OBVIOUS
Coughing, nasal discharge or laboured breathing, etc.
Subtle
Slower recovery fromexercise, decreased performance, increased respiratoryrate at rest, etc.
abscent
Dr. David Marlin describes several studies in which international-level equine athletes were found to have respiratory disease even though their riders considered them in peak health.
FORAGE IS GOOD & BAD
Forage is a double-edged sword in equine management: it's critical to nutrition and digestive health, but also the biggest source of respiratory particles. These microscopic bits - less than 1/10 the size of a human hair - include dust, mold, bacteria and other allergens. They trigger inflammation and irritation that leads to conditions on the Equine Asthma Spectrum.
TREATMENTS
Bouts of Severe Equine Asthma symptoms require medical approaches: systematic or inhaled corticosteroids to control inflammation and excess mucus, and bronchodilators to open the airways.
Neither are suitable for long term use. Corticosteroids have side effects and bronchodilators open the airways to more respirable particles that triggered the problem in the first place.
Reducing dust in our horses’ environment is veterinarians’ top advice for preventing and/or managing respiratory disease in any form.
Supports Respiratory Health
Multiple studies prove that respiratory challenges affect over 80% of active sport horses, often without obvious symptoms. The cause is inflammation in the upper and lower airways, triggered by inhalation of microscopic particles that irritate the lining of the respiratory tract.
Supports Digestive Health
By deactivating mould and bacteria commonly found in hay, Haygain steaming reduces the risk of colics related to ingesting these particles. A 2009 study showed that horses fed hay of poor hygienic quality were significantly more susceptible to colic than those fed clean hay.
Aids with Hydration
As a bonus to reducing respirable risks, Haygain steamed hay has up to 3X the moisture content of dry hay - great for digestion and hydration. And its proven palatability entices even picky eaters to get everything they need from their hay, and nothing they don't!
