Preventing attacks of wheezing, coughing, and labored breathing in a horse with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) involves eliminating allergens from the horse’s environment. But how do you know which allergens are most problematic for your
When a horse inhales mold spores or other irritants, neutrophils (specific types of white blood cells) release reactive oxidants–generally very reactive substances that can break down mold in the airways. That’s not a bad thing, really. “But if
Acupuncture has become a popular alternative therapy for chronic illness in horses, especially recurrent airway obstruction (also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or heaves). Unfortunately, there are few objective studies supporting
What owners can do when faced with recurrent airway obstruction in their horses.
Sarah Gardner, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, assistant professor of equine medicine at North Carolina State University?s College of Veterinary Medicine, is looking for horses with heaves (chronic respiratory disease, COPD) as donations or that she can
During periods of intense exercise, portions of the upper airway can collapse, interfering with breathing. The cause of these obstructive episodes, most notably dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP), is yet unknown. In other species,
When Anne Thomas called me to her ranch house early one spring morning, she said it was urgent. Her 5-year-old horse, Charlie, was having trouble breathing. When I arrived at the barn, I could see the bay gelding standing in the middle of his
Allergens in the pasture and barn are believed to trigger chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD or heaves) in horses. It is unclear whether simply developing an allergy leads to COPD, or if a horse must
be born susceptible to the
Background information at https://thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=947
From the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
In 1998, the FDA approved a
The official title for an all-too-common respiratory ailment in horses is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For the average horse owner, however, that rather cumbersome title has been reduced to a single word: heaves. Other people
Man might not live by bread alone, but horses can live on forage just fine. As grazing, herbivorous animals, forage (grasses and plants that grow on pastureland) is what they’re designed to eat. Other components of the equine diet–grains, fats,
Respiratory disease is second only to musculoskeletal problems as a cause of loss of performance in competition horses, according to some of the leading researchers around the world. In fact, N. Edward Robinson, BVet Med, PhD, MRCVS, of Michigan
A huge amount of time, effort, and money often are invested in the preparation of horses for various athletic events, including Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing, three-day eventing, steeplechasing, dressage, hunter-jumper events, reining,
Researchers at Michigan State University are into their third year of a 10-year study of the pathogenesis and most efficacious treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Explains Ed Robinson, MRCVS, PhD (respiratory physiology)
The lower airway consists of the lungs and the air tubing (bronchi) that supplies them. The lungs have some very interesting and unique protective mechanisms that put forth a great effort to prevent infection. Obviously, the air
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