6/13/2021
Heaves
2021-06-13
Heaves
Every year, during the summer months, we see many horses with “heaves”. Cases become more frequent as we get deeper into the summer.
Heaves is a chronic, non-infectious airway condition of horses that also is called recurrent airway obstruction, or RAO, and was formerly known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. The disease occurs in horses more than 6 years of age and is the result of an allergic reaction to inhaled particles.
In its mild form, heaves may result in an occasional cough and/or the intermittent expulsion of mucus. But a horse with severe heaves has to work hard simply to breathe, even when standing at rest.
The most common signs of RAO are chronic cough, nasal discharge, exercise intolerance, and respiratory difficulty. The classic “heave line” that can be seen along the bottom edge of the ribs is due to hypertrophy of the abdominal muscles, which are assisting in breathing and become large from excess work. Two different forms of RAO are recognized in the horse: the barn-associated type often seen in stalled horses fed hay, and summer pasture-associated obstructive pulmonary disease seen more commonly in horses in the Southeast.
The most important treatment for RAO is environmental and dietary management to reduce exposure to organic dusts and mold. This is not a quick fix, but can be managed. As previously mentioned, the most common triggers for RAO are organic dusts, mold, and endotoxin present in hay and straw. Round bale hay is high in endotoxin and organic dust content. Soaking hay and feed in water prior to feeding may alleviate the signs or you can use a product such as Haygain that utilizes steam for the same effect. Or make your own like these:
How to make your own hay steamer for approximately $250.
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Use this from AMAZON
Systemic corticosteroids and aerosolized bronchodilators are the most immediately helpful therapy for a horse in respiratory distress. Intravenous administration of Dexamethasone should improve lung function within 2 hours of administration. Dexamethasone may be continued for one to several weeks at a tapering dose. Corticosteriods will not provide immediate relief of acute, severe airway obstruction, and rapidly acting bronchodilators (such as albuterol) are indicated for treatment in those cases. Aerosolized albuterol improves lung function and breathing by 70% within 5 minutes of administration; however, the beneficial effects last only 1-3 hours. Administration of albuterol will improve the pulmonary distribution of other aerosolized medications, such as aerosolized corticosteroids, and speed mucus clearance from the lungs.
If you want to use the correct medications, horse nebulizers are very effective. However, colloidal silver, though popular in certain circles, will do nothing for heaves in a horse. Veterinarians can prescribe the medications listed above and here are some popular equine nebulizers. I’ve also seen some creative ways to make these yourself as well.
Make your own equine nebulizer mask.
Nebulizers with a correct angle for horses and portable!
Clenbuterol is an oral bronchodilator that provides long-acting effects. Since bronchodilators have minimal to no anti-inflammatory activity, they should not generally be used alone for the treatment of RAO.
Antihistamines can be used with varying effectiveness, depending what triggered the RAO in your horse.