b"Arizona Ask the VetREAL COUNTRY COPDthe magazine C OPD is a graduallyhorse may still Mike Barna progressive respiratoryshow symptoms condition that occurswhen outdoors if Publisher when exposure to environmental irritants anda pollen allergy is ArizonaRealCountryMagazine@gmail.com allergens triggers inflammation in the lungs, causingan issue.thickening of the air passages and increased mucus secretions. COPD is most commonly seen in winter, dueStick to Square Erika Smith Royal to an allergic response to dust or fungal spores foundBales. Square Editor on hay or straw. The mechanism is similar to asthma inhay bales are a humans. The horse's immune system responds to thebetter choice erika963realcountry@gmail.com particles causing constriction of the airway and increasedthan round ones secretion of thick mucus. Over time, oxygen exchangeif your horse Misty Voitovski gets less efficient and the horse has to make an increasedhas COPD. effort to breathe because of the excess mucus and loss ofSymptoms can Creative Director airway elasticity. Some horses are more susceptible to thisworsen even if your horse's only exposurecondition and acute attacks of wheezing and coughingto round bales is outdoors.Contributing Writers can be triggered by exposure to an allergen that they are particularly sensitive to.Ask Your Equine Veterinarian for Help. Although Lee AndersonBob Boze Bell making feed and bedding changes will be helpful for COPD Symptoms many horses, some will still struggle with breathing Deb BlankenshipBridgette Crosby Horses that have COPD may cough often to clear theproblems. If your horse is having difficulty breathing or Pete FloresJustin Leglermucus from their airways and may have nasal discharge.coughing often, call your equine veterinarian. They can Coughing tends to increase with activity, although aprescribe medication that will help open the airways and Betsy LemaireNaomi Loomis horse may cough even when it's not moving if it hasdecrease mucus production.Randy MillerEmma Nielsen severe COPD. Flared nostrils can be a sign that your horse is having trouble breathing. Struggling to breatheAnti-Inflammatory Drug TherapyJim & Bobbi Jeen Olson can be tiring. Horses with the disease may becomeIn addition to changing the environment of a stabled fatigued after exercising, even if the activity isn'tCOPD horse, it may be necessary to administer anti-Bill RobertsAlan Rockman strenuous. If COPD is severe, your horse may contractinflammatory drugs. Corticosteroids are the drugs John SamsillTerry Sullivan its abdominal and chest muscles when breathing. Theof choice for relieving inflammation of the airways. movement creates the heaving motion of the chest thatCorticosteroids can be administered by mouth, by Michele Wilson gives the disease its nickname. COPD usually progressesinjection, or by inhalation. When they are administered gradually and only causes mild coughing at first. by mouth or by injection, therapy usually begins with a high dose; as the horse improves, the dose is 801 W. Wickenburg Way Treatment reduced to a maintenance level. Inhaled steroids offer Wickenburg, AZ 85390 While we cannot reverse or cure the effects of COPD, thethe advantage of a high dose within the airways and good news is that we can significantly help horses sufferingminimal systemic side effects, but a special mask is (602) 254-6644 this condition through environmental managementnecessary for administration.and judicious medication. Although COPD is a chronic ArizonaRealCountry.com condition, the good news is that a horse can usuallyBronchodilator Drug Therapycontinue to enjoy their regular activities once the acuteBronchodilators relax airway smooth muscle and relieve attack has resolved and an appropriate management planairway obstruction. In mildly affected horses, they has been instituted. As long as those small airways aremay be the first line of therapy. They can also be safely protected from irritation, mild to moderately affectedcombined with anti-inflammatory drugs for treatment horses generally perform quite comfortably.of more severely affected horses. This combination is beneficial because anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce Try a New Kind of Bedding. Exposure to dusty hay canairway wall thickening but have no direct effect on the Follow Arizona Realcause a flare-up of your horse's COPD symptoms. Usesmooth muscle regulating the diameter of the airways. low-dust bedding, like shredded paper or cardboardBronchodilator drugs can be given orally, by injection, or Country for news, events,instead. If you plan to continue to use hay for your otherby inhalation. Oral administration is the most convenient horses, make sure that their stalls are far from the horsemethod, but inhalation therapy is the most effective giveaways and more! with COPD. treatment for relief of airway obstruction. As with anti-inflammatory therapy, administration of bronchodilators Move Your Horse Before Cleaning. Cleaning theby inhalation requires the use of a special mask.Arizona Real Country is owned andbarn stirs up dust and mold. It's best to take your horse published by Barna Broadcastingoutside before you begin cleaning stalls. Talk to your vet about the stable management and medication strategy that best suits your horses LLC. No person, organization or partyReduce Dust in Hay. Eating moldy or dusty hay can causeenvironment and routine. Once hes past the acute event, can copy or reproduce the contentbreathing problems. Wet the hay or place it in a steamerstart riding again and monitor his performance carefully. on our website and/or magazine orbefore offering it to your pet. If wet or steamed hay stillSigns that hes not coping well would include increased any part of this publication withoutseems to cause problems, try hay pellets or cubes instead. recovery time after exertion, coughing, lack of desire to a written consent from the editorsgo forward, and increased respiratory effort with flaring Avoid Feeding Grain. Nearly all grains have at least anostrils. You will probably find he has great days and panel and the author of the content, aslittle mold. Unfortunately, even small amounts of moldsome off days, usually when the heat or environmental applicable. The publisher, authors andcan trigger symptoms in horses with COPD. conditions hit extremes. Dont think it is cruel to contributors reserve their rights withcontinue enjoying your time together. Its overall much regards to copyright of their work. Offer Plenty of Turnout Time. Spending more timehealthier for a horse to have some exercise and it should outdoors and away from a dusty barn or stable can benot trouble him as long as you have adequately addressed helpful if your horse has COPD. Keep in mind that yourthe underlying condition. ArizonaRealCountry.com February 2023 5"