Horse childhood respiratory disorders

[Gay]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of a young horse growing out of a respiratory disorder/disease similar to children growing out of asthma?

[sozzie]

I would be very interested in the answer to that too. My 5 year old mare had a respiratory problem during the winter (went away when I took her off hay)and it has now come back in a big way possibly due to all the tree pollen? I've got the vet coming tomorrow as her heaving is steadily getting worse. I'm terrified that she will be like this for the rest of her life.
I'm hoping that if I can build up her immune system then this type of reaction might be lessened eventually.

[poohsmate]

can't say about youngsters but, when we got pooh as a 9 year old he was diagnosed with COPD had to have his hay soaked and at least once a year he would be on a course of Ventapulmin and sputalosin (sp) this went on for probably about 7 years into his mid teens and then he stopped having problems and for the last 10 years just had his hay soaked only, and he was competing until he was 22 and never suffered with breathing difficulties or a nasal discharge after he was 16-17..

[Gay]

I'm glad to hear that - mines only a 2yr old and I don't know how big a problem it's going to be at the moment. Sozzie that's exactly the same thing that happened with my boy only i'm hoping the current bout is due to the dusty field and will go once it rains. He had the vet on Tuesday and is on a weeks course of Ventapulmin but i'm concerned that if the conditions don't change (dust or pollen) he'll just be the same once he finishes the course!

[sozzie]

I had the vet out today and was told that her lungs sounded crackly and were worse when she was lunged for a few minutes. I don't know if it's because it's a bit colder today but her nose was hardly flaring today unlike a few days ago where she seemed to be almost in distress. The result is that she will be scoped next week to check what's in her lungs before we go further but she will probably be put on steroid inhalers for a while. Thankfully she doesn't seem to be in any immediate danger which is a big relief.