Wheezy horse

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whiteclover

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Vet has said my horse has a pollen allergy but hes wheezy (worse when the suns out). Hes been on piriton 7 tablets twice a day but its having no effect and I can see his flanks moving when he breathes. Vets given me ventipulmin. Should I just continue with this? Hes not in any work at present. Im thinking of moving yards as I believe its the yard Im at which is causing it.

Whats the best treatment for this? Is this normal for a pollen allergy?
 
That doesn't sound like enough tablets to me. My mare has just been treated for an allergic reaction and she was having 30 tablets twice a day and ventipulmin.
 
Smallhunter - did that improve your horses condition? I will try 30 tablets twice a day. He only had 8 tablets tonight, forgot to do it this morning. Where do you get them from? Ive been buying the unbranded certirizide ones. Are these the ones you use?
 
my mare has asthma she was fine 4 weeks back then wallop and weezy she is on ventapulmin i have to finish pot i also spray stable spray in her stable its eucaliptus she is on haylage and global herbs eucalyptus powder in her feed she also has an enhyler which i am not aloud to use till ventapulmin finished
 
It's interesting...I'm wondering if this is a very bad year for pollen (good year for the flowers though!) as been so many threads about horses having problems. I know my hayfever has been the worst I've ever had it this year and I only started having hayfever a few years ago. I just wonder if some people's horses are having it bad this year due to increased pollen levels maybe....we've certainly had an odd bout of weather being so dry and warm for so long.
 
Hi, new to this forum but wondered if anyone can help me. I have a 21yrold Irish DraughtxTB. For the last 2 years he has become wheezy from May onwards until Septor Oct. This is accompanied by a very bloated stomach, with horrendous flatulence. he has been scoped and lung sample sent to Newmarket with nothing abnormal diagnosed. he has inhalers, ventpulmin, various global herb remedies to assist with his stomach and his breathing, all to no avail. have also tried homeopathic vet. He is not on rich pasture and is out 24/7 during the summer. Bringing him in does not help.its got to the pint where is feed is 90% additives and smells like sewage! I am not sure if her is inhaling something or ingesting something and his distended stomach is impacting on his lung capacity. I have moved him from my home to different yard, but this has not stopped the symptoms. He is not wormy, am at wits end. Has anyone else experienced this proble. The vet does not seem to think his stomach and breating are connected. have used up all insurance on investigations and his lungs are now an exclusion. Any ideas greatfully received!
 
Wheezing that has no other symptoms and has started over the last few weeks is almost certainly COPD/RAO due to a pollen allergy. It's not easy to manage successfully as every breath that your horse takes in from now to September will be loaded with various pollens. Hay or dust allergies are easier because you can remove or drastically reduce exposure to the allergens. For SUmmer Pasture Associated RAO Ventipulmin is given, usually orally to start, as this relaxes the airways. Quite often it has no effect whatsoever. In conjunction with Ventipulmin, oral Sputolosin is often given as it can break up the sticky strands of mucus that clog the lungs and cause permanent damage. Again, it's not unusual that this doesn't help either. The next level is the same drugs but given as inhaled rather than oral. Inhaled steroids are also sometimes given at that point - inhaled steroids are much less of a laminitis risk than oral or injected. If none of this works (as it didn't for my veteran Sunny) then the horse may be endoscoped to see what is happening deep within the lungs. Options start to run out at this point. One solution to try is the REACT route. This is when a skin test identifies the specific trigger allergens. From there, a sort of personalised serum is produced that aims to desensitize the horse to eg pollen. Be aware that it doesn't have a high success rate. My vets have asdvised that antihistamines don't work on horses but it seems some do prescribe them, possibly as a last ditch attempt to help the horse. Affected horses can be severely exercise intolerant because they cannot take in enough oxygen.

In future years, you might like to try a newish product called Cavalesse. It's sold by vets only and is aimed at sweet itch horses but it is supposed to work for SPACOPD/RAO too. But you have to start it well before the first symptoms are expected so it wouldn't be much help to you now.
 
Thanks for reply. I have had him scoped and he has had ventpulmin and secretin and is now on nebs or inhalers, steroids and ventolin. The steroid inhalers, I now have to purchase and at £45 a go that only lasts 2 weeks , is getting expensive.May have to go down the allergy testing route, but I was told he is allergic to something "green", not much help when you are in the middle of the countryside!Vet also confirmed that anti histamines dont work well on horses.
Its so frustrating, and clearly his swollen abdomen is also impacting on his lung capacity. He is a big boy, nearly 16hh and I am only 5ft 1" so administering the nebs is also a bit of a challenge! I think he would make a good case study for an enquiring vet! I will investigate Cavalesse, thanks Ribby
 
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