Horse Allergies

Allergic Respiratory Disease is a common condition in horses. Horses will show flu-like symptoms including a recurrent cough, eye discharge and fatigue. Their lungs may become inflamed and they are more likely to get viral and bacterial infections.

There are many causes of Allergic Respiratory Disease but the most common culprits are mold spores and weeds found in hay or straw. It's often a seasonal problem, more common in spring and summer. But if your stored hay is local, it may be a year round problem. And each year the symptoms could get worse as your horse's reaction gets stronger and stronger.

What to do? Get your horse outside! Fresh air is always an improvement over stagnant, dusty air. Permanent pasture grazing is cost effective and convenient. For mild horse allergies, soaking the the hay will often help to reduce the number of spores in the environment.

If your horse must stay in the stall most or all of the time, try to store your hay in a separate place and provide adequate ventilation, away from manure piles. For bedding, avoid straw in favor of paper or shavings. Use a minimum of bedding and remove it daily. Rubber matting can reduce the amount of bedding needed.

If these simple steps don't work, it's time to talk to the vet. She can perform a simple procedure that looks at the fluid and cells in the horse's lungs to determine the severity of the allergy. She can also do a blood test to determine what your horse is allergic to and customize a treatment for your horse's allergies.

Allergic Respiratory Disease can be managed and treated. It's a common problem and some very simple steps can dramatically improve the health of your horse.

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