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RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

Buddysgirl — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:37:33 GMT

My horse had COPD. My vet said that if I didn't do what he said to not come crying back to him. So I followed what he said and my horse is fine. No more symptions, happy and healthy. He told me to get rid of the round bales, water down the general areas to ikeep dust down, feed him his hay on the ground and not in the hay rack, but most of all he recommended flax seede. I have given him flax for 3 or 4 yrs. now. A cup a day soaked overnight. Not only have the symptions gone, his coat is shinny, his eyes are bright, and his hoofs are strong. This might not help you but it sure did for me.

www.banbarenterprisesllc.com

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

rockerchick93 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:51:22 GMT

I go out there every other day and cleans out all his poo and mulch it out in the pasture. The mold is a big factor.... I went out there to see him earlier and he was breathing like he would after a good workout.. but it didnt last. he went back to heaving and coughing.... At least we know the Anti-Histamine is working!!!

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

sunny06 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:16:29 GMT

Poop dosen't have very much to do with dust, tho.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

pigeon123 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:54:20 GMT

maybe cleaning up his 'poo' would help, not just with the one condition but with overall health... I wouldn't want to live all around in my poop, would you?

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

rockerchick93 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:44:59 GMT

we actually went to the vets house today to get some more medicine and he gave us an anti-histamine that will be tested on him to see if he does any better.We think the source of the problem may be some mold particles in his poo outside the barn in the corners of his pasture. He poos in the same spot and some times it gets so high that you don't realize it until you mulched it. So, i went around and sprayed clorox in his poo and pee spots and put some in his stall. Hopefully the mold will die and his little outburst subside.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

pigeon123 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:35:02 GMT

How old are you? If you are over 14 you can get a job at a local store, resturant or something like that. Minimum wage is $8.00 where I live, so you could work 5 hours a week, make 40-50 dollars a week and you would have money left over after paying for your horse's meds. If your under 14 I'm sure you could find something to do to make some money, babysitting, or its summer, I'm sure old people want their lawn's mowed or their gardens cleaned up. Also, If you explain to people why you need the money, that its helping your horse out so you don't have to put him down, they tend to be a lot more sympathetic. Don't just sit around all day and complain that daddy won't pay for your horse.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

sunny06 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:53:43 GMT

I've heard of doing it that way and it can be rather traumatic looking.

The best way is that the horse is anesthetized and helped to lie down and then the euthanasia solution is administered so it really is like the horse just falls asleep while lying down.

I really wish that was how it was done.. I went inside the house so I didn't have to see it (the vet highly reccommended it) but I just so happened to look outside the window and saw it happen. *cringe* It was horrible seeing poor, dumb, innocent Casper fall helpleslly down to the ground at like, 80 mph. He flipped over because of the horrible impact. I'll never forget it. Fortunately it isn't fresh in my mind.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

Sam's Mom — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:08:13 GMT

The one thing you need to understand is that this is a chronic disease. It will keep coming back. You will need to monitor your horse's condition / breathing and treat with medication as needed. It will never completely go away. His visible symptoms may disappear for a while, but he will still have this breathing problem. You should always water down his hay and do your best to keep him out of dry, dusty conditions. My horse has had COPD for several years now. I start monitoring him as soon as the weather gets nice. As soon as I notice his breathing to be just slightly off, I start medication. As it gets hotter and dryer, his breathing gets worse. I up his medication as needed and put him out on the green, mowed lawn rather than the dusty pasture with grass that hasn't been mowed. Yes, my lawn looks horrible, but he breathes better. I feed him some timothy pellets and senior feed pellets every day. I mix his medication in with this and add oil to it so that his medication sticks to the pellets. This also cuts down on the dust from the pellets. Water would do the same thing as the oil. At this point, my horse is basically just a lawn ornament. Any amount of riding or work will make his breathing worse. So, I do not ride him. I have little neighbor kids that I will let get on him and plod around the yard, but that's about it. It is not what I want, but it is what is best for the horse. Having to rely on others (parents) to provide for your horse must be aggravating, but there are many things, as mentioned above, that you can do for your horse that do not cost money. How you manage your horse (i.e. where you keep him, how you feed him, etc.) should make a big difference in his breathing. As far as the steroids, I think the vet probably meant that it could take a few days for the steroids to start working and for you to notice a difference in how your horse breathes. He will not just become all better, but his symptoms should noticably diminish. Steroids only work for so long before you have to start upping the amount, etc. It is better horse management to try to do all the other things, such as watering down his hay, keeping the dust down, etc., to help your horse as well. Good luck!

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

Whiskey87 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:49:52 GMT

sunny06 (7/2/2009)

^^ When we had to put Casper down,it was horrible. It was done standing up..Maybe it would have been better if he was lying down..o.O

I've heard of doing it that way and it can be rather traumatic looking.

The best way is that the horse is anesthetized and helped to lie down and then the euthanasia solution is administered so it really is like the horse just falls asleep while lying down.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

rockerchick93 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:21:46 GMT

sunny06 (7/2/2009)

^^ When we had to put Casper down,it was horrible. It was done standing up..Maybe it would have been better if he was lying down..o.O

why did they do it like that??? that does sound horrible. Sorry for your loss by the way

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

rockerchick93 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:20:40 GMT

well, all i can say is that im goign to fight with every bone in my body to buy his meds and get him better if it is just a chest cold (hopefully) if it isnt, i'll try harder. Im not letting him go down to the point that there is no going back. I'll do anything. Even if it means selling some of my valuables.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

sunny06 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:17:19 GMT

^^ When we had to put Casper down,it was horrible. It was done standing up..Maybe it would have been better if he was lying down..o.O

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

Whiskey87 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:11:34 GMT

rockerchick93 (7/2/2009)

Im convincing my dad to try to spend the money on this drug instead of on stoopid cigarretes and Mountain Dews. THe steroids are trying to help. But the vet didnt say that it'll be better until a couple of days later. I know A LOT of people up here are blunt but I read their posts and take in what they say and try my best. Im not the girl who gets mad a little things anymore.

You wrote this as I was writing my last reply.

Good for you.

Sunny, euthanasia isn't really all that bad. I've seen several and when done appropriately they are very peaceful.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

Whiskey87 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:09:17 GMT

horseless722 (7/2/2009)

eventually distroys the alliels

Alveoli

Rockerchick, you have done this many times before but you never seem to learn how to take advice.

We all said that IF you are unwilling to treat his condition properly, than you should get rid of or euthanize him. Being put to sleep peacefully is a much better way to go than asphyxiating in his pasture.

As the name implies, COPD is CHRONIC. This means that the horse will continue to to have flair-ups until the day it dies. More responsible horse owners use preventative medicine to help keep their horse comfortable and healthy.

The reason preventative medicine is important is because often times people don't notice the symptoms until the flair up is bad (ie, the horse already is having a hard time breathing). Then, by the time you do treat the horse the lungs and alveoli are already damaged.

My 25 year old mare had ERU, a chronic condition that affects her eyes. She has an expensive fly mask to cut out UV rays, and eye drops that costs about $40 for 5 mL. I shell out the big bucks along with biannual exams so that she stays happy and healthy. When you buy a horse you accept the responsibility to either care for the animal as well as you can or be HUMANE and RESPONSIBLE enough to put it out of it's misery.

And as for your siggy, considering Hercules was featured on FHOTD about a month ago, no he isn't the "fugly horse of the day." He was the fugly horse of about a month ago.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

rockerchick93 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:06:48 GMT

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

sunny06 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:01:23 GMT

I didnt say you make me feel bad. Some others do. Sorry if you thought I was referring to you.

^^ I appreciate that this wasn't the case, but the people on here aren't "mean"-- they are blunt, and are simply stating their opinion..If it really bothers that much you just say "Thanks" and don't reply back. IMO, you should just cringe and buy the drugs--if you love your horse you will either do what you need to do, or sell him. Personally, I hate the thought of euthanization, but there are not many people out there who would buy a 16 year old stallion that has a disease if the same horse we are discussing is in your siggy. Pretty, but just isn't going to happen.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

rockerchick93 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:47:31 GMT

Thanks. That eases my mind.... The vet had said that he might have it last year but with this sudden outbreak, we are beginning to reconsider his diagnosis. A chest cold sounds more reasonable. We put him in the barn for a right good while and it got better all of a sudden, and here he is happy and fat. But its the way he is acting. His flanks are constantly heaving like he is struggling for breath. Today was the first time he has coughed. He was rolling and he evidentaly got a little winded. Hercules just got all nice and purdy and fat, and now I'm afraid that he is going to lose his health condition.....

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

horseless722 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:33:47 GMT

rockerchick93 (7/2/2009)

Like I care? I'm looking out for his well being. The vets exact words are "It'll get better in a couple days." Um, Im not going to kill my horse the day he gets the symptoms. Yeah, I read. I'm getting really helpful advice. (I think) I'm giving him steroids that help subside the problem. I know he isnt perfectly healthy, but he shouldn't come down with this crap on a regular day with no hard exercise or strange grass in the pasture. The vet doesn't even know what triggered it.

Anything could trigger it teh coughing etc but it is not something that just pops up over night it is something tht takes time to develope.

Steriods will help maintine the condition but will not fix it and if your vet really sidhe will be ok in a few days I suspect perhaps the horse doesnt have copd but rather a 'chest cold' like phenomona)sp) or something simular to where it 'will get better in a few days' Steriods are one treatment for 'chest colds' I put it in quotes because I know there is a more medical based words for the same thing but we all know what a chest cold is as chances are we all have had at least one of them.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

rockerchick93 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:28:45 GMT

sunny06 (7/2/2009)

How did I make you feel bad? I was the one who thought euthanization was a little over-kill.. Kind of makes me mad to see someone thinking that I am a know-it-all because that is the complete opposite of what I am..All I am going to say is it is either the drugs or no horse.

I didnt say you make me feel bad. Some others do. Sorry if you thought I was referring to you.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

rockerchick93 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:27:34 GMT

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

sunny06 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:21:40 GMT

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

Catalyst — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:16:57 GMT

rockerchick93 (7/2/2009)

well, now that everybody has attempted to make me feel like a bad person, we called the vet last nighta and he said that the steroids that he gave us last time will help until we get another dosage. The $80 med is the same stuff that humans use. It was just a thing that he suggested. My dad flipped because of the price. and what did I ask?? I asked for a supplemental name or herbal remedy that can help. Not a lecture session. Please answer respectably. We ARE NOT putting him down just because he has had it for a couple of days. You aren't giving him a chance to live. We'll see how he does in a week or so and then get the vet out here to assess his condition....

reading comprehension fail. He hasn't "had it" for a couple of days. Do you read nothing? COPD does not come and go. Symptoms might, depending on how well you go about taking care of the variables, but COPD does not.

Failing to provide your horse with the most up-to-date and appropriate care is NOT giving him a chance to live. You are only making his already difficult life even harder by not providing what he needs. I find it incredibly sad that people like you have animals - you do not listen, nor do you take any advice which would provide beneficial to your animal's health. Instead, you ignore and get upset when people jump on you for not taking proper care of your animals. We can more about the animals than we do for you, or anyone else's, feelings.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

rockerchick93 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:07:55 GMT

well, now that everybody has attempted to make me feel like a bad person, we called the vet last nighta and he said that the steroids that he gave us last time will help until we get another dosage. The $80 med is the same stuff that humans use. It was just a thing that he suggested. My dad flipped because of the price. and what did I ask?? I asked for a supplemental name or herbal remedy that can help. Not a lecture session. Please answer respectably. We ARE NOT putting him down just because he has had it for a couple of days. You aren't giving him a chance to live. We'll see how he does in a week or so and then get the vet out here to assess his condition....

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

horseless722 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:55:31 GMT

no not a rough crowd as others have indicated this particular poster asks for help/ advice etc then turns around and informs us that she cant afford or do or what ever hte excuse of hte month is.

The horse in question has been featured on fugly blog for a reason. Unregistered, not put together well, and not taken care of stallion that only if someone who is uneducated in horses and is going through a case of broodmareitis with an equally fugly mare would breed to.

COPD is most certinally perminated. It is a chronic lung disorder that can be 'maintained' by meds. Remember in humans they do lung transplants for this chronic problem. It is not chances are nor will it ever be curable. COPD is brought about by irritation in the lungs which eventually distroys the alliels( sp is that even the correct word cant remember its been ages since anamoity and phisology) in hte lungs which are the air scks/ pockets in the lungs that exapnd and constrict as needed when breathing. through long exposure to what ever causes the irritation these things can be perimnatly damaged to where they no longer function properly and in some cases dpending on what the exposure was can cause the lungs and these pockets to harden to where the mammel in question can not breath with out assistance such as O2, breathing treatments transplants etc.

For an animal who can not comprehend what is going on other then they are having a difficult time breathing who happens to have an owner such as the OP the best thing for the animal is to be put down out of his/her misery and future misery as breathing gets more difficult and owner refuses to do the simple thing of getting hte proper meds.

I wish I could get away with 80$ in meds a mths... that is not that expensive...

Do your horse a huge favor call the vet out have him put to sleep.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

sunny06 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:40:23 GMT

Well, I'm really sorry your horse has this problem..I like the sprinkler idea (I don't remember who said it tho--sorry!)..It may be good in keeping down the dust if that is the problem with COPD..I don't know much about it, but I don't think I'd put him down, rather I would find him a good home where people can easily afford meds..$80 is really not that expensive, but it can be bad if you have to buy it every week or so..I'd find him another home. Sorry this happened..Is this just a seasonal thing? If it is, you should be able to buy the drugs every year..It's not like it's permanent..

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

Whiskey87 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:44:58 GMT

aabqh (7/2/2009)

This is a rough crowd here

We aren't a "rough crowd". We are just sick of seeing rockerchick repeatedly ask questions about horse care and then refuse to follow any advice or shell out the money for proper food or care. She refuses to pay for a vet to come out and treat her horse, and he is chronically underfed and skinny. You also missed the scene where she wanted to breed her unregistered stallion (the COPD horse being discussed here) that has poor conformation and no accomplishments.

She repeatedly ignores all sound advice and refuses to properly take care of her horse. If she can't afford to take care of the horse than she shouldn't have it.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

aabqh — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:31:24 GMT

This is a rough crowd here, I'm happy questions about COPD are being asked. Here are a few articles that may be helpful in understanding COPD:

http://www.ker.com/library/advances/342.pdf

http://www.ker.com/library/EquineReview/2002/HealthLine/HL03.pdf

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

Whiskey87 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:51:19 GMT

rockerchick93 (7/1/2009)

We could buy the most expensive medicine which is like $80 a pop.(i know its not much) but we need a less expensive way of maintaining it.

Like others have said, $80 is not that expensive for meds. However if you simply can't afford it than the kind thing to do is:

1) find him a home where he is taken care of (but honestly the number of people willing to take care of an older COPD stallion is close to zero)

2) euthanize him (costs less than $100 in my area)

You may think I'm horrible for suggesting you put the horse down, but think of it from his point of view. He's currently skinny and has trouble breathing because his owner can't/won't pay for proper nutrition and treatment. You may love him very much, but you aren't taking care of him properly.

It's not fair to keep him when he's this uncomfortable just to keep yourself happy.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

Catalyst — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:35:59 GMT

If you cannot afford to take proper care of your horse, either find someone else who is able to care for him correctly or put him down.

If you talked to your vet, you should know other ways to help keep his COPD at a minimal (such as what sam's mom has posted). If that is not helping, GET THE MEDICINE. $80 for meds is not expensive. If you cannot possibly remember what your vet has told you, call them again.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

~Sorreloveroowner~ — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:11:51 GMT

Sorry to hear about this!

My old mare had a minor case of heaves and It took alot out of me watering down all of her feedings and such (this only got real bad during the dry winter months). What the others have said (babying your guy a little more) might just help reduce the symptoms and make it bareable for your horse. Watering down hay and feeding special grasses might just make a big change in your horse.

I have an Idea. If it's possible, set up a sprinkler in the pasture and every hour, go out and move it around. It may help reduce the symptoms if the dry air is bothering him.

I also like the cortizone shots, but if that's too much, maybe you could buy some Cough suppressants or some antihistamines to at least help reduce symptoms...

Hope ya figure out a way to make it easier for you and your horse!

(P.s. I'm lovin' your siggy! Your horse is so cute lookin!)

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

Sam's Mom — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:39:13 GMT

Dry, dusty conditions, the seeds from grasses, etc., etc. can cause this to recur. You will find that horses with COPD will appear much better in cooler weather, but once hot, dry weather hits, they can turn bad all at once. If he is really bad, you should talk to your vet and see about getting a cortisone shot (or more) for your horse. Managing, is an every day, all the time thing. Water down the hay, keep him away from dry dusty areas. He should also not be out on pasture that has not been mowed/cut, as the seed heads of the grass can make his COPD worse. My horse is medicated with Tri-hist granules daily. The dosage I give depends on how his symptoms are at that time, but I have talked at length with my vet about this. He gets to mow my grass, while the others are in the pasture, and he gets a small amount of grass hay (watered down). I believe a horse that has COPD will eventually get worse and worse as they get older and their immune system doesn't work as well. I don't think this is something that will 'go away'. But, as the others said - talk to your vet and figure out a treatment plan, then stick to it. Cortisone shots might be a bit spendy, but once they help get things back in control, then you might be able to treat with less expensive medications. Good luck!

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

rockerchick93 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:02:10 GMT

We did last year. The vet said that there are many ways to try to manage this horrible condition. We could buy the most expensive medicine which is like $80 a pop.(i know its not much) but we need a less expensive way of maintaining it. Its really unusual because he hasn't had any symptoms until today. He was perfectly fine when I rode him Monday and he acted great yesterday when I led him around a little. There is nothing in the pasture and we keep the barn clean. This is really puzzling....

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

Hibiscus — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:59:39 GMT

Purcocious (7/1/2009)

Call. Your. Vet.

Yes. I don't see why people refuse to call the vet before they ask on a forum.

COPD is a recurring disorder. It goes away in the winter and comes back in the spring/ summer, every year. You can manage the symptoms, but it probably will never go away completey.

RE: NOT AGAIN!! COPD

Purcocious — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:49:50 GMT

Call. Your. Vet.

NOT AGAIN!! COPD

rockerchick93 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:42:22 GMT

OK, Hercules has been in perfect health since Feburary. But today broke my heart..... I walked out there to feed him and next thing I know, hes weezing and heaving. I broke down in tears. We don't really know what is causing these outbreaks... Any advice on remedies or methods of managing COPD???