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  Discussion on SPAOPD
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New Member:
Biscuit

Posted on Sunday, Sep 4, 2005 - 12:16 pm:

I have a 13 yr old Appaloosa broodmare who was recently diagnosed with SPAOPD. Her labored breathing started about a month ago. We are in north Louisiana and have had an unusually hot and dry summer. She is on a 20 acre pasture 24/7 except when I bring her in for morning feeding. My vet believes we are dealing with SPAOPD as she has not been fed any hay since last winter. I am currently keeping her in my barn during the day in a 12x12 stall with a 12x16 covered turnout attached. She has a 4 mo old foal at her side. I have to keep her in the barn with a fan on her as the intense heat (110-115 heat indicies) and heavy humidity seem to worsen her breathing. I have a fan in her stall mounted high..the stall is open on top and we have a 20' ceiling. I turn her and the foal out at night when it's cooler. She has very slight clear to light yellow nasal discharge about every other day; all other signs are normal. Just dealing with occasional labored breathing, some faint wheezing, and occasional cough. My vet wants to start her on venipulmun syrup and I understand you start out with a small amount and increase if necessary. I have read the posts on this discussion, but have not found any specifically relating to SPAOPD. She has been on the same pasture for 10 years and this is the first year she's ever shown any symptoms, but we are extremely below our normal rainfall and it has been hotter than normal this year. If we have a normal spring/summer next year do you think her SPAOPD will reoccur? And since her particular case is not because of hay, is it ok to feed her hay when I have her stalled during the day?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Sep 5, 2005 - 3:23 pm:

The article associated with this discussion, specifically discusses SPAOPD, Klaudya and also discusses the specific questions you have except will it be back again next summer. If the antigen is present it will probably return and the temperature really does not have much effect on whether the horse exhibits signs of the disease but when it is hot these horses do breath harder.
DrO
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