This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Respiratory System » Heaves & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease »
  Discussion on Heavy Breather
Author Message

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2001 - 12:21 pm:

I have read and re-read all the posts and articles pertaining to heaves and COPD. I still need to post my concern.

My coming 5 year old TWH experiences 3 to 4 episodes of panting type breathing every May and June. These episodes are short lived and can happen either while at rest in the paddock or after a ride, but they happen only on very hot and dry days. During these 'pants' his breathing is shallow but sounds clear (no rattling, no nasal discharge) and he recovers very quickly (an episode seems to only last for 20-30 minutes). Example: Yesterday we went for a leisurley 2 hour ride (mostly walking as it was quite hot for this time of year), and after about 1 hour of riding he began to pant, he was not sweating. After hosing him down his breathing returned to normal very quickly. He is a black horse (does color have anything to do with heat tolerance in horses?) I know if I wear black on an 80 degree day I'm pretty hot. He never seems upset, stressed or depressed during these episodes. There has been no changes in his diet. We think we have ruled out feed. We have not had rain in our parts yet this spring...everything is very dry and extremely dusty. I know a good rain would solve his problems.

I know there could be a multitude of things going on here and will probably need to have a vet look at him, I guess I'm just hoping beyone hope that someone might tell me that it may be nothing to be too concerned about (although I doubt it).

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2001 - 6:25 pm:

oops

Posted on Monday, May 14, 2001 - 6:26 pm:

There is a disease, anhiDrOsis, that causes horses not to sweat properly. There is an article on it. Maybe you can read it and see if this could be your horses problem.
~Barbara

Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2001 - 6:52 am:

Hello Sherri,
I don't think your horse has COPD. Our problem is that we only know what you think you see. If we were there looking at the horse we might say "oh that's not bad" or we might say "wow that is really remarkable". It is the problem with this type advice.

I think this behavior is indicative of getting rid of excessive heat. But if this is a problem why only in May and June? With you being in Canada, maybe he still has some winter coat, or as you begin back riding it takes a while for him to get into condition? What reasons can you come with for this annomaly?

Black affects his heat retention when the sun shines on him: black absorbs more of the heat rays than any other color.
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2001 - 10:53 am:

Thanks Dr. O. Even though I know you can't diagnose on only 'what I think I see' I still appreciate the advice I get on this website and highly respect your opinion. What you say about him getting rid of excess heat is very possible, especially in the spring when he hasn't conditioned himself to summer's heat, and yes, he does have some winter coat left, although not a lot. For the past 2 years we have experienced July and August type weather in April and May, hot, without rain and high winds, making for a very hot, dry and dusty spring. And as I have only had this horse for the 2 years, and I have seen it for 2 years in a row, I guess this could be a reasonable explanation. The breeder of this horse said he never noticed any of what I described when I called him about it prior to purchase but seemed genuinely concerned and interested and I do trust this person.

Barb, he does sweat - I just haven't been riding him into a sweat because of the panting.

One of the vets where I work suggested that it could also be an airborne allergy that only affects him in the spring.

Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 8:13 am:

The allergy is possible, but generally the irritation causes coughing also.
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 10:53 am:

That's kind of what I thought, but there is no cough. It's baffling, but he certainly isn't feeling sick. We watched them race around in a new large grassy, treed paddock last night like a couple of kids that had just been let loose in a candy store. After about 20 minutes of serious running, bucking, rearing and general hard play, there was no excessive panting, both horses were breathing as is expected after that type of workout and were breathing normally again after about 10 minutes. I guess I'll just keep monitoring him for now.

Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2001 - 4:46 am:

Sherri, my horse does something similar. We're in the southern hemisphere, so our horses now have their winter coats. Nights are cold but daytime temps can still be in the low 70's and the sun is quite strong. We do basic dressage and trail riding 5 or 6 days a week, the horse is in good condition. I've just noticed that even after a little trot or a long walk, he is breathing as though he's exercised much harder--his flanks visibly moving in and out. I feel that the solution is to have him clipped, but he will not be ridden for the month of June so I'm not clipping him yet, and so can't test my theory until July. Meanwhile I'm trying to ride earlier in the a.m. when it's cooler to see if this helps. And by the way--my black dog can come in panting after she's been lying in the winter sun for 20 minutes, while the rest of us are wearing sweaters against the chill!

Posted on Monday, May 28, 2001 - 10:58 am:

Hi Spider,

Nice to hear that someone else has a similar experience. The 'panting' seems to have stopped for now, although a day like today would have me check him again, as it will be very hot and windy here today, which is when it seems to flare up, even when he's in his paddock at rest. We went for a fairly long ride yesterday, very hot again, and his breathing was completely normal. The theory that he is trying to blow off excess heat is interesting, I know this is how a dog gets rid of heat because they don't sweat, but a horse has the ability to sweat, so I don't really understand why he would pant, unless it's just a peculiarity with him. He does sweat normally. Oh well, for now I'm not too worried, he's very healthy and happy and hasn't 'panted' for a couple weeks now.
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC