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Topic:Respiratory Health
Respiratory health in horses encompasses the study of the equine respiratory system, its function, and the various conditions that can affect it. The respiratory system in horses includes the upper airways, lungs, and associated structures, which facilitate gas exchange and are vital for maintaining physiological homeostasis during rest and exercise. Common respiratory conditions in horses include equine asthma, infectious diseases like strangles, and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). These conditions can impact a horse's performance and overall health. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and management of respiratory health in horses.
Intraoperative Mechanical Power and Post-Anesthetic Respiratory Outcomes in Horses: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Mechanical power (MP) represents the ventilatory-delivered energy to the respiratory system, integrating multiple variables into a single parameter. It has been linked to ventilator-induced lung injury and post-ventilation complications in human medicine, while clinical relevance in equine anesthesia remains insufficient. Objective: To evaluate the association between intraoperative mechanical power and postoperative respiratory outcomes in horses undergoing inhalant anesthesia. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed anesthesia records from 843 adult horses anesthetized between 2023...
Intratracheal Leiomyosarcoma in a 13-Year-Old German Riding Pony Mare. A 13-year-old German Riding Pony mare was referred for evaluation of progressive respiratory noise and mixed dyspnoea, which rapidly deteriorated to respiratory distress. Clinical examination revealed marked rattling inspiratory and expiratory tracheal sounds and severe, rattling, vesicular lung sounds. Arterial blood gas analysis demonstrated moderate hypoxaemia (partial pressure of arterial oxygen 76 mmHg at rest). Upper airway endoscopy identified a pink, cauliflower-like pedunculated mass originating from the dorsal tracheal wall approximately 15 cm cranial to the tracheal bifurcation, cau...
Effect of lingual gauze swab placement and light exclusion on pulse oximeter agreement with arterial haemoglobin-oxygen saturation derived from blood-gas analysis in healthy anaesthetised horses. To compare peripheral arterial haemoglobin-oxygen saturation values obtained using pulse oximetry (SpO) with and without a lingual gauze swab under ambient light and light-exclusion conditions, with arterial haemoglobin-oxygen saturation derived from arterial blood-gas analysis (SaO). Methods: Prospective method-comparison study. Methods: A group of 60 healthy adult horses undergoing elective general anaesthesia. Methods: In American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification I-II horses, SpO readings were obtained under six conditions during anaesthesia: no swab, no swa...
Single-stage orthognathic correction of campylorrhinus lateralis in foals using transection and fixation: Surgical description and outcome of four horses. Campylorrhinus lateralis ('wry nose') is a rare congenital maxillofacial deformity of foals resulting in compromise of the airway and severe class 4 malocclusion. Various surgical techniques to correct the deformity have been described, but contemporary data on single-stage transection and fixation, including use of a rib graft, and long-term functional and cosmetic outcomes remain underreported. Objective: To describe the transection-and-fixation technique and perioperative management used to correct wry nose in horses, and to report postoperative complications and long-term outcomes of horse...
Clinical and microbiota alterations in performance horses undergoing long-distance transport. Transport-associated pneumonia contributes substantially to morbidity, impaired welfare, and economic loss in high-performance horses and may be associated with alterations in the respiratory microbiota. Objective: Examine the effect of long-distance transport on the respiratory microbiota and correlate changes in microbiota diversity and composition with systemic and airway inflammation. Methods: Seventeen client-owned performance horses transported from New England to Florida under optimized trailering conditions, and 12 non-traveling horses. Methods: Physical examination, blood testing, nas...
Pneumocoele sinus: Computed tomographic findings and surgical approach in a 2-year-old Cob filly. Pneumosinus dilatans and pneumocoele sinus describe abnormal hyperpneumatisation of paranasal sinuses, with the latter being accompanied by thinning of bony walls. Although recognised in human and equine medicine, to the authors' knowledge, this condition's computed tomography (CT) findings and successful surgical approach in horses have not previously been reported in conjunction. Advanced imaging, particularly CT, is pivotal for identifying abnormal sinus expansion and associated nasal obstruction. Methods: Case report. Conclusions: A 2-year-5-month-old Cob filly presented with a 1-month his...
Effects of Nebulized Alpha-2 Macroglobulin in Horses with Lower Airway Inflammation. Equine asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease with limited safe long-term treatments. Alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), a natural anti-inflammatory protease inhibitor, may provide a novel non-steroidal therapeutic option for horses with lower respiratory tract inflammation. Objective: To characterize the impact of nebulization with alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) on clinical signs, bronchoalveolar lavage cytology, and local and systemic cytokine response in horses with lower respiratory tract inflammation. Methods: Thirteen university-owned horses with lower airway inflammation were randomized...
Effects of flow-controlled expiration on oxygenation and early recovery in horses undergoing general anaesthesia. FLow-controlled EXpiration (FLEX) has been shown to significantly enhance oxygenation in horses under clinical and experimental conditions. Objective: To compare pulmonary gas exchange during early recovery following general anaesthesia in horses ventilated with FLEX compared with conventional intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) and to assess recovery characteristics between ventilation modes. Methods: Randomised, crossover in vivo experiments. Methods: Six adult horses underwent two 2-h anaesthetic episodes in a randomised crossover design (FLEX vs. IPPV), separated by a two-wee...
Effect of exercise-related nasopharyngeal disorders on upper airway function in racehorses. Exercise-related upper respiratory tract (URT) disorders are frequently diagnosed in racehorses. Treatment recommendations are routinely based on subjective assessment of clinical evaluation and exercising endoscopy findings. Objective: To objectively investigate how palatal instability (PI), intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (iDDSP), alar fold collapse (AFC), and nasopharyngeal collapse (NPC) affect upper airway function during exercise in racehorses. Methods: Observational study with case-control comparisons. Methods: Inspiratory and expiratory tracheal pressures (cmHO) wer...
Biomarkers of equine asthma: A review of the current literature. Equine Asthma (EA) is a common, lower airway disease. Yet current diagnostic standards rely on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology, which is moderately invasive and not always feasible in field conditions. This review aimed to synthesize current evidence on candidate biomarkers of EA, with a primary focus on blood-based matrices and BALF, while also including data on biomarkers measured in tracheal wash (TW), saliva and exhaled breath condensate (EBC), where available. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, and original studies in horses with mild-to-moderate or...
Detecting and measuring respiratory events in horses during exercise with a microphone: deep learning vs. standard signal processing. Monitoring respiration parameters such as respiratory rate could be beneficial to understand the impact of training on equine health and performance and ultimately improve equine welfare. In this work, we compare deep learning-based methods to an adapted signal processing method to automatically detect cyclic respiratory events and extract the dynamic respiratory rate from microphone recordings during high-intensity exercise in Standardbred trotters. Results: Our deep learning models are able to detect exhalation sounds (median F1 score of 0.94) in noisy microphone signals and show promising r...
Feasibility and safety of repeated 23% hypertonic saline boluses for electrical impedance tomography contrast enhancement in anaesthetised horses. Hypertonic saline (HS) has been used to enhance electrical impedance tomography (EIT) cardiac-related signals associated with pulmonary perfusion in other species, but its suitability and physiological effects in horses are unknown. This exploratory study aimed to determine whether intravenous administration of 100 mL of 23% HS produces a detectable change in thoracic impedance in anaesthetised horses, and to evaluate the physiological effects of repeated bolus administration. Six adult horses were anaesthetised twice using total intravenous anaesthesia. Hypertonic saline 23% was administered ...
Neuroimmune Mechanisms in Equine Asthma: Primary Inflammatory Triggers, Neuroimmune Modulation and Chronic Airway Remodelling. Equine asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lower respiratory tract, primarily associated with inhalation of organic dust, microbial particles and environmental aeroantigens. Although the inflammatory and immunological mechanisms underlying equine asthma have been extensively investigated, the potential contribution of neuroimmune pathways remains poorly understood. In humans and rodent models, asthma is increasingly recognised as a disorder involving complex bidirectional interactions between the nervous and immune systems. Sensory nerve activation, neuropeptide release, autonomic ...
Oscillometric assessment of bronchodilator response in horses with severe asthma during remission. During clinical remission of severe equine asthma (SEA), affected animals can be challenging to distinguish from healthy horses. In humans, the degree of bronchodilation achieved with a β-adrenergic bronchodilator is helpful in differentiating asthmatics from healthy subjects. Objective: To determine whether the response to an inhaled bronchodilator improves the sensitivity of oscillometry in detecting subclinical airway obstruction in horses with asthma. Methods: In vivo experiments. Methods: Nine control university-owned horses and 10 SEA horses in remission from a research herd were studie...
Thoracic electrical impedance tomography using a two-plane electrode configuration in horses. Traditional one-plane (oneP) electrical impedance tomography (EIT) electrode configurations limit evaluation to a convex lens-shaped lung slice, prone to overrepresentation of central areas. Two-plane (twoP) EIT is expected to refine this technique and result in more representative lung imaging. Objective: To compare ventilation distribution using single slice reconstructions, obtained with twoP or oneP. Methods: Computational modelling and in vivo exploratory randomised experimental trial. Methods: A finite element simulation model of oneP and twoP was calculated to estimate captured lung fie...
The Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Horses’ Nutrition-A Review. This narrative review presents examples of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in horse nutrition. Fats are essential in equine nutrition, serving not only as an energy source but also as functional components influencing health. Among them, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly EPA and DHA, play a key role in modulating inflammatory and metabolic processes. This review summarizes their effects on respiratory health, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), musculoskeletal function, reproduction, and early development. Omega-3 supplementation has been shown to support airway inflam...
A 12-year review of equestrian related injuries at a major trauma centre in South Africa. Few studies on equestrian-related injuries have specifically focused on patients in South Africa. The aim of this study was to review the spectrum of injuries and of patients treated at state-funded trauma centres in South Africa. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted over a 12-year period from July 2012 to February 2025 on all patients treated for equestrian-related injuries. Results: A total of 82 patients were included (83% male, median age: 17 years, median injury severity score (ISS): 9). The most common mechanism of injury was a fall ( = 41), followed by a kick ( = 38). Two were t...
Air pollution exposure during training impairs performance in Thoroughbred racehorses. Ambient air pollution contributes substantially to human morbidity and mortality, and athletes are recognised as a particularly vulnerable group. However, little is known about the impact of air pollution on equine athletes. Objective: To explore the relationship between air pollution exposure during the pre-competition training period and race day performance among Thoroughbred racehorses that competed on California racetracks. Methods: A retrospective longitudinal study. Methods: For each winning horse, pollutant exposure during the 21-day pre-competition training period was assigned using d...
Oral docosahexaenoic acid supplementation alters alveolar macrophage metabolism and protein and lipid profiles in the lower airway of healthy horses. To determine the impact of a commercially available docosahexaeonic acid (DHA) supplement (DHA, methylslfonylmethane, and mushroom blend) on equine alveolar macrophage metabolism and lipid and protein profiles in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) supernatant. Unassigned: This was a prospective, sequential, placebo-controlled study using 10 healthy adult horses. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected at baseline, following 45 days of oral placebo administration, and following 45 days of oral commercially available DHA supplement, with a 14-day washout. Whole blood was collected following placebo...
Nitric oxide and its role in the management of hypoxaemia in the anaesthetised horse-a narrative review. To outline historical aspects of nitric oxide, including its discovery and biological effects, to describe the current use of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) in human healthcare, and to review the available evidence on the use of pulsed iNO (PiNO) for the management of hypoxaemia in anaesthetised horses. Methods: Google Scholar and PubMed databases were searched using the search terms nitric oxide, PiNO, environment, discovery, acute respiratory distress syndrome, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, horse, pony, hypoxaemia, and anaesthesia. Conclusions: Inhaled NO is licensed in the management of hypoxic respira...
Transthoracic impedance in adult Thoroughbred horses is similar to other species. To determine transthoracic impedance (TTI) in adult horses using an exponential biphasic defibrillator and investigate patient and technique factors influencing TTI. Unassigned: A randomized crossover design with 2 phases was used. Phase 1: TTI was measured in dorsal and lateral recumbency, with and without manual pressure on the electrodes in deceased horses immediately following euthanasia. Phase 2: TTI was measured in dorsal recumbency during inspiration and expiration using anesthetized live horses sourced from 2 terminal studies. Mixed-effects linear regression modeling was performed to a...
[Pigmentation disorders in the nasal vestibule of horses with nasal discharge]. The nasal vestibule of numerous horses is pigmented. In the ventral part of the nasal vestibule, this pigmentation is often disturbed resulting in a clearly depigmented area. As nasal discharge passes this area, our study aimed at the practical quantification of the depigmented area in the nasal vestibule of horses and the analysis of its relation to nasal discharge and other parameters.This study included 74 horses (59 warmblood horses, 15 ponies) with pigmented nasal vestibule. When a depigmentation was found to be present in the ventral part, this area was photographed and quantified by use...
Disorders of the Equine Head and Neck: Larynx and Pharynx. This comprehensive review outlines the anatomy, diagnostic methods, pathophysiology, treatment, and prognosis of common equine upper airway disorders. It discusses the structure and function of the larynx and pharynx, and details diagnostic tools such as endoscopy and ultrasound. Major conditions-recurrent laryngeal neuropathy, arytenoid chondropathy, epiglottic entrapment, dorsal displacement of the soft palate, and nasopharyngeal collapse-are described with emphasis on their etiology, clinical signs, and management options for optimizing performance outcomes.
Barrel racing horses demonstrate a high incidence of nonclinical postrace airway disorders. To describe the prevalence of postrace airway abnormalities in a population of barrel racing horses competing in Oklahoma. Unassigned: A descriptive field study was conducted at a single event. Horses underwent resting endoscopy within 60 minutes of competition. Recordings were evaluated and numerical and/or binary scores assigned for pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia, recurrent laryngeal neuropathy, dorsal displacement of the soft palate, epiglottic entrapment, and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Clients completed a questionnaire detailing the horse's medical history and run time. A line...
Evidence linking ambient air pollution to domestic animal health outcomes: a scoping review. Air pollution is a major global health threat that is expected to worsen, yet its effects on domestic animals remain poorly understood. The objective of this scoping review was to synthesize existing evidence on associations between ambient air pollutants and health outcomes in domestic animals and to identify gaps to guide future research. Unassigned: A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines with 2 search databases (PubMed and Web of Science) using ...
Successful Treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in an 8-Day-Old Standardbred Foal With Intratracheal Oxygen Therapy via Temporary Tracheostomy. This report describes an 8-day-old foal diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) successfully managed using a novel approach of intratracheal oxygen delivery. Methods: An 8-day-old Standardbred filly presented for an acute onset of respiratory distress. Given the acute onset, known risk factors, bilateral diffuse infiltrate on thoracic radiographs, and low PaO:FiO ratio of 170.5, the foal was diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Initial treatment consisted of antimicrobial therapy (minocycline and metronidazole), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (flunixin meglum...
Field-applicable low-intensity exercise induces bronchodilation in horses with severe asthma. Airway dysfunction in severe equine asthma (SEA) often results in early retirement or euthanasia of affected horses. Exercise-induced bronchodilation occurs in horses with SEA after intense treadmill exercise, but the effects of a lighter, field-applicable, training regimen remain largely unexplored. Objective: To evaluate the impact of submaximal aerobic exercise on airway obstruction during exacerbation of SEA. Methods: The preliminary phase explored the effects of a 25-min standardised exercise on the lung function of eight SEA horses. As notable bronchodilation occurred, the results were c...
Iatrogenic aspiration pneumonia in six horses: A retrospective case series. Iatrogenic aspiration pneumonia is rarely reported in horses, with most cases involving lipoid pneumonia from accidental mineral oil administration. Objective: Our aim is to describe horses with iatrogenic aspiration, highlighting clinical findings, treatment, outcomes, and prognostic differences based on the aspirated material. Methods: Management of 6 horses treated at the University of Helsinki Equine hospital due to iatrogenic aspiration between 2018 and 2023 are reported. Results: Of the six horses, three survived, two of whom regained full athletic function. Survivors received water, or ...
Laser fenestration of the dorsal pharyngeal recess does not correct experimentally induced dorsal nasopharyngeal collapse in horses. To quantify the impact of experimentally induced dorsal nasopharyngeal collapse (NPC) on respiratory performance parameters and assess the efficacy of laser fenestration of the dorsal pharyngeal recess as a treatment option for experimentally induced NPC. Methods: Experimental interventional study. Methods: Six adult Standardbreds (one with naturally occurring disease). Methods: After an 8 week conditioning program, baseline parameters (V̇Omax, pharyngeal pressure, peak airflows, upper airway resistance) and dynamic endoscopy videos were collected in a high-speed treadmill test (T1). Dorsal N...
