March 2004

Managing The Horse With Heaves Or COPD

As the humidity rises, so do acute outbreaks of heaves.

Maximum turnout is one of the best things you can do for a horse with heaves.

Heaves is the equine equivalent of asthma. In its later stages, it’s closer to emphysema. How much management changes, diet and even medications can help a horse with heaves depends on how long he has had the condition and how much irreversible damage has been done to his lungs. Usually, however, you can make a difference in his comfort level.

Although a few horses have sensitivities to certain pasture plants, or possibly molds growing on them, most horses with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the proper term for heaves) do better when kept outside as much as possible. …