Heaves, also known as Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), can range from being being a mild problem to being a deadly one. Symptoms of heaves include coughing, wheezing, decreased exercise tolerance, or in advanced cases, development the 'heave line'--a muscular indentation along the rib cage.
Heaves is similar to the human form of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, but unlike COPD, heaves is irreversible. Studies show that heaves may have a genetic component, but the environment of the horse also plays a big part in the onset of the condition. Heaves is most likely triggered by the inhalation of dust from hay and stall bedding. Horses with heaves will require special management for the rest of their lives.
Management Practices for Horses with Heaves
Horses that have been diagnosed with heaves will need special care. Since dust from hay and the barn environment can trigger episodes of heaves, these horses fare better in open pasture eating grass. If this is not feasible, owners should provide the cleanest environment possible in the barn. Don't store hay in the barn loft, avoid constant sweeping of the floor (or at least remove horse before sweeping floor), provide the best ventilation system possible, and use chopped paper or cardboard as a stall bedding.
Changing the horse's diet will most likely be necessary as well. If the owner must feed hay to the horse, it should be soaked in water for about ten to fifteen minutes prior to feeding. Since they contain much less dust than other feeds, pelleted feeds, alfalfa cubes/ pellets, or soaked beet pulp are good choices. The most important factor in managing a horse with heaves is eliminating as much dust as possible from his environment.
Traditional Treatments for Heaves
Owners should seek veterinary advice if they suspect their horse of having heaves. Vets will often prescribe a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract, and bronchodilators, which rapidly relax the airway smooth muscle, may be prescribed for acute heaves attacks. Long-term use of corticosteroids can have negative side effects, though, and it is often advised to limit the use of them. Bronchodilators are 'rescue medications', and should not be used on a consistent basis
Nutritional Support for Heaves
Since it is not advised to keep your horse on corticosteroids for long periods of time, alternative therapies may be of interest to horse owners. Nutrition can play a critical role in helping horses with heaves, aiding in controlling symptoms and keeping the immune system healthy.
All horses can benefit from having a balanced diet, but it is very important for horses with compromised immune systems. Equine nutritionists can help horse owners assess their horse's diet and advise which supplements are needed.
According to Dr. Kellon V.M.D., horses with heaves need careful attention paid to their trace minerals--iron, copper, zinc, selenium, manganese, and iodine. They also need adequate magnesium for its anti-inflammatory and bronchodilating effects. Studies have shown that horses with heaves have lowered levels of antioxidants in their lungs, and Vitamins C and E can be effective at raising the levels of antioxidants.
Another supplement, spirulina, is a natural antihistamine and helps to moderate the immune system. It can be given at 20 grams, twice per day. Jiaogulan, a Chinese herb, has been studied and has shown to induce nitric oxide and keep blood vessels in the lungs dilated, allowing blood to flow smoothly. It can be given in a dose of 2,000 mg and works well in combination with spirulina.
Other Therapies for Heaves
Vicks VapoRub can be applied below the nostrils or used in a vaporizer to relieve the effects of heaves. If you use it consistently, it will make a difference for these horses. There are also a variety of over-the-counter cough remedies that will ease heaves symptoms in many horses. Wind-Aid, Air Power, and Equitussin are three such products. Many horse owners have found relief for their horses by using alternative therapies such as acupressure or acupuncture. There are specific acu-points which can be stimulated that will help horses with heaves.
Heaves should not be dismissed as a minor problem. If left untreated, lung damage will most certainly occur rendering the horse totally unusable and very uncomfortable. If managed properly though, horses with heaves may be able to continue being ridden and live a comfortable life. In combination with veterinary treatments, alternative methods of treating heaves can prove to be very beneficial and may just be a life-saver for the horse.
Sources
- Kellon, Eleanor V.M.D. Horse Journal: Guide to Equine Supplements and Nutraceuticals. Guilford, CT: The Lyons Press; 2008.
- Kellon, Eleanor V.M.D. The Lung. Nutrition as Therapy. 2008: 6-9.
- Heaves in Horses
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