On 24th May, we were very lucky to host Rowena Rogers, from MSD Animal Health, who gave a very interesting presentation on infectious respiratory disease in horses. 

The evening was well attended and very informative; please get in touch with the surgery if
you have any suggestions for future meeting topics!

Following on from Rowena's discussion of infectious respiratory disease, Clare would like to further discuss allergic respiratory disease.

Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO)  - previously known as COPD, broken wind or heaves, is a non-infections, non-contagious inflammatory respiratory disease that occurs when a horse develops an allergy to inhaled fungal spores.

The signs of RAO are very variable and range from mild cases with few signs (other than poor performance) to severe cases when the horse struggles to breathe.  Clinical signs may include increased respiratory rate, flared nostrils, a persistent cough and nasal discharge.  Sometimes an abdominal ‘heave line’ may be visible.  

Facts about RAO

• Gets more common with age
• Equal occurrence in males and females, and all breeds
• Environmental management is the most important treatment
• Usually due to allergy of fungal spores, but occasionally may develop due to a pollen allergy in the Spring / Summer

Treatment of RAO

The most important part of managing RAO is to reduce exposure to allergens, by feeding haylage or soaked hay, using dust free bedding, turning out as much as possible (ideally 24 hours a day).  Some respiratory supplements can be useful in the long term management of RAO – please discuss individual cases with one of our vets.

If your horse has a severe attack, it should be examined and treated as an emergency, and may need emergency treatment including bronchodilators, medication to break down respiratory secretions or steroids.

For further information on allergic airway disease, please contact one of our equine vets at the practice on 01363 772860.