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  Discussion on Notstril Flaring and increased respiratory rate
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New Member:
sonyajm

Posted on Friday, Jul 27, 2007 - 2:50 pm:

We are in the process of purchasing a 10 year old barrel horse for our daughter. During the pre purchase exam or vet was concerned about how his lungs sounded. This led to the previous owner getting endoscopy done and he came out with a clean bill of health with no evidence of COPD. We are in South Georgia and he was exposed to the wild fires for two months just prior to the vet exam and it was felt that that probably contributed to his initial less than clear sounding breath sounds.

So, now he is back at our place and the remainder of the pre purchase exam has been done. The lab work is pending and the only concern our vet has is that his respiratory rate is higher than normal. I have noticed that his nostrils flare significantly even at rest. He does not look like he is laboring to breathe. This does not seem to slow him down one bit. He is like a streak of lighting when the dinner bell rings. And he would much rather run and fast lope than slow lope under saddle.

So, my question is, after a negative bronchoscope, if the lab is normal, how concerned should we be about the flaring and respiratory rate?

My daughter absolutely loves this horse. He is a really sweet fella in addition to being one heck of a performance horse.

Are the entities that cause flaring and increased respiratory rate other than COPD more likely to be benign or really serious?

Sonya
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Jul 28, 2007 - 3:19 pm:

Hello Sonya,
I would not purchase a horse with a persistently elevated resting respiratory rate and increased bronchial sounds. While many conditions can be ruled out with broncoscopy and labs it remains a sign of something not right with the respiratory system that is having to make up for the deficit by breathing faster. For instance a space occupying mass in the chest might not be found with the test you describe.
DrO
New Member:
kcjones1

Posted on Sunday, Apr 27, 2008 - 11:34 pm:

I have a 9yr old Quarter Horse gelding that I show in Western Pleasure and trail. He has had 2 episodes of heavy or difficult breathing. One time last year he had been ridden but not hard, the weather was cool, he was not hot. He started breathing really fast like he had been worked really hard. I got off and walked him for a little while and he didn't get better so we took him back to the barn. It lasted for 30 to 45 minutes. We had the vet out but everything was normal. Then it happened again yesterday at a show. Again he had not been ridden hard. This time he alternated between breathing fast (through his nose, nostrils flaring, flanks going in and out) and holding his breath for a few seconds and then breathing in. Same as last time it lasted for 30 to 45 minutes. He hasn't been sick, there never has been a cough, he's not off his feed, he doesn't act like anything is wrong while it is happening. He wants to eat etc. Any ideas where we can start to figure this out? Thanks.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 - 11:29 am:

Welcome Karen,
This is not a simple question because of the number of factors, including psychological ones like excitement and pain of any cause, can cause rapid breathing. Though I know the short episodic nature makes it difficult, having a veterinarian observe the phoneomena and then listen with a stethoscope should be the first step. It is not just the rate of breathing that is important to try and diagnose a cause but the character of the respirations: deep or shallow, difficult vs easy for instance. Then by listening to the breathing and the heart further information can be gained. Also the color of the mucous membranes during the episode might help. To learn more about the different respiratory characterisations see Diseases of Horses » First Aid » Taking Temperature, Pulse, and Respiration.
DrO
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