| I have been around horses for quite some years but I | | | | gets stronger and stronger. |
| have never heard this allergic reaction described as | | | | Treatment of this problem can be as simple as |
| hay fever (as in the same problem that humans suffer | | | | keeping your horse outside where air circulation is |
| with). I don't get it myself, for which I am very grateful, | | | | available (fresh air versus stagnant dust filled air). If |
| but I do have friends that do, and can see the misery it | | | | your horse must stay in the stall most or all of the time, |
| causes, so I can assume that it is equally | | | | try to store your hay in a separate place and ensure |
| uncomfortable for a horse. Although the season is | | | | good airflow in the barn. If it is cold, put a blanket on |
| closing, I thought I'd still take a look at what it's all about | | | | the horse and soak the hay fed to the horse in water |
| so you can be on the lookout for it nest year. | | | | first. |
| Apparently it's a fairly common condition seen in young | | | | If the problem is not taken care of by the above steps, |
| and old horses alike, and it's an allergic Respiratory | | | | then you need to speak to your Vet. To find out the |
| Disease. Unlike humans, horses that have allergies tend | | | | cause, the vet can do a simple procedure that looks at |
| to show more flu like symptoms and less sinus and | | | | the fluid and cells in the horse's lungs to see how bad |
| nasal effects. Their lungs become inflamed and are | | | | the allergy is. Secondly, there is a relatively new blood |
| more likely to get viral and bacterial infections. The | | | | test that can specifically determine what 'things' the |
| horse owner sees this as frequent (recurrent) 'chest | | | | horse is allergic to and allows them to find a |
| colds' that the horse never quite gets over, as I did, | | | | 'customized' treatment for that individual horse. Other |
| before I heard that it was in fact a form of hay fever. | | | | general treatments include corticosteroids (cortisone) |
| Other symptoms include coughing, a lot of eye | | | | and bronchodilators (like those taken by human asthma |
| discharge and they get tired easily. | | | | patients). The important thing to realize is that |
| There are many causes of allergic Respiratory | | | | recognizing your horse has this problem is more than |
| Disease but some are more common. Several types | | | | half the battle. Once that is done, proper treatment can |
| of mould spores and weeds found in otherwise high | | | | dramatically improve the usefulness of your horse. |
| quality hay or straw seem to bother many horses. | | | | I was very grateful when it was pointed out to me, |
| This is a seasonal thing, so for the horse at pasture | | | | although I will admit to feeling a bit stupid at the time. |
| the problem may only be seen in spring and summer. | | | | However now I know what it is, I can deal with it, so a |
| However, hay that is taken from local fields can be a | | | | little stupidity has bought me some knowledge that I |
| year round problem. Each year, the horse usually | | | | can now use to keep my beautiful horses in better |
| shows more symptoms as its reaction to the problem | | | | health, so that's a price I will gladly pay any time. |