Equine asthma: Recognizing and managing respiratory issues in horses

Many of us have probably felt the discomfort of being struck with a nagging cough and at some points, even being short of breath. These respiratory experiences may be signs of more serious conditions – and the situation is no different for horses. Every cough means something, and for horses, coughing and wheezing may mean equine asthma.

Understanding equine asthma

Equine asthma is the blanket term for several lung-related diseases and conditions that affect a horse’s breathing. A relatively new term, equine asthma, encompasses all the prior-used terms for respiratory diseases in horses, including heaves, inflammatory airway disease (IAD), equine chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Researchers and veterinarians now treat IAD as mild-moderate equine asthma, while RAO is now known as severe equine asthma.

Does my horse have equine asthma?

If you’re at all familiar with how humans experience asthma, the symptoms of equine asthma likely won’t come as a surprise. Persistent coughing, flaring nostrils and labored breathing are common signs of severe equine asthma. The impact equine asthma has on a horse’s quality of life, and the potential to train or compete varies depending on the severity of symptoms. In severe equine asthma cases, horses will have periods of respiratory distress, even when they’re not exercising. Horses with moderate equine asthma, on the other hand, may have no symptoms at rest but may show symptoms like coughing while exercising or eating. Finally, horses with no symptoms at rest, but exercise intolerance (meaning they can’t work at full capacity), may have mild equine asthma. Keep in mind that these respiratory signs may also be the consequences of infectious diseases, such as equine influenza. Staying on top of vaccinations is important for protecting horses from viruses that cause respiratory illnesses.

So, if you think your horse has equine asthma. Now what?

Diagnosing equine asthma can be tricky because the symptoms come and go, depending on the time of year and other environmental factors, such as the dust level of the barn. It’s also easy to chalk a horse’s symptoms, such as laboured breathing or a single cough, up to a particularly tough workout. However, there are ways that veterinary professionals can narrow down a diagnosis. After a thorough physical examination, the veterinarian might perform an airway endoscopy and look down the horse’s windpipe and into its lungs. They may also perform a “lung wash,” putting a small amount of sterile saline into the horse’s lung before sucking it back out. That allows them to analyze the cells and mucus, to diagnose possible equine asthma, or potential lung infections.

What causes equine asthma?

Genetics play a major role in whether a horse develops equine asthma. However, environmental triggers also tip the scales toward equine asthma developing in horses who are already predisposed to having it. Dust, pollen, mold and urine in the barn aggravate equine asthma symptoms. That means hay presents a problem, since horses inhale more of these irritants as they eat, and that bedding can also trigger equine asthma symptoms. Sweeping the barn may also cause equine asthma symptoms to worsen since it moves dust, pollen and other irritants around.

Preventing and treating equine asthma

Unsurprisingly, stabled horses– common in colder climates like Canada – may lead horses to develop equine asthma (that’s why rates of severe equine asthma are higher here than in, say, California). Managing equine asthma begins with limiting the environmental factors that aggravate the condition in the first place. Researchers suggest putting horses on pasture, to limit their exposure to triggers like dust. That said, giving a horse more outdoor breathing room isn’t always practical, especially during Canadian winter, for example. Changing bedding and feeding may also help manage equine asthma symptoms. For bedding, choose low-dust options, such as paper or cardboard, over straw. Feeding horses hay alternatives, such as pelleted foods is also recommended for asthmatic horses. Changing the environment may not be effective on its own, though. And unfortunately, there is no cure for equine asthma – so treatment is all about managing symptoms effectively. A veterinarian can help determine what treatment is the best course of action for your horse. Ask your veterinarian about new treatments in equine asthma. Rest assured that managing equine asthma symptoms is possible. Even when an equine asthma diagnosis is unavoidable, with the right veterinary expertise at your side, you and your horse – will breathe easier.