The respiratory system is a large and important part of a horse. To be precise, a horse's lung capacity is fifty liters. Compare that to the seven liters of a human and you immediately understand why it is important to adequately support your horse's respiratory system. In this blog, you will receive information about the anatomy of the respiratory system in horses, how to recognize normal or abnormal breathing, and discover ways to support your horse's airways.
The anatomy of the respiratory system in horses
How do horses breathe? The answer seems obvious, but horses do not breathe in the same way as humans. In the image below, you can see exactly how your horse's respiratory system works.
The airways of horses can be divided into two groups:
- The upper airways (nasal passages, throat, guttural pouches, and trachea)
- The lower airways (bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli in the lungs)
A horse inhales oxygen-rich outside air through its nostrils. Via the nasal cavity, throat, and trachea (upper airways), this air reaches the lungs. The air then travels via the large bronchi to the small bronchi and bronchioles (lower airways). These latter are small hollow tubes kept open by muscles and opening into the alveoli. Here, gas exchange takes place: oxygen enters the body and carbon dioxide leaves the body.
Because the lungs are filled with air, the lung tissue is naturally elastic so that exhalation can occur without any effort.
Finally, the horse's airways are equipped with ciliated cells and mucus-producing glandular cells. Together, they ensure healthy and clean lungs. The mucus absorbs inhaled dust or pathogens, and the cilia then move them out.
How do you notice respiratory problems in your horse?
Unfortunately, respiratory problems in horses are common. We see this especially in sport horses because they are more often in contact with other horses and the immune system can be lowered by prolonged transport and stressful situations. For sport horses, it is therefore recommended to administer Immunotop during periods of reduced resistance.
The sooner you notice a respiratory problem, the easier the healing process will be. Therefore, it is important to contact your veterinarian immediately if you observe the following symptoms:
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Nasal discharge
- Reduced stamina
- Reduced performance
- Faster breathing
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
Your veterinarian will likely first perform a clinical examination. The focus here is on observing your horse, palpating some structures (such as the throat and lymph nodes), and auscultation. This is a procedure where your veterinarian can detect certain sounds in the body using a stethoscope. Depending on the findings during the clinical examination, your veterinarian may or may not recommend further treatment or examination.
What can I expect after the clinical examination?
After the clinical examination, your veterinarian will already suspect a certain condition. To rule out other causes, it is sometimes necessary to perform further examinations. One of the first additional examinations your veterinarian will perform is an endoscopy.
During an endoscopy, the veterinarian uses a small camera and a light source, inserted through the nose, to view your horse's airways. This way, the respiratory system with its various structures can be examined in more detail. Depending on the results of the endoscopy, an additional examination may be necessary. This, of course, strongly depends on the horse's complications.
What can you do yourself to support your horse's respiratory system?
To support your horse as best as possible with lung problems or to prevent them, you can fortunately already take several precautions:
- Allow your horse plenty of pasture time to limit dusty stable hours
- Moisten hay to minimize dust release
- Ensure a clean stable to prevent an ammonia smell
- Provide good ventilation and prevent drafts
- Choose a less dusty stable bedding such as flax and wood shavings
- Regularly spray the riding arena with water to limit dust clouds
Although the above measures significantly reduce the risk of respiratory problems, it is advisable to support the airways of coughing horses, horses with wheezing, or horses very sensitive to dust with Respitop.
Respitop was specially developed with high-quality herbs to support a healthy and clean respiratory system. Glycerol and honey were also added because they offer a soothing effect on the throat. Finally, Respitop contains propolis, which has a natural, antibacterial effect.
More information?
Are you unsure if your horse's respiratory system needs support? Or do you perhaps have further questions after reading this blog? Feel free to contact us. At Global Medics, we are always ready to provide advice.
If your horse breathes heavily, makes a wheezing sound, or coughs, it is best to discuss this with your veterinarian immediately. Many complications are easy to cure at an early stage.
