Post COPD/RAO care

[MazzMara]

Hello..

I have a lovely Irish Cob who had a COPD/RAO diagnosis w infection last August.. Very upsetting @ the time, but rallied well w 24/7 good turnout and good soaked hay all last summer and winter..

Going well and happy up to lately.
Sadly, he's had 2 allmost back to back episodes over April and May. (1st one, not sure why, 2nd one yard owner forgot to sluise the hay on the day I couldn't be there myself, it was a new bale of hay I didn't know about and very dusty)
The last one was fairly serious and Vet says its haylage only now, no hay.. Ever.

He's miles better, I've given him lots of rest time, gentle in hand work and now that he's out @ grass in a good big field with his 2 pals, he's in good form.
I'm just now getting on board again, he's a bit out of breath after a 20 mins of walk trot in arena.. But its normal breathing. ?

So, I'm wondering how much I can work w him 'going forward'.. (sorry.! Don't like that expression.!)
There's not much hacking nearby and here in Ireland there's NO bridleways.
He's was going very well work wise b4 the last episode, but I'm afraid of doing too much now..
How much is too much for him.??
He's such a willing fella, he'll l just do as you ask.. (if you're clear.!)
I'm worried that I'll ask too much too soon

Any ideas into getting him going without hurting him.

He's on Omega3+ for helping to keep his lungs open and he's not coughing now. He'll get Vit E now he's on good grass.

Many thanks.. ?

 

[rextherobber]

I'd just bring him back into work slowly and see how he goes. I use Omega Respirairboost, and give human antihistamines on high pollen count days (the oil sees rape is in full flower here at the moment, so that's every day) I though you needed vitamin e when the grass was poor/in winter rather than now?

 

[MazzMara]

Thanks rextherobber..

Yes I'll continue as you say and see how he goes.. He tires fairly quickly just now, so we'll take it steady... I'm worried that he'll never get his Mojo back.. ?

What antihistamine/dose do you give.? Only as a precaution or more constant.?
I meant the Vt E is in the grass.. ?

Thanks.. ? ?

 

[rextherobber]

I use cetrizine, I get it from an online pharmacy, a year's supply ( for a human!) £9.99. I give it on days my weather app says there will be high pollen, or if I notice crops nearby are flowering. She is sbout 16hh, vet said to give her 15-30/day, depending on how she responds to them, and also warned it could gave a mild sedative effect ( it definitely doesn't with mine!) I generally give her 15/day, as one dose in the morning.

 

[Georgie128]

Hello..

I have a lovely Irish Cob who had a COPD/RAO diagnosis w infection last August.. Very upsetting @ the time, but rallied well w 24/7 good turnout and good soaked hay all last summer and winter..

Going well and happy up to lately.
Sadly, he's had 2 allmost back to back episodes over April and May. (1st one, not sure why, 2nd one yard owner forgot to sluise the hay on the day I couldn't be there myself, it was a new bale of hay I didn't know about and very dusty)
The last one was fairly serious and Vet says its haylage only now, no hay.. Ever.

He's miles better, I've given him lots of rest time, gentle in hand work and now that he's out @ grass in a good big field with his 2 pals, he's in good form.
I'm just now getting on board again, he's a bit out of breath after a 20 mins of walk trot in arena.. But its normal breathing. ?

So, I'm wondering how much I can work w him 'going forward'.. (sorry.! Don't like that expression.!)
There's not much hacking nearby and here in Ireland there's NO bridleways.
He's was going very well work wise b4 the last episode, but I'm afraid of doing too much now..
How much is too much for him.??
He's such a willing fella, he'll l just do as you ask.. (if you're clear.!)
I'm worried that I'll ask too much too soon

Any ideas into getting him going without hurting him.

He's on Omega3+ for helping to keep his lungs open and he's not coughing now. He'll get Vit E now he's on good grass.

Many thanks.. ?

My horse has the same problem with tree pollen, short of breath when going into trot and initially putting her head down to open her airways. I now have salt therapy on a regular basis after starting with 3day course. It clears her airways and I top up with a scoop of ventilator in her feed. When the pollen count is very high we just have to do a lot of walking.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Another vote for cetirizine. My cob was diagnosed around ten years ago, and his trigger at the time was hay and ivermectin. He moved stables to the top of the yard away from the hay store, and I switched to feeding haylage. He has remained sensitive to hay, dust and heavy pollen days. Ventipulmin did nothing to open his airways, but eucalyptus sometimes helps (Vicks vapour rub between his nostrils). He hasn't had a bad episode since the hot summer of 2018. Fingers crossed.