Respiratory Diseases, any experiences?

[Rosie2407]

Hi everyone,

Have had the vet take a look at Rosie because she's been looking a bit skinny. The grass is not brilliant this year and I'm having to feed her which I've never had to do in August before.

Anyway, he says he thinks she has a lower respiratory disease, causing a heave line and her loss of condition. He talked about possible inhalers etc
He said he thinks it's allergy related and wanted to just wait for a few weeks and see how she gets on with the change of weather etc etc but look at this photo I've taken today. She looks terrible.... really worried about her!

Any thoughts? Anyone got any experience of this type of problem? Anyone else used inhalers and did they help. She's never been thin like this before, she's normally an extremely good does which is why I'm extra concerned

 

[squirrelc17]

Please don't worry too much. you've done the right thing calling the vet and i'm sure they'll get to the bottom of it.
just a little thought, have you had her worm counted?? not accusing you of not worming her, just they don't all kill every worm. Might be a reason for weight loss???
And yes she's skinny but trust me you see a lot worse and at least you are aware of it.

 

[Rosie2407]

Thanks, yes she's regularly wormed and worm count done. Teeth etc all checked and up to date....

Anyone have horses with similar problem?

 

[Keltic]

I use inhalers for my cob, she has 2 and i use a childs spacer to give them to her, she has had a pneumotopica bacterial infection so far she has been scoped twice and 2 washes then she has had antibiotics, ventalin, respimin and now inhalers which are the same ones i use for my asthma! She has been off work since May and im just starting to walk out on her for 15 mins but im still not happy she is 100% yet. Good luck with your mare is your vet going to do a scope and wash to see what going on?

Anything else you want to know just pm me x

 

[saz5083]

My coloured has respiratory allergies. He basically started making noise and wasnt coping with his work as well. He was diagnosed by scoping and it was also noted he had partial paralysis of the left hand side of his latrynx. After lots of treadmill testing etc it was decided his larynx wasnt bad enough to operate (would still fully open at a gallop) and he had steriods to clear up the lung inflammation. Since then I have maintained him on equine america coff less all year round (lower dose in winter than summer). He is doing affilliated eventing and is doing well on it Cant comment on inhalers as have never used them.

 

[Rosie2407]

Thanks for your replies.

The vet is going to do scopes etc once we have seen how she goes over the next couple of weeks. He had hoped that the change in weather etc might help her allergies improve.

But I feel like she needs some help a bit sooner than that. So I think I'll phone him again tomorrow....

Is encouraging that your horses are back in work and seem to cope ok with their conditions....

 

[charmeroo]

I think that the weather being so dry and dusty has made respiratory problems very common this summer. My horse, who has pollen allergy issues, had an asthma attack but fortunately recovered very quickly with steroid injections but I know of at least 2 other horses who have had similar problems. One of these is using an inhaler and it seems to be doing the trick. So yes - I would progress it with the vet now especially as the weather has changed and your horse is not improving.