Prophylactic effects of sodium cromoglycate on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the horse.

This research studies the benefits of using Sodium Cromoglycate in treating horses with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), revealing that it can control clinical symptoms and offers a method for prevention.

Overview of the Research

• The research was conducted to understand the impact of Sodium Cromoglycate, a drug often used in humans for prevention of allergic respiratory disease, on horses affected with COPD.
• The study found that horses with COPD became symptom-less within 4-32 days when stabled in a controlled environment. The time taken for this depended on the severity of the disease and the horse’s age.

The Effect of Sodium Cromoglycate

• Sodium Cromoglycate was given through inhalation to 56 horses afflicted with COPD.
• It was observed that there was a linear response between the number of successive days the horses were treated with the drug and the length of remission of COPD signs.
• This was noted when the horses were exposed to natural antigens typically found in poor quality straw bedding.

Dosage Effect

• The effects of Sodium Cromoglycate were studied considering a single daily dose and multiple doses over successive days.
• A daily dose of 80mg of Sodium Cromoglycate given for a single day prevented the signs of COPD for an average of 3.6 days.
• When the same 80mg dose was given over four successive days, it led to the prevention of the clinical signs for around 24.3 days on average.

Conclusion

• The observations conclude that prophylactic treatment with inhaled Sodium Cromoglycate can effectively control the clinical signs of COPD in horses.
• This also implies the possibility of using Sodium Cromoglycate as a preventive measure for COPD in horses.