Pollen allergy

[Dizzydancer]

Had to get the vet out on tuesday, my horse came in form field wheezing and struggling for breath. (first time) Vet came out said unlikely to be dust allergy as no change to his routine and he has soaked hay which has been the same bale for over 2weeks now. She reconed due to sudden sunshine it must have been the pollen...had steroid injection and powder (name escapes me).

He is now much better but we have only had rain since then so low pollen levels. Any ideas how to manage him with pollen allergy to reduce the risk of this attack happening again?

 

[Charlie007]

Hi Dizzydancer, my boy suffers aswell. Tried everything. Leaving in during the day was no good either. I have since been advised to feed one onion a day (large onion for large horse, small for small horse/pony) Feed half for breakfast and half for tea. My boy suffered badly and he has now not been affected since I started feeding an onion a day. Once he ahs responded (I really hope he does) then cut down to an onion every other day and then cut down to a level he can cope with. Start again at this level next spring. I really hope this works for you as It has transformed my lad. Apprently it is a dual inhibitor and work as an anti-inflammatory, opening up airways etc!! Only prob now is sorting me out when I'm cutting them up!!!! Good luck!

 

[JenHunt]

one of ours has it, itseems to be worse when we're around trees and fields of long grass. He can be dreadful at home, but fine if we go to the beach.

we feed pollenEx from global herbs, he wears a mask (with a nose thing on it), and he's in during the day and out at night. Seems to be doing the trick. We've also found that if we manage it during the winter with dust-free bedding, feeding haylage not hay etc he's much better in the summer as his lungs aren't already irritated.

it isn't the end of the world, he still competes at local level, and hacks out etc.

 

[Dizzydancer]

Thanks for your advice...not sure i could manage the onion a day thing might have to get OH to cut them up or il be in tears!! So far he seems much improved on the ventapulmin and lack of sunshine lately! Now i am aware of this new issue (blinky horse always something new up) i will be prepared next spring! Guess its going to be trial and error

 

[juliette]

My horse suffers with pollen allergy and I find the following helps to manage the condition:
1. Only feed haylage, never hay.
2. Use Carl Hester Air Power Supplement (have tried numerous others which were useless) i double the recommended dose if he is having a bad few days
3. Use Carl Hester Vapour Rub on nose before every ride.
4. Feed 4 hayfever tablets per day - Cetirizine Hydrochloride - cheapest i have found are on Chemist Direct (usually give him a few months off November - January)
5. Ride in nose net March - November
6. Keep a diary of when he is affected and check last years so that I can make sure I have supplements etc on hand and start feeding before symptoms are displayed.
7. Turn out as much as possible every day - 24 hour turn out during Spring and Summer (and our Spring starts March as he starts to get bad then)
8. Avoid riding through rape fields if at all possible.
9. Mine head shakes when pollen is high - if he is having a shake i find it is best to give him his head and let him sort himself out - if you fight it i find he turns into a maniac!
10. Keep bedding as dust free as possible - I use rubber mats with minimal shavings and he is in a field shelter with ropes across the front rather than a stable so that he has more air.....

Good luck - it seems to be one of those things that once they have it you just have to manage it carefully. I have tried nearly everything that you can think of and this seems to work best for him.