2nd Day

OK, so I didn't get my first day posted when I wrote it.  Now we are on to day 2 (several days later). 

I had an interesting case today I would like to share.  2 horses with severe COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), also known as heaves....similar to asthma in people.  The owners were told sometime ago to wet their hay.  This is one component that is helpful.  But these horses needed more than just that.  These horses were treated medically & some new management tools were implemented.  I thought I would share with you a few management things we can all do.

We are lucky in the dry, northern climates to not see this disease as frequently as in the humid, damp, climates where molds abound.  But we do see this in the north.  Some management things that should be done for all...doing the best that we can.  1) Don't feed dusty or moldy hay...if it doesn't smell scrumptious to you &/or you turn your head away because of the dust - please don't feed it to your horses, 2) if your horse is kept in a stall, frequently kneel down on the floor, does the ammonia smell knock your socks off??  Please get it under control for your horses sake.  I can't tell you how many times I have gone into a stall to do something with a foal, I lean down to work with the foal & my nostrils start burning from the ammonia - think of how often that foal &/or horse lays down with their nostrils close to the ground ---also ---think of where their nose is when they eat (off the ground), 3)  please do what you can to manage the dust your horse lives in, remeber, if their footing is dusty - they are often shuffling along - kicking up dust - with their nose to the ground looking for a green stem.  Just a few things to ponder.  I hope tomorrow you get to enjoy some precious time with a horse!!