• July 22, 2024
  • By Terra de Jong

Airway complaints for horses

Airway complaints for horses

Acute, chronic or allergy-induced respiratory disease is one of the most common health problems in horses today. There can be many reasons for the development of respiratory diseases.

  • Housing: too much dust in the barn, not enough exercise, not enough fresh air (e.g. harmful air such as ammonia)
  • Previous infections not properly treated
  • Allergy to mould spores from hay and straw or to pollen and/or pollen
  • Viruses, bacteria (sometimes also parasites)
  • Genetic predisposition

Airway problems can manifest themselves in different ways in a horse. The most common problem is coughing, but there are also other symptoms such as nasal discharge, increased breathing, enlarged lymph nodes or even a nosebleed.

Acute respiratory symptoms in horses are usually caused by an infection, but it can also happen that horses continue to suffer chronically. Examples include COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), RAO (Recurrent Airway Obstruction) and Equine Asthma. The latter is the most well-known and usually occurs because several causes weaken the immune system. It is important to always consult a vet in case of persistent symptoms to establish a diagnosis and a plan of treatment.

 

My horse has airway problems, now what?

There are several measures you can take to prevent and reduce respiratory symptoms:

  • Ensure good ventilation, but avoid draughts
  • Manure with great regularity, watch out for noxious air such as ammonia
  • Provide good quality roughage
  • Reduce stimuli such as dust from hay (storage) or bedding
  • Rule out allergies

In addition, airway problems can be treated in different ways. A way is often chosen first where medication/supplements are administered in food and thus have to be absorbed in the digestive system. Apart from the fact that this way can take longer until there are visible results, it is also less conducive to your horse's digestion. A more effective way is to help your horse with inhalation therapy through cold nebulisation. This allows the target, the lungs, to be reached and treated directly. Inhalation is an effective method to loosen stuck mucus in horses and reach the lungs directly with the right remedies. 

 

Inhalation therapy through a horse nebuliser 

There are many equine nebulisers on the market, it is important that these nebulisers meet important requirements, to support your horse: 

  • Inhalation volume per unit time: 10-15 ml/min inhalation mist is important for the large horse lung. 
  • Particle size of the inhaler: the optimal particle size is between 0.5 and 6 µm.
  • Effective inhalation: it is important to have a well-fitting, sealing mask for your horse, so you don't risk inhalation loss. 
  • Compatible with many inhalants: the device should be compatible with many preparations and drugs.

Two equine nebulisers that meet these requirements are the Hippomed Inhaler Ultrasound AirOne and the Hippomed Inhaler Ultrasound AirOne Flex.

 

The Hippomed Inhaler Ultrasound AirOne

For decades, Hippomed Inhalers Ultrasound have been one of the most effective inhalation devices on the market. Hippomed's Inhalers have maximum nebulising power combined with optimal particle size ensures effective inhalation. This therefore makes the AirOne meet the standard for inhalation therapy in horses. When inhaled at rest, the horse's respiratory tract is optimally moistened. 

 

The Hippomed Inhaler Ultrasound AirOne Flex

The AirOne Flex has all the benefits of the original AirOne, with just a little bit more. Namely, this nebuliser is cordless and battery-powered. So the AirOne Flex also meets the standard of equine inhalation therapy, but provides just a bit more freedom. 

Benefits and features of the Hippomed Inhalers:

  • Very easy to operate and virtually maintenance-free.
  • Splash-proof construction (IP54) and shock-resistant materials ensure safe operation.
  • Transparent mask for easy monitoring of correct inhalation.
  • Optimal mask fit thanks to soft and flexible rubber seal.
  • The mask is easy to clean thanks to removable valves.
  • Fault indication. 

 

Difference in the Hippomed Inhalers:

  • The Hippomed Inhaler Ultrasound AirOne Flex has wireless operation by being powered by powerful Li-Ion batteries.
  • The mask for the Hippomed Inhaler Ultrasound AirOne is available in 4 sizes (shetty/foal, pony, warmblood, coldblood) and the mask for the Hippomed Inhaler Ultrasound AirOne Flex is available in 3 sizes (pony, warmblood and coldblood).

Curious about the Hippomed inhalers? Check out the entire collection on our website: https://agradi.com/collections/hippomed