COPD - advice please

[horsemad]

Anyone have any tips on controlling the symptoms of COPD? My 21 year old mare has COPD - she doesn't have a severe case, and isn't on any medication. But I have noticed her having a few more coughing fits recently - this seems to be after she has been excercised - such as after a canter or walking up a steep hill. The coughing doesn't last for long but it sounds terrible at the time - like she is choking. After a minute or so, she clears her lungs and she is fine again.

Is there anything I should be doing to help her? Any supplements you would recommend?

[Mehitabel]

what's her management? is she in/out, on what bedding, what feed, what kind of hay/haylage? do you feed her any supplements at the minute?

living out is best for COPD, but if that's not possible then paper or shavings rather than straw, turn out as much as possible, always leave the stable empty and open for as long as possible after putting in new bedding to allow the dust to settle before she goes in, soak or steam hay, or feed haylage instead, and threeare a few supplements that can help. hard feed must always be dampened, so no dry chaff.

[Retty]

Hi my horse doesn't have COPD but he does cough on occasions at night, I put him on rubber matting and always soak his hay, in addition I put the soaked hay in a huge bucket on the floor rather than in haynets so he doesn't get any spores or dust up his nostrils :) I have heard that ventapulin (not sure if I have spelt correctly) is very good but that has to be prescribed by the vets.

[horsemad]

Thanks for your replies. Cindy is stabled at night, but does get daily turnout. I use shavings for her bedding and she always gets haylage rather than hay. She is fed a mixture of Spillers Herbal mix and Allen & Page Slim and Healthy. The only supplements I currently use are MSM and a dollop of cod liver oil. I don't dampen her feed, but mix the cod liver oil up with the feed. Would it help if I dampened it down too?

Retty - yes, I've heard of that drug, but I don't think her condition is severe enough to go for that option. But if there was a natural supplement that might help, I would give it a go....

[Retty]

Hi,
Are they dust extracted shavings? I know that some are very dusty and would irrate a horse with a cough. I think that the feed would be better wetted, I imagine that if it's fairly dry then it would be like us trying to eat dry toast with a sore throat.

[Mehitabel]

yes, i'd dampen the feed - the non--molassed chaffs can be dusty.

super solvitax do a respiration oil, that has garlic, mint and eucalyptus in it. if it's very mild, a pack of menthol extra strog mints a day might help - our vet told us to feed a pony this when he had sinusitis, to keep his head and chest clear. you can also get a herbal supplement called breathe free, but i;ve not used that one personally.

[NoviceNic]

I am no expert but I would recommend living out and definately soak the hay. Also I was told a pony I used to loan was moved from one field to another on a very warm day and apparently the vet said this triggered the attack. So be wary of moving your horse on warm days. A lot of horses are kept well even if they suffer from COPD. I hope all goes well and remember never be too embarrassed to ask for advice or call the vet out. The poor pony I used to loan died because the owner didn't call the vet out soon enough and she sufferred badly. One of the worst experiences I have ever seen in my life.