Page 699 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

Management changes to reduce exposure to airborne dust include:

• turning the horses out
VetBooks.ir • improving the stable ventilation

•
replacing straw bedding with shredded paper or cardboard, dust-extracted shavings or
wood pellets
• replacing hay with haylage: if hay must be fed then soak or steam it first and feed from

the floor rather than a net

• feeding a cube or pelleted diet
• dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids in addition to

management changes has been shown to result in a more rapid improvement in clinical

signs

MEDICATION

Medication includes:

• systemic or inhaled corticosteroids to reduce the inflammation in the airways
• systemic or inhaled bronchodilators to relax any smooth muscle spasm of the airways and

increase the clearance of mucus

• if bacterial infection is present, antibiotics will be prescribed
• disodium cromoglycate administered by nebulization may be helpful in preventing the

condition if it is known a susceptible horse will be exposed to less than ideal conditions,

e.g. travelling
• a mucolytic to make the secretions thinner may be given orally

Prognosis

The prognosis is good if the condition is managed well. No permanent changes occur in the

lungs and many young racehorses become less susceptible with age.

EXERCISE-INDUCED PULMONARY HAEMORRHAGE

(EIPH)

When horses undertake strenuous exercise, bleeding can occur from the blood vessels in the
lung tissue. This is known as exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). The

uppermost lung lobes at the back of the chest, i.e. those under the back of the saddle are