Equine Asthma

Extreme Heat & Equine Asthma
 With Indiana experiencing prolonged heat and humidity, now is a great time to pay extra attention to horses with equine asthma.

Hot, humid conditions can make breathing more difficult by trapping dust, pollen, mold spores, and other airborne irritants close to the ground. Horses with asthma may experience increased coughing, nasal discharge, poor performance, or labored breathing during these weather patterns.

Early recognition and proper management are key to keeping horses with equine asthma comfortable year-round. If your horse’s respiratory signs seem to worsen during this heat wave, don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian. Together, you can develop a treatment and management plan to help your horse breathe easier this summer.

Common Signs of Equine Asthma

• Persistent or intermittent coughing, especially during exercise or while eating hay
• Increased respiratory rate (breathing faster than normal) at rest
• Labored breathing or increased effort to exhale
• Flared nostrils while breathing
• Exercise intolerance or decreased performance
• Nasal discharge (typically clear to white)
• Wheezing or abnormal lung sounds
• Frequent stopping to catch their breath during work
• Extended recovery time after exercise
• A “heave line” (enlarged abdominal muscles from chronic increased breathing effort) in more advanced cases

Ways to help reduce respiratory stress during periods of extreme heat:

• Provide unlimited access to fresh, clean water to help maintain hydration.
• Schedule turnout and exercise during the cooler morning or evening hours.
• Reduce dust exposure by soaking or steaming hay if recommended by your veterinarian.
• Keep stalls well-ventilated and choose low-dust bedding whenever possible.
• Limit strenuous exercise on hot, humid days, especially if your horse has a history of respiratory disease.
• Monitor your horse closely for coughing, increased respiratory effort, flared nostrils, or decreased performance.