What You Need To Know About Equine Flu
Did you realize your horse could have allergies? It makes sense if you consider the type of environment they live in. If they’re not outside ( and in some examples whether or not they’re ) they can have an allergic response to dust, molds, smoke, and other air borne allergens like burning smudges, bug spray and scents or medical odours.
The name for this condition is Allergic Respiration Illness ( ARD ) and it shows up with flu-like symptoms instead of sinus or nasal difficulties. The horse’s lungs will get inflamed, making them far more susceptible to virus and bacterial infections. This manifests as a repeating problem your pony never really gets over. You’ll also likely see coughing, excessive eye discharge and discover they get tired easily.
It seems the most common cause of ARD is several types of mould spores and weeds in hay or straw. This is a seasonal thing, so you can only see the issue turning up in the spring and the summer. Problem is, winter and fall feed come from the same source, so what happens is the horse builds up sensitivity over time and their reactions increase.
You can keep them outside in unpolluted air to try reducing the symptoms. If however your horse needs to be stalled, store your hay in a different location and ensure the airflow in the barn is good. Soak your hay before feeding if there is a dust problem.
If your at home solutions aren’t helping much, call your Vet and have her take a look at the fluid and cells in the horse’s lungs to figure out how severe the allergy is. There’s also a new blood test that can tell the Vet precisely what the horse is allergic to. Exciting news, because that implies customised treatments for each pony. Other treatments include corticosteroids ( cortisone ) and bronchodilators.
Working out what the problem is to begin with is 1/2 of the battle and after you have that in order, your horse is well on his way to making a good recovery.
