Summer allergies in horses...your experiences please?

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el_Snowflakes

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My mare coughs occasionally through the summer but the vet had previously told me not to worry as its just a summer cough. However at the weekend it all came to a head when she started coughing terribly and wheezing. Her breathing was laboured also which prompted me to call the vet who gave her penicillin injections to treat any infection which may have been there and some bute. I am collecting piriton tablets for her 2moro and my vet has recommended i give her 10 twice a day. I rode her shortly this evening to see how she was and she only coughed once (no wheezing) however she felt a bit lethargic and I felt her breathing was a little heavy (not drastically) Id be interested to hear from anyone whos horse suffers from this and would like to know whether you found piriton to control this. I am worried that it may make my horse drowsy/lethargic :(
 
Do you use an equine practice? Or an equine experiences vet in a mixed practice? It doesn't sound like it do I'd recommend you get some appropriate treatment. Neither bute nor penicillin are normal treatment for respiratory issues. Infact, bute is generally contraindicated. Also piriton is not very effective in horses ( antihistamines in general are not v effective in horses). The only anti histamine that has been found useful is ucerax.
 
I didnt have my usual vet out but he was an equine vet. My usual vet is from an equine practice. The reason for the antibiotic was incase of any infection which had gone unnoticed. The bute was given as an antinflammatory. I havent heard of the antihistamine that you mentioned but I will keep that in mind thanks :)
 
I've been going through a nightmare with my horse with regards to allergies, seemingly both food and inhaled/respiratory.

It is resulting in quite pronounced lethargy and at it's worst laboured breathing too.
We have been through various blood/allergen tests and also scoping and tracheal wash.

My vet said antihistamines weren't that good in horses. My horse was originally treated with prednisolone and ventipulmin followed by ICS (flixotide). Because the steroids cost a small fortune and because I have been hoping to compete he has had to be withdrawn. I've started homeopathic treatment but although breathing not too bad at moment, lethergy still there!
 
Bute is not an appropriate anti inflammatory for equine respiratory issues hence my query as to whether you use an equine vet. Steroids are generally the only effective anti inflam treatment. Next step would be a scope and trach wash if it's not improving anyway.
 
Don't know if you've ever seen my posts about my veteran's severe pollen allergy but we've tried everything possible short of a double lung transplant! Ventipulmin (relaxes the airways), Sputolosin (breaks up the sticky mucus strands deep in the lungs), steroids, Cavalesse. Some drugs we tried oral and inhaled. Pretty much nothing worked and the only thing that brought him relief was the arrival of November. However, almost a year ago Sunny developed some weird symptoms that so affected his quality of life I was thinking it was time, at 28yrs old, to pts. As a last ditch attempt to find out what was wrong, he had the ACTH test for Cushings. ACTH should have been about 35 at the time, his was 200. Now I know more about Cushings, I think he'd had it for some time. Some of the odd symptoms it can produce are a lowered immune system and skin infections and infestations that don't heal. He was put onto 2mg Pergolide and was back to his old self in under 10 days. My YO did wonder at the time whether the Cushings had had any bearing on his pollen allergy. His lungs were being damaged more and more every year. This year his resting breaths per minute which should be 8 - 12 are 45. I've been dreading the arrival of mid June which is when he starts coughing normally. And I do mean coughing. He was scoped a few years back and the back of his throat was black with bruising from coughing so hard and long.

The weirdest thing though is that this year he hasn't coughed at all! His lung sounds are still ghastly but for him, not too bad. I thought the wet weather was preventing the pollen being carried on the air but I read in the papers that hay fever sufferers are 20% UP from previous years. So I'm left wondering whether the undiagnosed Cushings was impairing his body's ability to deal with the effects of the pollen? How old is your mare OP? If over about 15, it might be worth doing the ACTH test and if raised (should be about 29 this time of year) starting her on Pergolide (Prascend if she's not on Pergolide already).
 
My horse has SPAOD. It started when we moved yards and there was some rapeseed in a field nearby. Vets gave him ventipulmin & inhalers (he hates the inhalers) but these havent worked. His breathings got worse with a heave line & flared nostrils & he looks tucked up. I cant afford any more drugs for him as the insurance wont pay for any meds and its cost about £500 up to now. Why do vets insist on giving a horse with breathing problems antibiotics?? Its not going to work.
 
whiteclover said:
My horse has SPAOD. It started when we moved yards and there was some rapeseed in a field nearby. Vets gave him ventipulmin & inhalers (he hates the inhalers) but these havent worked. His breathings got worse with a heave line & flared nostrils & he looks tucked up. I cant afford any more drugs for him as the insurance wont pay for any meds and its cost about £500 up to now. Why do vets insist on giving a horse with breathing problems antibiotics?? Its not going to work.
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no idea??!

The reason mine was given an initial shot of penicillin was incase there was an infectionwhich caused the flare up. However, if the vet suggested I put her on them again I would definatly question it.
 
my horse was put on antibs after he'd been on ventipulmin and inhalers. Cant understand why because he didnt have an infection by this point.
 
My elderly chap has SPAOD - has had for years before we realised what it was. We went through the conventional route for 2 summers, £300 a pop, bute/ventapulmin/ab's, nothing worked, he got worse, developed secondary infection, and we got to considering the PTS route. Then as a last ditch attempt to fix him, we tried herbs with EquiNatural, and he had a miraculous recovery within 3 days - seriously, just 3 days. Unbelievable. Now I'm a convert and swear by them. This is what we used: www.equinatural.co.uk/breatheplus. He's still with us, happy as a can be.
 
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