COPD in the horse is a common problem that has been around for quite some time, dating back years and decades. Despite the condition being ever increasingly more diagnosed, the treatment strategies have not changed, nor have the outcomes. Most horses with COPD just get worse over time, often requiring higher and higher doses of medications and retirement from competition or life in general. Is there a better way?
COPD is an acronym for ‘chronic obstructive pulmonary disease’, which is common not just in the horse but in people as well. There are other names given for the syndrome as well, including RAO or ‘recurrent airway obstruction’. COPD is different in the clinical presentation from IAD or ‘inflammatory airway disease’ and it is important to understand this as the therapy is different because the underlying cause is different in the horse.
COPD tends to reveal itself in horses that are heavier set, often metabolic or pre-metabolic in nature. COPD leads to a difficulty breathing at times and has more mucous associated with the condition along with coughing. IAD tends to be more common in the leaner horse, who are not metabolic. Their airways are generally drier in nature and more irritated with less mucous. Very important to keep in mind! Essentially, one is ‘wetter’ and the other is ‘drier’.
My general approach for the average horse with COPD is very similar to that for a metabolic horse, as most COPD horses are overweight and at least ‘pre-metabolic’ in my opinion.
- Clean up the diet, improve the quality of forage being fed and stimulate exercise to help improve inflammatory status and clear airways.
- Eliminate all supplements as not only are they often not helping, but they are also usually contributing to more mucous creation in the body through interference with digestion and the digestive microbiome. Start with a clean slate moving forward!
- Cur-OST EQ Total Support is my main herbal formula that I will use in almost every case of COPD in the horse. This formula helps us to manage the inflammatory process, improve digestion, detoxify the body, and even provide a low level of whole food nutrition for cellular support.
- Cur-OST EQ Tri-GUT is the second formula that I use and this formula helps us to manage and improve the digestive microbiome, while helping to mildly ‘dry’ out the body and reduce dampness and mucous formation. It is also a potent anti-inflammatory formula and assists with immune function.
- Most medications can and should be eliminated as they are usually not helping the condition much and more times than not are making matters worse. That is a personal decision by the owner.
This is the approach that I will use along with dietary changes and elimination of other supplements. Most of these COPD horses do quite well after the first month or two and continue to improve over time. The approach is simple, yet often very effective.
Cur-OST EQ Revive and COPD in the Horse
Many COPD horses have underlying immune issues and dysfunction, as the immune system is linked back to the digestive microbiome. They are forming excess mucous because of poor digestion as well. The Cur-OST EQ Revive blend is a formula that can help us to take these COPD horses to the next level.
Cur-OST EQ Revive is an herbal formula consisting of two herbs; Astragalus membranaceus and Cordyceps sinensis. It is also an herbal formula that we researched years ago that helped to improve performance times in barrel racing Quarter horses. Interesting when you look at it, because this group of horses are the heavier breeds and those more prone to COPD.
The Cur-OST EQ Revive can benefit the horse with COPD from several standpoints:
- It helps to increase energy in the body, which means it helps cellular repair and ATP energy production. This benefits many aspects of health and performance.
- It can benefit digestion, improve the microbiome, and impact inflammation in the body.
- Both herbs directly impact the immune response, helping to balance it and make it more effective and targeted.
- Both herbs directly impact the lungs and respiratory system, helping to improve airflow, reduce mucous and enhance oxygen exchange.
Cur-OST EQ Revive is one herbal formula that is a deeply treasured secret for many horse owners. It is an herbal blend that is often used to improve performance in horses, but the same reasons that it benefits those horses can be beneficial to those horses with COPD. It can be added to the above regimen as needed.
COPD, like many other conditions in the horse, are not difficult to manage and gain improvement over time. The regimen outlined above is often very effective and can reduce the need for or even eliminate medications when applied properly.
Author: Tom Schell, D.V.M, CVCH, CHN