Respiratory Supplements for Horses - Natural Support
Respiratory Support for Horses - does it matter?
Supporting your horse's respiratory health is one of the most important aspects of horse management - it is critical to both their quality of life and their ability to perform!
Breathe Easy and the Rest will Follow!
During exercise your horse breathes in time with his stride, because his abdominal and skeletal muscles help increase air movement. At canter they inhale in suspension and exhale when the front foreleg hits the ground.
Horses bodies are over 60% muscle and muscle demands a lot of oxygen. By comparison, muscle mass for an average 18-40year old woman is 24-30%. Horses also breathe only through their nostrils, not the mouth, and the narrow upper airway and long distance from nose to lungs makes it hard for a horse to move air in and out.
Horses have a higher heart rate at exercise than humans and as the blood is circulating faster, it means it does not stay in any location long enough to output all the oxygen it carries. When you consider these facts together, its easy to see why the respiratory system is so important.
Signs of Respiratory Infection in Horses
Because of the limitations, even a small amount of inflammation or obstruction anywhere in the respiratory tract or lungs has a big impact on your horse’s performance. You may not even recognise that your equine friend’s poor performance issues are related to respiratory health — coughing or nasal discharge are clear symptoms of respiratory problems, but “feeling heavy;” heavy breathing; breathlessness; lack of energy; poor condition; anxiousness/aggression and slow recovery times could also indicate a condition in the milder end of the equine asthma spectrum.
What causes Respiratory Problems in Horses?
With some equine respiratory diseases, the diaphragm is unable to pull air into the lungs on its own, so the abdominal muscles are recruited to help. This creates what is known as a heave line along the abdomen and is why respiratory issues take their toll on the horse's physical and mental well-being.
Why is my horse coughing and How can I support lung function?
Some things you can do to help your horse’s respiratory health include:
- Regular vaccination against equine influenza, as recommended by vets, will reduce the chance of contracting the disease and reduce its severity if your horse does become exposed to it.
- Feeding wet/steamed hay or haylage to reduce dust and spores.
Changing bedding to one that’s low in dust – cardboard is dust free but if your horse is particularly dirty, large flake, dust extracted shavings or hemp/miscanthus are other good options. If your horse has a compromised respiratory system and is really struggling, or if your horse is coughing regularly then rubber matting alone may have to be used - although the ammonia smell can also be irritating to the lungs so there may be a balance to strike.
- Increase turnout, so they can get as much fresh air into the lungs as possible
- Remove your horse from his stable when mucking out, as it can kick up a lot of dust and ammonia smell
- Dampen dry feed to prevent dust being inhaled while he’s eating. Chaff can be particularly irritating to horses with sensitive airways
- Water dusty school surfaces before working your horse on them or avoid during dry spells if that is not possible
- Clean your horse’s stable regularly, removing any dust or cobwebs, jetwash out using a disinfectant to get rid of mold and spores
- Isolate new horses on the yard for at least two weeks to ensure they’re not carrying any respiratory disease
Feeding a quality, 100% natural supplement like UltraAir can support both the immune and respiratory systems for easier breathing and a more comfortable horse. UltraAir is very affordable when compared to the cost of nebulisers, steroids and other treatments recommended by vets. UltraAir provides comprehensive support for optimal lung function and respiratory comfort.
- UltraAir is an all natural product containing herbs for horses with respiratory problems - helping to loosen mucus/phlegm and supporting their expulsion, facilitating easy breathing.
- UltraAir helps to to soothe sensitivity for comfort, respite and ease of breathing.
- UltraAir contains natural antioxidants to support immune function and to aid the body's natural defences against respiratory infections
- UltraAir contains nutrient-dense superfoods delivering essential vitamins, minerals and natural antioxidants
- UltraAir supports Digestive Health with prebiotics aiding gut microbiome diversity and optimal nutrient absorption
Suitable as a daily supplement for horses sensitive to dust, horses sensitive to pollen, horses with a cough and as a general respiratory aid for horses who struggle with breathing.
