Are you concerned about the respiratory health of your horse? Respiratory problems affect every animal including horses. Younger horses are more susceptible to allergens and other issues.
With that said, your horse may benefit from respiratory supplements. In today’s blog post, we will explore which nutrients are good for the respiratory health of horses and how you should go about choosing the right ones.
Common Respiratory Issues In Horses
Respiratory conditions are one of the leading causes of poor performance in horses. Common examples of respiratory health conditions include:
- Pneumonia
- Inflammatory airway disease
- Respiratory tract infections
- Recurrent airway obstruction
- Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage
Equine Respiratory Supplements
Respiratory health issues in horses may be caused by infectious diseases as well as other causes. For infectious diseases, the only solution is to talk to a vet and get the required treatment. For non-infectious respiratory issues, are usually the result of exposure to allergens or too much dust.
Respiratory supplements are designed to sustain the respiratory health of a horse. These typically work by preventing the production of excess mucus in horses to keep the airways clear. Some of the supplements are specifically designed to provide relief from symptoms caused by the effects of some allergens.
Inflammation in the respiratory tract is also another cause of concern. Some of the most well-known nutrients that have a positive impact on the lung health of horses include:
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- MSM
- Vitamin C
- Quercitin
- Superoxide
Omega-3 fatty acids are widely known to be highly effective in getting rid of inflammation in humans. It is believed that these fatty acids, particularly DHA, are also beneficial for lung health in horses. They work by reducing eosinophilic inflammation in the airways. There have been research studies that have shown that supplements with DHA help in improving lower airway inflammation in horses.
Horses produce their own vitamin C, but researchers have found that horses suffering from recurrent airway obstruction typically have lower levels of vitamin C in the airway fluid. Supplemental vitamin C may be effective for horses suffering from airway obstruction.
MSM is known to support a healthy respiratory tract in horses. There is evidence to suggest that horses with allergies to moulds, pollen, or dust find it easier to breathe with MSM. It is also known to boost the immune system and helps horses recover faster from an illness.
Choosing the Right Respiratory Supplements
As far as choosing the right respiratory supplement for your horses is concerned, there are certain things you should consider to make the right choice. It is also important to understand that supplements are meant to be used only as a supplement, which means they do not replace proper medication. With that said, it’s important to be cautious about not giving your horse too many vitamins.
One thing to consider is that horses have a much better sense of smell as compared to humans. This is why it is recommended to choose a supplement that doesn’t have too much odour or it might initiate a gag reflex in your horses.
Another important thing you need to focus on is the ingredients and the quality of the ingredients. Make sure it contains omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, garlic, cranberry and other such ingredients known to reduce inflammation and help build immunity.
Final Thoughts
Overall, respiratory issues are not that uncommon in horses. If your horse has been suffering from respiratory issues, you should immediately talk to an experienced vet and get the prescribed medication to treat the issue. In addition to the medication, supplementing your horse with high-quality respiratory supplements is a great way to reduce inflammation and boost immunity in your horses.
Equine America NZ is one of the leading providers of high-quality supplements for horses.
Please give us a call at Equine America NZ today at 0800 440 888 to learn more or leave an enquiry.
