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 Elite Veteran
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| Okay...so since spring I've had some ups and downs with my mare...it seems like sometimes she fires really hard and other times she's like "meh". She has been fully vetted, teeth done, chiropractor has been out...vet says she's in great body condition. I am beginning to think maybe it's a respiratory/ allergy issue? She was scoped in the spring because I do fight with stable cough off and on, no matter how clean I keep things; she was clear, but no BAL was done. I have used Cough Free, Ani-Hist. Plus, Air Power pre-race; sometimes I think it helps, other times not. We also just had a change in our weather; 90+ humidity to 75 with cool nights. I feel like I am getting it from all sides!
I have heard EquiPulmin is popular? Is it effective? Where do I go from here?
Many thanks!
Edited by RedHead84 2016-09-20 7:55 AM
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
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Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | Tons of topics on here but I've had great luck with Cur-OST on my mare that was off the charts on her allergy test. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| SmokinGirlie - 2016-09-02 8:51 AM
Tons of topics on here but I've had great luck with Cur-OST on my mare that was off the charts on her allergy test.
What product are you using? I have another mare on Adapt and Calm and I really like it for that purpose. |
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It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | RedHead84 - 2016-09-02 8:57 AM SmokinGirlie - 2016-09-02 8:51 AM Tons of topics on here but I've had great luck with Cur-OST on my mare that was off the charts on her allergy test. What product are you using? I have another mare on Adapt and Calm and I really like it for that purpose.
I have mine on Total and Immune, but lots are fine on just Total! Love adapt and calm on some of my other horses!
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | Cur-Ost, hands down, 100%. I tried it all and was advised to put my horse down. Glad I didn't! You can go back and search my posts for the whole story. Pictures below were 30 days apart, first one he was in complete respiratory distress, was on 8cc of Ventipulmin daily, plus Dex.
Edited by Herbie 2016-09-02 9:05 AM
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It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | Ok fine, I started my mare a year ago this month on Cur-OST!
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| Herbie - 2016-09-02 9:03 AM
Cur-Ost, hands down, 100%. I tried it all and was advised to put my horse down. Glad I didn't! You can go back and search my posts for the whole story. Pictures below were 30 days apart, first one he was in complete respiratory distress, was on 8cc of Ventipulmin daily, plus Dex.
Put him down? Holy crapola! That's crazy. My little mare would try her heart out running on 3 legs...so I got to get this figured out, but I also don't want to toss $$ down the drain. That's 2 votes for Cur-Ost! |
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It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | RedHead84 - 2016-09-02 9:14 AM Herbie - 2016-09-02 9:03 AM Cur-Ost, hands down, 100%. I tried it all and was advised to put my horse down. Glad I didn't! You can go back and search my posts for the whole story. Pictures below were 30 days apart, first one he was in complete respiratory distress, was on 8cc of Ventipulmin daily, plus Dex. Put him down? Holy crapola! That's crazy. My little mare would try her heart out running on 3 legs...so I got to get this figured out, but I also don't want to toss $$ down the drain. That's 2 votes for Cur-Ost!
You should head to secondvet.com and start a topic on their forum, it's super helpful! |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | RedHead84 - 2016-09-02 9:14 AM Herbie - 2016-09-02 9:03 AM Cur-Ost, hands down, 100%. I tried it all and was advised to put my horse down. Glad I didn't! You can go back and search my posts for the whole story. Pictures below were 30 days apart, first one he was in complete respiratory distress, was on 8cc of Ventipulmin daily, plus Dex. Put him down? Holy crapola! That's crazy. My little mare would try her heart out running on 3 legs...so I got to get this figured out, but I also don't want to toss $$ down the drain. That's 2 votes for Cur-Ost!
Yes. I had spent about $5000 in about 3 months at three different vets. Had done multiple scopes, antibiotics, steroids, nebulizers, etc etc and he continued to deteriorate. The Cur-Ost was a last resort for me after trying literally everything else from other supplements to medications, to prescription treatments. Dr. Schell asked me to give him 2 weeks....sure glad I did! Haven't looked back. I've posted the entire story many times if you want to search my posts back through the last year or so. :)
The longer we let these issues go, the more damage that occurs in the lungs, so definitely want to get it under control quickly! Once the damage has occured, it is not repairable. My horse will likley never be 100% due to the damage in his lungs, but we were able to get him to 90% from a horse that couldn't take a deep enough breath to cough! I'd say he is thriving pretty well now. :)
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| Do you use anything pre-race? |
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It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | RedHead84 - 2016-09-02 10:24 AM Do you use anything pre-race?
depending on the environment, I'll sometimes use Formula 707 Clearex in the nostrils, or Flair strips
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | RedHead84 - 2016-09-02 10:24 AM Do you use anything pre-race?
I try to time feeding my Cur-ost 4 - 6 hours out to receive the maximum benefit of the herbs, but other than that, no I do not use anything else pre-race and have not used any Dex or Ventipulmin since I started using the Cur-ost. |
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Regular
Posts: 82
| I also agree with the Cur-Ost! It SAVED my old barrel horse! He was constantly breathing heavy, itching, and was allergic to just about anything. We started him on Cur-Ost and he began looking and feeling better which caused him to run better! However, we had 3 other horses on it as well who also had some issues and now only have 2 on it and they are finishing up the last bag of it. It just didn't work for them, but it is worth a shot :) A couple months ago we were fighting a terrible cough and just nasty fit with my calf horse, he was getting 8cc of dex daily and 5cc of ventipulmin twice daily. We switched his feed to Total Equine and started him on Cough Free and he is no longer having ANY issues (he filled in again like he was before this happened and looks great on the new feed) :) I like ventipulmin for the more major breathing issues (6cc on race day) and all our barrel horses get 30cc of Wind Aid before a race. The rope horses get it if they need :) the Wind Aid clears the airways and they can breath and catch their breaths much easier with it! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | THE Pulmon-EZ really helped my friends mare. She was having a lot of trouble breathing but is now doing significantly better. |
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 Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | THE Pulmoneze has helped me in the past.
One product I love as well is EQ Royal.
If you can, I would still get a BAL done. She may have scoped clean once but she could still be bleeding. I know getting a scope done right after a race isn't always easy, but if you can it may help. |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | This has been around for years. RE-COUP by Saratoga Vet Products. Builds the lungs back up. Along with Bio Hesper C/K you cant find a better combination. If you can get Rose hips would also be a plus. |
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Location: In my own little world | I have had aswesome results with EquiPulmin! It has cleared up coughing that had been present during warm up for 2 years and vets couldn't figure out what the issue was.. Have one gelding who gets a snotty nose and breathing issues as soon as the dust hits every year. Cleared him right up very quickly this year and it hasn't returned. Have a friend who has been able to take her horse off ventipulmin. Love this stuff. It is being used for a variety of breathing issues, bleeders, allergies and there are a lot of positive outcomes from it. I had tried a whole host of products that were mediocre and this has been very worth the investment.. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| I wanted to give you guys an update!
I pulled my mare out Thursday to ride...cough, cough, cough...we walked that's all we did...I thought okay...is this allergies or is something going on? I let it go...I pulled her out Friday...nostrils flairing, sides thumping, cough, cough...now I am concerned. No temperature, she eats and drinks, acts pretty normal except her respiration. So here we are...right before a 3 day weekend...craaaaaaaap. I call the vet, they come out...full physical exam, lungs sound harsh; they decide to do the "bag test"...she does not pass and begins to cough and it takes her too long to recover. They diagnose her with the early stages of a cold or pneumonia/ respiratory infection. So we are treating that with TMS/SMZ for 10 days and no riding. They said it's possible this has been manifesting for a while and she just now shows signs of distress. So after 10 days we'll see where we are at... |
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 Extreme Veteran
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Location: North Dakota | RedHead84 - 2016-09-07 7:43 AM I wanted to give you guys an update! I pulled my mare out Thursday to ride...cough, cough, cough...we walked that's all we did...I thought okay...is this allergies or is something going on? I let it go...I pulled her out Friday...nostrils flairing, sides thumping, cough, cough...now I am concerned. No temperature, she eats and drinks, acts pretty normal except her respiration. So here we are...right before a 3 day weekend...craaaaaaaap. I call the vet, they come out...full physical exam, lungs sound harsh; they decide to do the "bag test"...she does not pass and begins to cough and it takes her too long to recover. They diagnose her with the early stages of a cold or pneumonia/ respiratory infection. So we are treating that with TMS/SMZ for 10 days and no riding. They said it's possible this has been manifesting for a while and she just now shows signs of distress. So after 10 days we'll see where we are at...
I'm sorry to hear the update isn't a good one! My mare has COPD/heaves and it has been a battle ever since I got her this way. I recently had to treat my mare for a respiratory infection after she had some green discharge after exercise. She didn't have a temp either and was acting normal along with eating and drinking like normal. Once I thought about all the drastic weather changes we have had the past few weeks it didn't surprise me that her allergies are getting the best of her right now.
Update us again after 10 days. I hope she is feeling better by then! |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Sunny So Cal | so sorry to hear, hopefully it is a quick fix and that she responds well. Keep us posted on how she is doing!  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| Thanks so much! I feel bad that I could've caught it sooner...but seriously this mare would try her heart out with one leg cut off. The vet said we did catch it in early stages and was pretty positive she'll recover quickly. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| If they haven't done blood work, get them to run a cbc. Then ask them if it is viral or bacterial. If it is bacterial a bronchial lavage should be done and a culture sent away.
If it is viral have them send a swab away for rhino.
I had horses at a barn 3 years ago all three developed rhino, they were quarantined for 3 months no riding, as my vet says the damage begins when they are excercised and sloughing off the lining of the trachea (this is when they start to cough). He says you need to let it heal. Mine did |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| Piece of advice: LISTEN TO YOUR GUT. My mare had been on the antibiotics for 6 days with no improvement but she also wasn't worse...I am not one to play the "wait and see" game for 10 days. Too much time wasted. So, I called the university who initially saw her and they were in agreement to bring her in. They did a physical exam, bag tested her again and did an ultrasound which left a lot of questions. Luckily, the blood work was all good, white cell was normal...next step trach wash and BAL. Making assumptions; possible low grade pneumonia but white count should be abnormal and it's not OR some type of inflammatory lung disease...hopefully more answers this afternoon. |
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It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | Good luck!! My mare went through pnemonia as well. Super scary. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| Just wanted to post another update...my mare is responding to the antibiotics for the pneumonia...waiting on one more culture to come back, lets pray it's negative...she did have a trach wash and BAL which was not as clear as they'd like but no signs of blood. The diagnosis is low grade pneumonia with signs of equine asthma...she'll complete her antibiotics and then do a few rounds of steroids for the asthma and we'll get a game plan on how to treat it going forward. All in all...she is doing very well and her breathing is back to normal. Thank goodness!
Has anyone used DoTerra oils for equine asthma? There is one called Breath. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| RedHead84 - 2016-09-13 8:59 AM
Just wanted to post another update...my mare is responding to the antibiotics for the pneumonia...waiting on one more culture to come back, lets pray it's negative...she did have a trach wash and BAL which was not as clear as they'd like but no signs of blood. The diagnosis is low grade pneumonia with signs of equine asthma...she'll complete her antibiotics and then do a few rounds of steroids for the asthma and we'll get a game plan on how to treat it going forward. All in all...she is doing very well and her breathing is back to normal. Thank goodness!
Has anyone used DoTerra oils for equine asthma? There is one called Breath.
I have asthma and none of the blends worked for me, but what did was Frankincense. But everyone, people and horses, react differently to any medicine, so just be aware that it might take a couple of tries to find the right one. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| GLP - 2016-09-13 9:45 AM
RedHead84 - 2016-09-13 8:59 AM
Just wanted to post another update...my mare is responding to the antibiotics for the pneumonia...waiting on one more culture to come back, lets pray it's negative...she did have a trach wash and BAL which was not as clear as they'd like but no signs of blood. The diagnosis is low grade pneumonia with signs of equine asthma...she'll complete her antibiotics and then do a few rounds of steroids for the asthma and we'll get a game plan on how to treat it going forward. All in all...she is doing very well and her breathing is back to normal. Thank goodness!
Has anyone used DoTerra oils for equine asthma? There is one called Breath.
I have asthma and none of the blends worked for me, but what did was Frankincense. But everyone, people and horses, react differently to any medicine, so just be aware that it might take a couple of tries to find the right one.
I figured I have a lot of trial and error in my future to figure out what works for her. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| Also, the vet suggested I soak her hay...uhm, yeah she does not like soggy hay. Really, my hay isn't very dirty...she seems to do better with just lightly wetting it down...anyone have experience? Did you have to switch to hay cubes or pellets? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | I was really hoping when I came back to this thread I would see a positive update. I'm glad you are getting it figured out but respriatory issues are not fun. I tried the soaking of hay for my mare but she wouldn't eat it. I just feed her hay on the ground, outside and spread it out. We cut and bale our own hay so I know it's the best we can do but there is always dust particles. I actually feel like hay is not always the biggest problem, the enviroment around them is worse. Dusty arenas, humid arenas, and stalling is what gets my mare feeling like crap. I hope she continues to recover from the pneumonia and keep us updated!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| Okay...so all cultures were negative. It looks like the SMZ/TMS antibiotics are working. The vet is coming out Monday to re-ultrasound her lungs...to see if she needs a dose of steroids. Physically, from what I can tell, she's much better...no flairy nostrils, no sides thumping...breathing is normal and only a couple coughs now and then...but then again...I am not watching her 24/7...if they recommend steroids it's ANOTHER TWO WEEKS with no riding and no competition, which will make me miss a big race I qualified for. BUMMER. I do not want to go against vet orders or make this problem worse...but can she not run on steroids? What if we don't do the steroids? Do I have another option? I feel like with these university docs it's all black and white.
I should add the steroids they are wanting to do is Prednisone and an Albuterol syrup.
Edited by RedHead84 2016-09-15 11:53 AM
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 Vodka for Lunch
Location: Lala Land | I personally wouldn't ride until you are totally in the clear. You take a chance of causing scar tissue in the lungs.
With my gelding the only thing that has made a difference with the asthma is Cur-Ost and Equi-Resp treatments. I have not tried Equipulmin... that might be the only thing. Every horse is different and you just have to find what will work for you. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| Lovin Life - 2016-09-15 12:38 PM
I personally wouldn't ride until you are totally in the clear. You take a chance of causing scar tissue in the lungs.
With my gelding the only thing that has made a difference with the asthma is Cur-Ost and Equi-Resp treatments. I have not tried Equipulmin... that might be the only thing. Every horse is different and you just have to find what will work for you.
Right. I guess my "problem" is they got no definitive answer from any testing that she had pneumonia...but that's what they are treating...and only slight inflammation on lungs which lead them to equine asthma diagnosis. She is currently not symptomatic beside a cough now and then. I really don't want to do heavy steroids if I don't have to due to the side effects. I was thinking just start the Cur-ost or Equipulmin and go from there? |
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Vodka for Lunch
Location: Lala Land | I would say go with your gut, but if she's not being ridden and coughing some it might be best to make sure the inflammation is gone first. I hope there's just some inflammation and it's not in fact asthma... it's so frustrating and expensive to treat. I've learned a lot of patience with this. Good luck!! :) |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | I would really talk to Dr.Schell with nouvelle research. He will be a huge help right now at the stage you are in. He can give you a more open outlook on things so you can make your decision of where to go from here. I personally wouldn't be worried right now about the big run coming up. I would be worried about finding a long term answer for the initial issues you mentioned and go from there. Lung issues are no fun and even if you think your horse is acting normal you really have no idea... it is amazing what they push through to perform for us. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| MidWest1452 - 2016-09-15 3:13 PM
I would really talk to Dr.Schell with nouvelle research. He will be a huge help right now at the stage you are in. He can give you a more open outlook on things so you can make your decision of where to go from here. I personally wouldn't be worried right now about the big run coming up. I would be worried about finding a long term answer for the initial issues you mentioned and go from there. Lung issues are no fun and even if you think your horse is acting normal you really have no idea... it is amazing what they push through to perform for us.
I did a post previously on SecondVet and the Immune and Total were his suggestion. I updated that post today with what has happened thus far...just waiting on his reply. |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | ^^^^This. The longer you let these respiratory issues go, the more irreparable lung damage will occur. I sure wish I had found this before things got as out of control as they did. I nearly lost my horse due to these issues, desite seeking treatment from several very good vets. These issues can and do spiral out of control very, very quickly, especially when a little bit of stress is added in due to hauling or making runs.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | RedHead84 - 2016-09-15 3:21 PM MidWest1452 - 2016-09-15 3:13 PM I would really talk to Dr.Schell with nouvelle research. He will be a huge help right now at the stage you are in. He can give you a more open outlook on things so you can make your decision of where to go from here. I personally wouldn't be worried right now about the big run coming up. I would be worried about finding a long term answer for the initial issues you mentioned and go from there. Lung issues are no fun and even if you think your horse is acting normal you really have no idea... it is amazing what they push through to perform for us. I did a post previously on SecondVet and the Immune and Total were his suggestion. I updated that post today with what has happened thus far...just waiting on his reply.
Email him. You will get a more personalized answer and you guys can really discuss about riding and going to runs can help or hinder her. Sometimes exercise is a good thing and sometimes it's not and the body really needs time to heal. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| Vet is coming back out Monday to do another ultra sound and probably start her on steroids; prednisolone and albuterol syrup. They still seem baffled that her cultures came back clean but yet has these symptoms but the symptoms don't really match equine asthma either, they say? This is tough. I do have the Cur-Ost Total and Immune on order...from all the reviews I hope it helps.
And then this morn I go out and she has caught her nostril on something and ripped it, so that had to get sutured.
This child is wearing me out! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| Her ultrasound was much better, lungs look better. Positive diagnosis of equine asthma. Started on prednisolone and ventpulmin syrup for 7 days then wean down dosage and hopefully figure out what she needs for maintenance. But she's doing much better and can start light exercise!
I appreciate everyone's input and good thoughts! |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Glad you found out what was going on and thanks for the updates. |
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