by Dr Barry Coates
The lungs are very important to an athlete like a horse. In this issue I will be
talking about the most important respiratory conditions and diseases, especially those that “make ‘em cough”, and how to prevent those that can be prevented.
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The lungs are very important to an athlete like a horse. In this issue I will be talking about the most important respiratory conditions and diseases, especially those that “make ‘em cough”, and how to prevent those that can be prevented.
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There are a few diseases that don’t necessarily cause coughing as the primary symptom, but are important respiratory diseases that deserve a mention. It is also important to involve your vet as soon as possible and, as with skin diseases, the more information that you can give your vet, the better.
If one starts with the infectious diseases, then Equine Influenza (Horse Flu) virus, poses the most danger, mainly due to its very short incubation period (1-3 days) and the rapid way in which it can spread. It can be spread by wind and when it hits, it hits hard with explosive outbreaks among large numbers of horses. It is also more common in younger horses. It was horse flu that crippled the sport horse industry in 2003.
The disease begins with a high fever, listlessness, a runny nose (serous nasal discharge), and a dry hacking cough which may progress to bacterial pneumonia. Even the horse’s muscles may become affected. As with most virus infections, rest is crucial – the horse should be rested for at least a week after the symptoms have subsided. Treatment should be coordinated only by your vet. The best that you can do, is prevent the disease in the first place by vaccination. Ensure that you use a vaccine that contains the latest strains of the influenza viruses.
The next virus that is of concern is Equine Herpes virus. There are two types, Type 1 (EHV-1), which is responsible for mild respiratory disease, abortion in mares and neurological signs. The second type, Type 2 (EHV-2), is a common cause of respiratory disease, especially in horses younger than three years. Their symptoms start as a runny nose which becomes progressively thicker and either yellow, green or white in colour.
The treatment of EHV is a little more complex because the secondary bacterial infection is common, with the build-up of lots of pus-like mucous. It is always a good idea to feed horses with a clogged-up respiratory tract off the ground, to promote drainage of the respiratory system. Also reduce dust in the stable and consider wetting the feed to prevent inhaling the “feed dust” while eating.
Once again, your vet should be involved, and once again these viruses can be prevented to a large extent by vaccination. There are vaccines on the market that contain both the Equine Herpes virus types as well as Equine Influenza strains.
Rhinovirus and Adenovirus are two other viruses that commonly cause respiratory problems in young horses. Unless there are severe secondary bacterial complications, they generally are self-resolving with the assistance of some symptomatic treatment. No vaccine is available for these two viruses. Generally it is possible that one or some of these viruses can move through your horses without you knowing what the cause of the “coughing” is. This is where your vet can, with the assistance of a laboratory, make a diagnosis.
There are also bacterial diseases that can cause respiratory disease. Strangles (Streptococcus equi) is probably the most dangerous, due to its ability to spread effectively. Rhodococcus equi is a bacteria that causes abscesses in the lungs of horses younger than six months of age. It is normally associated with a dusty environment and time of year, and with a history of irregular deworming.
The horse also starts with a fever and the other signs (nasal discharge, coughing and struggling to breathe) all vary in intensity. Making a definite diagnosis of R. equi is difficult. What makes a lot of these infectious diseases even more difficult, is that they mainly affect the younger horse.
Recurrent airway obstruction or Heaves, is a frustrating condition to put one’s finger on. Even though there are some crucial differences, the easiest way of explaining it, is to relate it to asthma in humans. Heaves is often associated with dusty hay, a dusty environment or lots of airborne organic material. It is also more common in mature horses older than five years.
Your veterinarian will require a good history and you, as an owner, would need to go through a laborious process of elimination in order to get to the bottom of what causes the spasm of the windpipe. The diagnostic tests aren’t cheap and your horse may require lifelong treatment – once again the analogy (perhaps incorrectly so) of human asthma can be drawn.
Many of these conditions can be prevented by good management, especially feed and stabling management, and by using good quality vaccines at their prescribed intervals. Easy breathing – ‘till September! SAH
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