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  Discussion on Laboured breathing during and ater light exercise
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New Member:
oulpete

Posted on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 - 10:48 am:

Dr.O
Our mare has been diagnosed with collasped pharanx yet a second opinion says not, both after endoscopic examination. she is a showjumper but is listless and lethargic with laboured breathing after even light excercise any suggestions? we treated her with Ventapulmin/Sputalosin which worked until the effect has worn off.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 - 3:15 pm:

Welcome Peter,
What are the two veterinarians basing their opinions on and what does the second veterinarian diagnose?

The history of improvement with the bronchodialator suggests a lower air way disease like Recurrent Obstructive Airway Disease (ROAD and also known as COPD or to most horsemen as heaves) if we assume the lethargy is due to her having trouble catching her breath. Has this been discussed? You can read more about this at Diseases of Horses » Respiratory System » Heaves & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
DrO
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, May 7, 2009 - 8:34 am:

PS, seeing your name on all the purchased articles before you joined yesterday caught my eye. We will void out most of those charges peter, and again welcome aboard.
DrO
Member:
hollyw

Posted on Thursday, May 7, 2009 - 1:32 pm:

Peter,
Has the vet used a stethoscope to listen to her heart and lungs?

Could be a heart problem, although if the "inhaler" helped, maybe not. Still good to check.

Had a successful polo horse that developed similar symptoms, and it turned out to be a very rare heart condition.
New Member:
oulpete

Posted on Thursday, May 7, 2009 - 5:19 pm:

The first vet went through the lenghy process of scoping then cantering in a circle after which he scoped again and diagnosed collaspe of the pharanx, his suggestion was to put the mare in foal giving her time to self cure the problem, if indeed there was to be a cure. The second vet (swiss) also went through he same proceedures but totally discounted the first diagnoses. He suggested that it was more likened to an allergy similar to COPD that I have been reading about on Horseadvice. He suggests removing her from the stabling barn and after a week or so to feed, ride and prepare her from a paddock with limited grazing. this we have started to do. Might I add the first vet is highly experienced and respected in equine problems and indeed only works with horses. Incidently this mare is quite valuable with potential as a showjumper. In a way I have answered my own question but would be interested in your comments.thanks Holly, the mare had a fairly comprehensive examination including heart.
PS. love the site
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, May 8, 2009 - 8:35 am:

Thanks oulpete,
You have quickly stumbled on a axion we have at Horseadvice: It almost always best not to directly answer questions. After all we only know what is on the computer screen and often this is poorly described if not downright inaccurate, "garbage in leads to garbage out". the "garbage" is not intentional or stupidity that is responsible but a problem with correctly evaluating observations complicated by a lack of vocabulary to accurate describe what is found. We help best by leading members to the right questions to ask. Finding the right question can be harder than finding the right answer. In fact once the right question is found, the answer often presents itself as does your case.

I don't have any general comments but hundred of specific comments and you will find them all at Diseases of Horses » Respiratory System » Heaves & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
DrO
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