equine asthma environment management Flashcards
1
Q
what are the enviromental and feeding changes for sEA?
A
- Keep outside at all times
- Access to well ventilated shelter
- Free of urine/manure (ammonia fumes)
- Pelleted feed or hay cubes
- Soak hay/steamed hay, haylage
2
Q
what are the enviromental and feedign changes for SPAOPD?
A
- Clean, cool environment
- Stabling
◦ Low respirable dust
◦ Cardboard & dust free shavings, rubble matting under bedding decreases the amount of bedding needed therefore reducing the dust
◦ Steamed hay, haylage
◦ Pelleted rations
◦ Similar alterations to surrounding stalls
3
Q
what changes can be made tot he way a horse is fed to impact the breathing zone?
A
- Do not feed in nets
- Do not feed round bales outside (will eat from the middle of bale and therefore more dust)
- Provide feed at ground level
4
Q
what is the ‘recovery’ time for sEA and SPAOPD
A
- Clinical remission 4-8 w
- Normal pulmonary function 4-8 w
- Reduction smooth muscle mass 12 mo
- Horses remain more susceptible compared to healthy horses
5
Q
what are the environmental and feeding changes for mEA?
A
- remove the worse offenders –> Hay & Straw
- Provide pelleted feed, haylage
- Dust free shavings or cardboard
- Well ventilated stalls
6
Q
what is the additonal advice you can give to clients with asthmatic horses?
A
- Sprinkle aisles w/water before sweeping
- Avoid overhead hay storage, ideally don’t keep hay in same building as horse
- Turn bedding banks every day (corners included!)
- Remove horses from stalls while cleaning (don’t return for 30mins)
- No blowers indoors
7
Q
what are the recommendations to ensure that stalls have good ventilation?
how can you identify areas of inadequate ventilation?
A
◦ At least 1 inflow & 1 outflow
◦ Roof vents possible? Knock bricks in back wall?
◦ Keep barn doors open
Identify areas of inadequate ventilation ◦ Commercially available devices (expensive) ◦ Cobwebs ◦ Condensation ceiling ◦ Layer of dust ◦ Birds nesting?
