Page 77 - December 2020

Immunizing twice annually against common respiratory pathogens, like equine influenza and Herpesvirus 1 and 4, reduces a horse’s risk of contracting these respiratory viruses.
VETERINARY VIEWS
TRANSPORT CHALLENGES
An equine athlete not only endures assaults from its local living and exercising environment, but it is often hauled to new locations, spending a significant amount of time in a horse trailer. Horse trailers and the hauling process pose additional and unique challenges to equine airways. Tying a horse’s head up in the trailer increases the number of bacteria in the trachea with the potential to develop purulent respiratory tract secretions. This is aggravated by airborne particulates produced from bedding and hay.
Horses transported more than 200 miles are at risk for developing pneumonia (shipping fever). This is associated with depressed immune function from transport stress, increased numbers of bacteria and amount
of mucus collecting in the trachea, as well
as increased viral and bacterial exposure as horses co-mingle with others from different geographic locations.
While on the road, rest stops and cleaning out manure and urine-soaked bedding from the trailer help to greatly reduce airborne pathogens and particulates within the trailer environment to help with airway health.
RESPIRATORY VACCINES AND DEWORMING
A discussion of respiratory health is not complete without at least some mention of the role of viral respiratory vaccines in minimizing airway disease. A horse experiencing an acute viral respiratory illness is also at risk of ensuing inflammatory events that set up conditions for development of equine asthma.
Immunizing twice annually against common respiratory pathogens, like equine influenza and Herpesvirus 1 and 4, reduces
a horse’s risk of contracting these respiratory viruses. At the very least, such respiratory vaccines mitigate the degree and extent of viral infection by these diseases.
Routine deworming against common internal parasites also plays a role in respiratory health. Some internal parasites, like Ascarids, are recognized for inflammation created by their migration through the lungs. This is particularly important for youngsters less than two years of age.
Tying a horse’s head up in the trailer increases the number of bacteria in the trachea with the potential to develop purulent respiratory tract secretions. This is aggravated by airborne particulates produced from bedding and hay.
In one study, horses with no or scant amounts of tracheal mucus were nearly twice as likely to finish well in a race compared to horses with moderate to severe amounts of mucus in their trachea.
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