Coughing in horses
Respiratory problems affect more than 80% of active sport horses , often without showing obvious symptoms.
One of the symptoms that is often present but sometimes ignored is coughing in horses, and yet it is not normal. Whether at rest, during warm-up, or during exercise, it is important to pay attention to it. The causes of coughing are diverse, with more or less serious sources. In all cases, it is important to discuss it with your veterinarian because it may be a sign of equine asthma. This term was proposed to describe under the same name both inflammation of the deep airways (Inflammatory Airway Disease or IAD) and recurrent obstruction of the deep airways (Recurrent Airway Obstruction or RAO).
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What are the triggers of asthma in horses?
It is estimated that approximately 17% of horses have severe equine asthma (SEA), and 68-77% of horses have mild-to-moderate asthma (MTA). This is why many people mistakenly believe that it is normal for a horse to cough, particularly at the beginning of training or a ride, or in a dusty stable. But no cough is normal, and it is important to discuss this with your veterinarian, as equine asthma could be the cause.
The number one cause is dust . Whether it's in hay, bedding, stable cleaning, or grooming, horses are surrounded by dust particles that are often invisible to the naked eye. Only controlling dust in your horse's environment can help alleviate clinical signs.
Through a thorough evaluation, your veterinarian can diagnose the cause. Here are some of the most common symptoms:
What are the clinical signs?
How to manage asthmatic horses?
The most effective way to improve the clinical signs of an asthmatic horse (severe or moderate) is to reduce the amount of particles present inhaled.
ACCOMMODATION:
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Promote outdoor accommodation
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If indoors, use dust-free litter such as hemp or paper shavings, or wood shavings.
CLEANING:
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Do not sweep in the presence of horses
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Make sure to keep the stable free of things that can collect dust such as cobwebs
VENTILATION:
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Ventilate the stable as much as possible
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Have boxes with a window to the outside
FOOD:
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Promote dust-free hay using the patented system ( Breathevia) Hay System , whose effectiveness has been clinically proven, according to the study published in 2019 by Dr. Lavoie's team at the Equine Asthma Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal). Source (Jochmans-Lemoine, A., Picotte, K., Beauchamp, G., Vargas, A., & Lavoie, JP (2019). " Effects of a propriety oiled mixed hay feeding system on lung function, neutrophilic airway inflammation and oxidative stress in severe asthmatic horses. Equine Veterinary Journal".
Distribution on the ground or in a feeder to promote drainage of nasal passages
According to a study published in 2015 by Nogradi et al., 2015 , when all the environmental factors mentioned above are controlled, supplementation with omega-3-6-9 fatty acids can be recommended by the veterinarian due to their anti-inflammatory properties.
What to remember:
Equine asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory syndrome that is very common in horses.
Asthma represents a major economic cost for the equestrian industry. It causes performance declines and affects the well-being of horses.
Environmental measures must be put in place to improve clinical signs, including the provision of dust-free hay such as Nutri-Foin ( Equi-Breath) .
Outdoor housing for horses is recommended, both as a preventative and curative measure.
