Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm a novice horse owner. My miniature was recently diagnosed with heeves. He has had rounds of cortisone, climbuterol and is now on an antihistamine twice a day. He has a great appetite but almost constantly sounds as though he's trying to play a trumpet - badly. The vet's advice is to try to find him a home in a cooler climate or put him down when he becomes too uncomfortable. Neither choice is one I like and was wondering if anyone has advice on how to make life better for him. Thanks.

Sorry you're going through this.

Is he off hay altogether? Mold spores in hay can be a big trigger for heaves. I'm not a big fan of pelleted feeds but in this case I'd try it. Unless he can be on pasture 24/7?

Some horse owners are having good luck treating heaves with Singulair, you might want to talk to your equine vet about that.

I also found this on Medline, might be helpful... GOOD LUCK!

Effect of nutritional antioxidant supplementation on systemic and pulmonary antioxidant status, airway inflammation and lung function in heaves-affected horses.
Equine Vet J 34[7]:705-12 2002 Nov
Kirschvink N, Fievez L, Bougnet V, Art T, Degand G, Smith N, Marlin D, Roberts C, Harris P, Lekeux P
Laboratory for Functional Investigation, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium.

An oxidant/antioxidant imbalance in favour of oxidants has been identified as playing a decisive role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory airway diseases. Nutritional antioxidant supplementation might reduce oxidative damage by enhancement of the antioxidant defence, thereby modulating inflammatory processes. In a placebo-controlled, blind study, it was tested whether a dietary antioxidant supplement administered for 4 weeks would improve lung function and reduce airway inflammation in heaves-affected horses. Eight horses in clinical remission of heaves were investigated at rest and after a standardised exercise test before and after treatment with an antioxidant supplement (consisting of a mixture of natural antioxidants including vitamins E and C and selenium from a variety of sources) or placebo (oatfeed pellets without additive). Pulmonary function and exercise tolerance were monitored; systemic and pulmonary lining fluid uric acid, glutathione and 8-epi-PGF(2alpha) were analysed, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology and inflammatory scoring of the airways were performed. The antioxidant treatment significantly improved exercise tolerance and significantly reduced endoscopic inflammatory score. Plasma uric acid concentrations were significantly reduced, suggesting downregulation of the xanthine-dehydrogenase and xanthine-oxydase pathway. Haemolysate glutathione showed a nonsignificant trend to increase, while plasma 8-epi-PGF(2alpha) remained unchanged. Pulmonary markers and BAL cytology were not significantly affected by antioxidant supplementation. The present study suggests that the antioxidant supplement tested modulated oxidant/antioxidant balance and airway inflammation of heaves-affected horses.
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Christie Keith
Caber Feidh Scottish Deerhounds
Holistic Husbandry since 1986
www.caberfeidh.com/

I have to agree with the previous poster, there are number of things that can be done short of putting him down. I would suggest you need to find another vet with more experience. I personally know of one show horse that shows on a regular basis and does fine as long as he is not stressed/is kept on a pelleted diet and pasture. What area of the country do you live in?

John Cherry
Cherryville Farms

Cherryville Farms