Horse respiratory issues can be caused by a variety of factors, including environmental conditions, infections, allergies, or underlying diseases. Here are some common respiratory problems in horses and tips for managing and preventing them:

Common Respiratory Issues in Horses:

  1. Heaves (Recurrent airway obstruction):

    • Symptoms: Coughing, nasal discharge usually clear or white, laboured breathing, exercise intolerance.
    • Cause: Usually triggered by exposure to dust, mold, or other inhaled irritants
    • Horse Respiratory tips:
      • Ensure good ventilation and airflow if stabled
      • Use dust-free bedding such as woodchip.
      • Feed soaked or steamed hay or feed a quality dust free straw is an alternative
      • Paddock turnout as much as possible, although don’t graze to ground level where dust can be inhaled.
      • Consider Respire | Horse airways supplement for immune support or Expel | Best airway supplement for horses a potassium iodide decongestant to clear airways if nasal discharge is present.

  2. Infections (Bacterial, influenza, pneumonia):

    • Symptoms: Fever, coughing, nasal discharge usually yellow and can be thick, lethargy.
    • Cause: Viral infections or bacterial infections.
    • Horse Respiratory tips:
      • Isolate sick horses. If a fever or temperature is present this requires veterinary attention.
      • Provide supportive care, including rest, hydration, and veterinary medications.
      • Vaccinate horses against common respiratory infections like equine influenza and strangles.
      • Consider Expel | Best airway supplement for horses a potassium iodide to help clear congestion in combination with veterinary medications.

  3. Exercise-Induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH):

    • Symptoms: Occasional coughing after intense exercise, blood in nasal discharge.
    • Cause: High-intensity exercise or stress on the lungs may cause small blood vessels in the lungs to rupture.
    • Horse Respiratory tips:
      • Rest the horse and reduce the intensity of training.
      • Obtain veterinarian advice.

  4. Environmental and Seasonal allergy:

    • Symptoms: Coughing, wheezing, nasal discharge often clear or white.
    • Cause: Dust, mold, pollen, or other airborne irritants.
    • Horse Respiratory tips:
      • Minimize exposure to allergens, especially during peak pollen seasons.
      • Keep stables clean and well-ventilated. Don’t turn out on to dusty dry lots or paddocks.
      • Use mats, woodchip or a suitable turnout surface if paddocks are dusty.
      • Consider antihistamines or other medications recommended by your vet.
      • Consider Pollen Allergy supplement for horses   or Respire | Horse airways supplement   for supportive care.

  5. Guttural Pouch Disease:

    • Symptoms: Nasal discharge (often one-sided), difficulty swallowing, coughing.
    • Cause: Infections or inflammation of the guttural pouch, often due to bacteria like Streptococcus or fungal infections.
    • Horse Respiratory tips:
      • Diagnosis and treatment require veterinary intervention, including antibiotics or antifungal medication.
      • Surgical intervention may be needed in some cases.

Summary of Horse Respiratory Issues and Tips:

Ensure adequate ventilation if stabled.

Limit exposure to dust whether stabled or paddocked.

Ensure mats or woodchip or similar if ground quality is poor and dusty.

Clean out your horse’s nose twice daily with wipes to avoid a buildup of inhaled dust or allergens.

Limit exposure to pollen and trees if a seasonal allergy.

Always consult your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan tailored to your horse’s specific condition if your horses’ respiratory issues become chronic.

Important note for Horse Respiratory Issues:

Always seek urgent veterinary attention if your horse is having difficulties breathing or shows an abnormally high respiratory (breathing) rate. You can observe this by watching the nostril and count the breaths in 15 seconds. It should be around 2-4 breathes. Any higher indicates elevated respiratory. You can also observe the flanks and heave line to see if your horse is having respiratory issues. There should be no difficulty in breathing or effort in the heave line. If the heave line under the belly shows effort, this requires veterinary attention.

A fast respiration (breathing rate) may indicate heaves or a secondary infection.

Always check nasal discharge. Yellow nasal discharge indicates infection, whereas clear or white usually a reaction to allergens.

If nasal discharge is thick, and breathing becomes rapid or your horse is showing a heave line, veterinary attention is advised to prevent advancement to pneumonia. The faster you obtain treatment the less risk for more serious complications.