b'Creating an Airway-Friendly Environmentsmart for not only decreasing particu- help control inflammation on a supple-lates but also preventing barn fires. mentary basis. I wouldnt recommend 6. Feed cubes or complete or pelletedthis as a primary treatment, but it can feeds instead of hay, but be vigilanthelp in some horses as an ancillary about enriching your horses environ- treatment, says Mazan.ment, Mazan says. When you feedAfter decades of research, Mazan says, complete or pelleted feeds, horsesour ability to treat equine asthma phar-tend to finish their food very quickly.macologically hasnt improved much. LISA DIJK/ARND.NLThat leads to developing behavioralRight now, were doing a study looking problems; slow feeders and haynetsat the use of inhaled lidocaine as an anti-can help. inflammatory for use in horses, she says. Inhaled medications can give asthmatic horsesThe results are quite promising, but the Medical Intervention some relief. big guns are still steroids and inhaled 1.Corticosteroids decrease airway inflam- bronchodilators.mation and can be administered bydetermine the most effective and safest mouth, injection, or inhalation using atreatment plan. Take-Home Messagenebulizer. Theyre usually administeredIf your horse competes, cautionsEach horse is an individual for which for two to four weeks, depending onMontgomery, youll need to discusstreatment must be custom-tailored for the severity of a horses signs. regulatory considerations and with- optimum results. The pharmaceutical There are many adverse side ef- drawal periods with your veterinarian. treatments available for equine asthma fects associated with using systemic2. Bronchodilators open up airways whencant help your horse unless you first corticosteroids rather than inhaled, butbreathing becomes difficult. Theyrecontrol environmental factors. Implement inhaled corticosteroids can be prohibi- administered orally or via a nebulizerthese suggestions, then work with your vet tively expensive, says Mazan. You willor metered-dose inhaler as needed. to monitor your horses respiratory status need to work with your veterinarian to3. Polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acidsand adjust interventions accordingly.hResp re CharterMemberTMSpirulinaJiaogulan Supports Healthy Lung/Respiratory FunctionMSMTurmericVitamin COmega-3Made WithManufactured ByHorseTech, Inc.Laurens, IA 50554Available Online atwww.horsetech.com1-800-831-3309TheHorse.com|The HorseFebruary 202019Asthma_USE.indd 19 1/3/20 10:32 AM'