kept on inhalers as it didn’t work for him. I will see if I can find a link online to the powder.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

https://www.evetdrug.co.uk/supplements/airways/nostrilvet-1500mg-x-2

 

[MissP]

We never even gave the oil seed rape a thought and neither did the vet, we had fields surrounding us up to just under a mile away that all had oil seedrape at some point. Only when we moved to a property surrounded with hay fields all symptoms stopped.

I would be really interested to hear if things improve when you have moved. We had a product that we tried with the old boy that did seem to help, it was a powder that you squirt up the horses nose (takes them a little getting used to), it was a lot cheaper than meds and did help, our tiny was kept on inhalers as it didn’t work for him. I will see if I can find a link online to the powder.

Thank you!

 

[ITPersonnage]

I have a LOAD of cetirizine anti-histamines bought in January (when they were really cheap) for my horse who I lost in February. If you fancy trying some I can pop them in the post if you PM me. On vets guidance I gave her 30 a day of the ones we have 1 a day of (split into two feeds), she was your normal TB 500kg.

 

[SEL]

Do you have any fields of oil seed rape around? We had four years of managing COPD in an old boy and Asthma in one of our tinies, used antihistamines, ventipulmin, inhalers all the time and then we moved. Both equines symptoms completely stopped within 24hr-ish and have never returned. I phoned the vet after we moved to tell him and he was very surprised it had such a profound effect.

I'm wheezing like a 40 a day smoker right now - we're surrounded by the stuff. Coughing in a Covid world ensures social distancing!!

 

[Goldenstar]

There’s a supplement called ventilate that wynery make .
I gave this to my horse who was allergic in summer and it I was surprised it make a big difference .
He was reactive to oil seed rape I am as well we where allergic to lots of the same things .

 

[MissP]

There’s a supplement called ventilate that wynery make .
I gave this to my horse who was allergic in summer and it I was surprised it make a big difference .
He was reactive to oil seed rape I am as well we where allergic to lots of the same things .

I have had him on airways for a few weeks and thought it was helping, but last week when it was v humid he seemed to have a proper asthma style attack in a short sj clinic ?

 

[Goldenstar]

It sounds like he needs medication .
And do everything perfectly in terms of wind health in his stable .
Never muck out or bed down while he’s in there dust twice weekly when the stable is going to be empty for a while .All those type of things help .