Question
I own a competitive barrel-racing mare. Unfortunately, in the past year, she’s stopped running competitive times and has developed a cough. Veterinarians believe the problem to be inflammatory airway disease (IAD). She had inhaler breathing treatments in the past with variable results. We are now using the bronchodilator albuterol daily until she quits coughing. She gives no indication of bleeding, even on endoscopic examination. What else can I do for her?
Answer
A complete and balanced diet is essential for supporting health, immunity, and performance. Horses with chronic conditions like IAD often have elevated nutrient needs and may respond to supplementation with a high-quality protein, vitamin, and mineral supplement in combination with a performance feed. Are you feeding a nutritionally complete diet to your mare? Determining the quality of the total diet is the launching-off point for further recommendations; nevertheless, I will suggest a few high-quality supplements and management strategies that may help your mare.
In cases of IAD, supplementing a marine-derived source of omega-3 fatty acids, such as EO-3, is recommended. In particular, EO-3 is rich in the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, both of which offer anti-inflammatory properties. The use of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically DHA, is recommended in a consensus statement published by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.*
In addition to DHA and EPA, researchers believe vitamins E and C help horses with respiratory inflammation. In humans, coenzyme Q10 supports lung health and reduces inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Nano-Q10 is a liquid coenzyme Q10 product created specifically for performance horses to support energy generation at a cellular level and reduce oxidative stress.
Aside from these dietary suggestions, management strategies that reduce the severity of clinical signs associated with IAD include:
- Limit exposure to respirable particles by using low-dust feedstuffs, such as pelleted hay or haylage, or by submerging hay in water prior to feeding. One study found that exposure to respirable dust decreased by 60% after immersion in water.
- Feed hay off of the ground, not in a haynet. A fourfold increase in exposure to respirable dust occurs when hay is fed in a haynet as opposed to on the ground.
- Avoid the use of straw as bedding. Wood shavings and other wood products generally create far less respirable dust. Whenever possible, keep the horse outside in a paddock or in a large, well-ventilated stall or run-in. Mechanical ventilation in stabling areas also lowers respirable particles.
- Remove horses with respiratory disease from the barn when performing any cleaning activities that stir dust, such as sweeping with a broom, removing cobwebs with a leaf blower, or unloading large quantities of hay, especially if that hay is to be stored in a loft.
*Couëtil, L.L., J.M. Cardwell, V. Gerber, J.-P. Léguillette, and E.A. Richard. 2016. Inflammatory airway disease of horses—Revised consensus statement. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 30:503-515.
