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  Discussion on Diagnosis left laryngeal hemiplagia
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New Member:
Tag87

Posted on Saturday, Jun 5, 2004 - 4:38 pm:

I have a 4 year old 14.3 hands paint mare that has been diagnosed with this disorder. She only began to show signs this spring by coughing when under heavy exercise (going up steep terrain, hard canter, etc.) She does not do it every time, but when she does, it is only by coughing, she does not "roar" like the articles say.
My vet recommended purchasing a neck sweat and getting some of the fat out of the tissues in the neck to see if that would open the airways up. I have found a product that claims to "open the airways" when given to a horse before exercise and "eliminate coughing". Are there any other non-surgical treatment options out there? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

You may email me at tagfarm@hotmail.com.

Tricia Gilliland
Member:
Tag87

Posted on Saturday, Jun 5, 2004 - 9:56 pm:

This evening when I got in from work, I decided to do a little test. It is cooler than it has been low 80's, but still humid. My daughter was already out on her horse and begging me to ride with her. We saddled up and went out in the cattle pasture. The mare was really wanting to go, so after a bit of warm up, I let her have her head and she took off. We cantered across about 15 acres, up and down hills and back. She didn't cough until I asked her to slow down and took her head back. As long as her head was out, there was no coughing. After stopping her, she wasn't winded at all, like I would have thought she should be if there was a restriction to her airway. She only coughed 1 other time in the entire 2 hours that we rode. (she is in very good shape and used to going hours at a time, our weather allows year round riding)
Now to compare with Sunday afternoon, last time I rode....
It was about 89 degrees out, humid and sunny, we rode down the side of the mountain and back up (much steeper terrain than today). On the way down, she coughed several times, and coming back up, it was the worst it had been.

Should I seek out a 2nd opinion on this? It seems to me that if she has this disorder, she would have airway restriction and difficulty breathing all the time. She never wheezes or anything like that. She will snort a little like she has mucus in there just before she coughs. She never coughs any other time than when working.
I just want to do the best I can for this mare, she is a very honest, kind soul, and I love her very much.
Member:
Tag87

Posted on Saturday, Jun 5, 2004 - 10:00 pm:

I wanted to add this....
The vet said that when he endoscoped her, he had someone to slap her side to make her take a deep breath. Is this the proper way to determine this disorder?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jun 6, 2004 - 5:57 pm:

Hello Pat,
Yes I think you need a second opinion, coughing as the only sign of LLH supported by the slap test (see the article associated with this forum for more on the slap test) is not much to base a diagnosis on. For more on your horses condition see, Equine Diseases » Respiratory System » Chronic Cough Without Fever.
DrO
Member:
Tag87

Posted on Monday, Jun 7, 2004 - 10:37 am:

Thanks!

I have decided to take her to another vet and let him see her too. I am also planning to videotape her working so he can see exactly what she is doing. Hopefully that will help him to give a better diagnosis.

I really appreciate this site.

Thank you again
Tricia
Member:
Cnichola

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 8, 2005 - 8:43 pm:

My daughter has owned her 10 YO paint mare for about a year. When we tried her out, she seemed to be a heavy breather, but we thought it was because she wasn't very fit. As we've brought her along in dressage training, though, we've noticed that when she travels on the bit and in a frame, she makes a lot of noise breathing and seems to get agitated at the canter.

I had her scoped today, immediately after lunging her in a round pen under the vet's supervision. She did not demonstrate the breathing noises (I think because she wasn't carrying herself in a frame). My vet said her scope showed normal physiology and no apparent impairment of the function of the "flaps." (He used more technical language, and even drew me a picture that looks like a black and white of the picture in your article!) He said that usually travelling with a lowered poll and jaw would stretch the trachea and make breathing easier in most horses. He said he thought she might be experiencing soft palate displacement. (We have noticed that when she's travelling in a frame, she does not want to keep her mouth closed -- he ruled out any dental issues).

He suggested we try some medications and sent me away with some chlembuterol (sp?). Dr. O, your articles on these issues don't suggest medication might help soft palate displacement. Is this treatment new, or are we experimenting? I don't mind experimenting, I'm just curious. My vet generally tries the least invasive fix first, before moving to more invasive and expensive treatments.
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 9, 2005 - 6:42 am:

Hi Christine,
This has nothing to do with coughing or weezing however you mention your horses palate. A 3 peice bit will make sure the bit doesnt touch her palat. My horse has a low plate and cannot be ridden in a regular snaffle. He opens his mouth wide, throws his head and absolutly hates it. If a horse opens their mouth they are trying to tell you something. In a mild 3 peice bit my horses is perfect and happy. Every horse is different this might not help but its something to think about. I think carlyle bits are excellent. That is one of my horses choices. Also some horses are not made to carry themselves in the (Frame).
Katrina
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 9, 2005 - 7:28 am:

Clenbuterol is a beta-2 agonist bronchodialator that works by relaxing the smooth muscles of the bronchi. It is hard to understand how bronchodialation, or relaxation of smooth muscles of any kind, is going to releave such a obvious upper respiratory noise. Let us know the results of this experiment.
DrO
Member:
Cnichola

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 9, 2005 - 3:07 pm:

Will do, Dr. O.

Thanks Katrina for your comments. Our trainer has her riding in a KK.
/Christine
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