Has anyone else ever have a bal come back with an increased amount of mast cells? Anyways, I have a gelding with a history of exercise intolerance, occasional wheeze and clear to white nasal discharge after a work out. He is always really short on stamina. I have to give him frequent breaks during training to re-catch his air even when hes fit. He NEVER coughs. A few years ago he was diagnosed with mild rao at the age of 4. Ive done a few environmental changes (steam hay, keep turned outside and in a low dust area) but he still continued to struggle. Over the last few years I have treated him with a couple of 4 week long tapered treatments of dex. Then dex as needed. I tired flucticasone inhalers and never noticed as much change as I did with dex. I also never really noticed any extra relief from ventipulmin or an albuterol inhaler. Now at the age of 7 Ive decided to do another exam and see how he is doing compared to a 3 years ago. I had him examined with chest x rays, ultrasound, scope and bal like before. His x rays and ultrasound were clean. His scope was clean as well. No drainage or mucus was found. No inflamed tissues either. His bal came back with an increased number of mast cells. With this change I now know mast cell mediated lower airway inflammation should be treated with sodium cromoglycate. Which is a mast cell stabilizer to stop the hyper-response of the lungs. Straight steroids are not enough to treat this form of IAD. Which would be why he's never been totally a 100%. I am looking for anyone else that has had this form of IAD. Its tough to treat and manage. Im going to try chaff hay instead of steaming now. But the biggest problem is the mast cell stabilizer sodium cromoglycate is not available in the US. So my vet is trying to get it from Canada. I'm so frustrated. In all the texts its the standard for treatment and helps with management but It's so tough to get. It's so unfair. My gelding is already on curost. Has been for the last 3 months. He's on total and the new revive. He's still not responding like I'd hope. He seems about the same. Edited due to spelling.
Mast cell mediated inflammatory airway disease
