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  Discussion on What does a "heave line" really mean?
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New Member:
Hafl4lif

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 16, 2005 - 11:24 pm:

I am purchasing a lower level eventing horse for my teen daughter. I have found a nice minded 5 (going on 6) year old gelding. We just had the pre-purchase exam done by an out of state vet.

We checked feet (x-rays), joints, and general health. Our trainer noticed a "heave line" on the video we shot when my daughter visited and rode the horse. I asked the vet to check that out too.

Everything checked good, but the vet said the horse did have a "heave line". The horse was lunged for 20 minutes, then scoped. On a scale of 1-5, the vet said the amount of mucus was 1. No other wheezing or labored breathing was noticed.

The person who has been working the horse this summer seems honest and willing to be above board. She did say that the owner tends to give year old hay. She also said that there haven't been any noticeable breathing issues during the time she has worked the horse. The horse did compete at the beginner novice level at a couple of shows.

The horse doesn't seem to have any other clinical signs of heaves. It seems that this line is visible when the horse is breathing deeply during exercise and when he was breathing deeply checking out the vet clinic.

Both the out of state vet and my local vet say to proceed cautiously.

My question is this--Is the "heave line" always a sign of chronic labored breathing? Is this a sure sign that heaves is waiting inside this cute little gelding?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Nov 17, 2005 - 8:33 am:

No, I find a heave line like you describe an uncertain finding and would not use it to diagnose heaves. Our state is humid and has frequent unexpected afternoon showers during the hay making season. As a result this is a common problem in our area.

The most consistent sign of a horse that has heaves but being managed well so there may not be dyspnic (difficult breathing) or have crackles/wheezies on auscultation is a cough when first exercised. Of course lots of horses have such a cough that are not heevy.

If I hear such a cough I become interested in how they manage the horse's housing and roughage. If the horse is stalled daily and fed regular hay heaves seems very unlikely. If doubts remain I become really interested in the horses past veterinary records.
DrO
New Member:
Hafl4lif

Posted on Thursday, Nov 17, 2005 - 11:55 am:

What you are saying is that this muscle could be more highly defined due to extra effort in breathing (seasonal or poor hay related), but not necessarily what could be defined as heaves with any damage to the lungs?

This particular horse is out 24/7 but given poor quality hay. The owner reports that he has never been treated or exhibited breathing difficulty. Since being put to heavier work this year, there have been no reported breathing issues.

If I requested vet records, they may not reveal anything since there seem to be so many over the counter effective remedies. I would have to rely on the honesty of the sellers. Risky, but again, they seem like honest folk.

Does it mean anything that the muscle is noticeable during work, but not at rest??
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Nov 18, 2005 - 7:59 am:

Or maybe just conformation Lorri and I don't know of any commonly used over the counter remedies that are effective in treatment of heaves. To ignore the veterinary records would be a mistake and not for just this condition. Not being able to see it myself I cannot really judge its significance.
DrO
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