to first reduce inflammation and ultimately treat the overall immune system. With an acute attack, the number one priority is envi-
ronmental management—dust, pollen, mold spore control. Then the push is to reduce inflammation in the airways through systemic corticosteroids including dexamethasone or prednisolone and then inhaled corticosteroids includ- ing fluticasone and beclomethasone to decrease the airway hyper responsiveness. Taken orally or by injection, possible side effects include laminitis and increased susceptibility to infections. Inhaled bronchodilator drugs such
as nonsteroidal clenbuterol relax the muscles that constrict the airways, giving immediate relief, but only for a short time. Antihistamines and allergy injections are particularly appropri- ate in spring and summer when the air experiences a higher load of allergens, increased dust and, in some environ- ments, more humidity which can add to the mucus production. Some practitioners have had success
allergens boost the horse’s immune system, is a treatment that has gained favor, according to Laura Petroski, B.V.M. S. at Kentucky Equine Research. “Immunotherapy essentially resets the T cells of the immune system to minimize the development of further asthma episodes,” she explains.
“Te longer the horse stands with his head down, the more
drainage occurs and the less the smaller particles get into the lungs.”
with complementary medicine, includ- ing acupuncture, to improve the body’s immune system. Whole food diets can help. Fish oil supplements, for example, rich as they are in omega-3 fatty acids, have anti-inflamma- tory properties to decrease airway inflammation. In human asthmatics, allergy avoidance generally doesn’t
work very well as a management strategy, leading doctors to develop alternative treatments. Immunotherapy for horses, where a series of injections given with the problematic
TREATING NEVITA Little Nevita was on an equine nebulizer (used to administer medication in the form of a mist inhaled into the lungs) for four months. Twice a day, Marsha haltered the battery oper- ated machine onto her head to deliver one puff of clenbuterol. After pausing a minute she next took the mask off for 29 minutes. Then she strapped it back on for a second puff. She also administrated ulcer medication. In addition, managing the environ-
ment was critical in Nevita’s return to health. The stall where she slept was scrubbed down to remove any dust. Wood shavings were replaced by less dusty rice hulls. Nevita’s adjoining paddock was watered four times a day from sprinklers on timers. She was kept
out of her stall when it was cleaned and her hay was watered down for a half hour before feeding.
GOOD ADVICE Pasturing the asthmatic horse full time or whenever possi- ble is a valuable remedy. However, when the horse is stalled, increasing the air ventilation is important. “Mimicking natu- ral conditions is the best alternative. Disregard your beauti- ful corner mangers and hay racks, ditch your hay nets and feed everything off the floor. The longer the horse stands with his head down, the more drainage occurs and the less the smaller particles get into the lungs,” wrote Drs. Ivester and Couetil in the blog. “All hay, no matter how lovely it smells, contains a certain amount of dust and spores. If hay is fed, I would advise steaming it at high temperatures, which destroys bacterial and fungal spores.”
Now a yearling, Nevita is fully recovered as she shows off her neck ribbon after winning the Junior Mare Championship at the Fiesta of the Spanish Horse held in Burbank, California in April, with Tim Keeling as handler.
32 July/August 2018
“Keep in mind progression of the condi- tion, being mindful that tissue damage cannot be reversed no matter the chosen therapy. This is especially true of COPD cases. The earlier we catch the problem, the better,” Dr. Schell says. “This is not saying results cannot be achieved in an advanced case, but the results may be limited. If a horse has a mild cough and it is diagnosed as just ‘aller- gies,’ we need to manage this the same as if it were a case of COPD, as our goal is to control it earlier, not later.”
Annie Nanej
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