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  Discussion on Aeromask
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Posted on Monday, Aug 28, 2000 - 1:21 am:

Hi, Just wanted to find out if anyone is familiar with the "Aeromask"? If anyone has used it for their copd horse I would love to hear your comments. Thanks. Margie

Posted on Monday, Aug 28, 2000 - 7:56 pm:

A research paper presented at a recent AAEP says it works quite well for COPD when corticosteroids are used but was no more effective and a lot more expensive than when the corticosteroid was given orally. It does have one positive: alot less steroid needs to be used so the threat of steroid related problems is lessened. However these have not been a great problem in my experience.
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Sep 2, 2000 - 11:27 pm:

Hi Margie,

I own an AeroMask that I used on my mare for nearly a year and it did work but not well enough. I switched to it after getting concerned about the high level of steroids that she was on. What I found was that the drugs merely covered up the symptoms. As soon as I stopped using the mask, she had problems breathing to the point where we considered putting her down. I've kept a journal over the past 3 years and summer is typically her most difficult time, with May and August being the worst. However, last August she went steadily downhill and was still bad well into this year.

I switched to homeopathic treatment in April/00 and within several weeks had a very different horse. Knock on wood, she didn't react AT ALL this May or August. Her lungs now sound good (previously there were strong rattles throughout on both sides) and her breathing/respiration is normal. I've been taking her on one hour hacks to the forest all summer. She has not had a SINGLE DrOp of medication since April 2/00 when I started the homeopathic treatment.

I'm not posting this to start the usual debate about alternative medicine. I'm just stating the results that I've personally had. I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that she continues to be healthy, because for me, that's more important than WHICH cure worked for her.

Back to your original question: yes, the AeroMask helped. (But was QUITE expensive -- approx. $500 to purchase plus about $150 in medication per month for the inhalers). If you want more information about the mask, you're welcome to contact me directly. Hope everything works out for you.

Posted on Sunday, Sep 3, 2000 - 9:35 am:

Thats Ok Sheila, I don't mind putting in my thoughts. Homeopathic medication has not been shown to be efficaous for COPD and its place in any medical regimen is highly questionable at this time.

The only real treatment for COPD is to remove the animal from the offending allergin. As Sheila says: the long term use of corticosteroids for COPD will not prevent the permanant damage done to the lungs, it is to be used to ease horses with acute problems and to minimize the damage during these acute bouts.
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 19, 2000 - 11:01 am:

Hi Margie, I tried to use the aeromask on my mare, she got used to the mask itself quite quickly but reacted violently to the inhaler. My girl is 17 hands and I am 5,3 so it was a no go. If you decide to buy one, try your nearest University Vet hospital, I bought mine through them for $325.00. Good luck, Val

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 20, 2000 - 8:33 pm:

Hi Valerie, thanks for your feedback. I did purchase a mask (never thought about the vet school option). Have been talking with a vet from UC Davis and she gave me a recommendation on which inhaler to use. My horse has been handling both the mask and inhaler with no problem. When the weather finally cools off and he is not breathing so hard I am going to take him in and have him scoped and see how things are looking.
Thanks again.

Margie
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