Equine Asthma, Equine Asthma syndrome, or Heaves another vet topic that can affect us all. In today’s episode, Heather is chatting with Julia Montgomery a large animal Vet from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan Canada on Equine Asthma. They discuss the different levels and severities, how to prevent and some tips to help horses with it. We learn about warning signs and some triggers that can cause it. Choosing the right feed and doing your best to eliminate environmental challenges will greatly help with Equine Asthma.
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Equine Asthma – Causes
There are three levels of equine asthma, mild, moderate, and severe. Causes of Equine asthma include poor air quality, dust, mold, smoke from forest fires, and hot humid climates. The environment is something that you can’t control but recognizing the dangers will help in some cases. Mild and moderate cases can be assisted with modifying the environment the horse is in as well as steroids can be administered. Mild flare may still occur. For severe cases, cortisol steroids will need to be used. Watching their feed and having access to good quality mold-free hay will help.
Equine asthma – Prevention
How you feed will greatly help to eliminate equine asthma. Soaking hay for 15mins to get rid of the dust, forking round bale hay vs self-feeding or feeding cubes will help reduce equine asthma in your herd. If your horse stabled making sure their stall is the furthest away from the hay storage will also help.
Guest today:
Julia Montgomery (Canada)
More information on julia can be found at Julia Montgomery Published
Don’t forget to check out the resources section in this article!
Highlights
- Environmental triggers
- Soaking hay
- Early signs
- Lower airway coughs
Thank you for tuning in and happy trails!
Special Announcement
Elkhorn Ranch
Calling all equestrians! Elkhorn Ranch’s tradition of equestrian adventure began 99-years-ago in 1922. Bordering Yellowstone National Park, the history of Elkhorn’s riding program runs deep, and the backcountry is where it starts. This Fall, we are hosting an Avid Riders week, where we are rounding up experienced riders of varying disciplines to come together to explore over one million acres of National Forest, USFS Wilderness, and Yellowstone National Park. The goal of this week is to go far, not fast. Every day there will be groups that will hit the trails in every direction based on desired time in the saddle and comfort level. We will be racking up the mileage this week and working our way into the backcountry for mountaintop vistas that not many can get to.
Must be willing to ride on rocky and steep terrain, as well as comfortable with walk, trot, and canter. Our horses are well mannered and smart mountain horses, if you trust them, they will take you wherever you want to go.
Please reach out to Kt at kt@elkhornranchmontana.com Rates include all meals, cabin lodging, and all on-ranch activities.
Website: www.elkhornranchmontana.com
EQA Books
We just launched our lasted Travel Guide Book for Equestrians!
Available on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and noble, and more as paperback and hardback coffee table books, however as a special gift to our members and as a big thank you for being a part of the community we are giving you a copy for free!
Click here to grab your free book: Horse Riding in Every US State & Country Book
Equestrian Adventuresses Book Store
Do you love to read or listen to horsey books and stories? Then you should have a look at our EQA Book Series, now available as paperbacks, e-books, and audio books.
Packed with exciting true-life stories written by women from all around the world about their adventures they had with horses!
Follow a vet on her adventures in the Namibian Bush, an expat winning a show jumping medal in Italy, a British family with two toddlers crossing Patagonia on horseback or a German girl finding her dream horse on an Indian horse market.
Do you feel that we are missing out on an important topic? Or maybe you have an interesting story to tell? Contact Heather or Ute!
Resources
- Julia Montgomery published
- Equine Health
- American College of Veterinary Medicine
- Horse Riding in every country
- Equestrian tools and resources
- EQA Online Shop
Thanks for listening to our horse podcast: Equine Asthma – Ask The Vet
