Respiratory illnesses are health issues relating to breathing and the respiratory tract, such as asthma and pneumonia. Just like people, working animals can often suffer from respiratory illnesses, which can make it extremely difficult and painful for them to work. Left untreated, respiratory illnesses can lead to serious complications, which is why working animals with a suspected respiratory condition should always be checked by a veterinary professional.
Read on to find out more about common respiratory illnesses in equids, the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory conditions, and how to address a donkey’s or horse’s breathing problems.
Common respiratory illnesses in horses and donkeys
Our vets often treat working horses and donkeys who are suffering from respiratory illnesses. Some common respiratory illnesses in horses and donkeys that our vets encounter include, but are not limited to:
- Equine asthma: a respiratory condition that causes a horse or donkey’s airways to become inflamed. Equine asthma is also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heaves and recurrent airway obstruction. It is caused by allergens in a working animal’s environment. Working animals suffering from equine asthma will find it difficult to breathe.
- Pneumonia: An infection of the lungs that causes inflammation of the lungs. It is more common in older animals and foals and can be life-threatening.
Symptoms of respiratory conditions
Working animals with respiratory conditions can suffer from a number of symptoms. In some cases, respiratory conditions can be life-threatening for working animals. They can be caused by allergens such as dust, mould and pollen, or by bacterial and viral infections.
Common symptoms can include:
- Coughing
- Loss of appetite
- Laboured breathing
- Nasal discharge
- Wheezing
- Flaring nostrils when breathing
- Not wanting to work or moving much slower than normal
- A high temperature
Managing respiratory illnesses
If a working animal is brought to a SPANA veterinary centre or mobile clinic with a suspected respiratory illness, our vets will examine the animal carefully. Depending on the cause of the symptoms, the vet may administer anti-inflammatories to make them feel more comfortable and decrease the inflammation in their airways, as well as vitamins to boost their general health.
If a bacterial respiratory infection is diagnosed, our vets will start the animal on a course of antibiotics and show their owner how to administer the medication at home.
Learn how our vets in Mali treated a working donkey’s irritating cough that was making him weaker and more tired than usual.
How to maintain good respiratory health in equids
Although many equine respiratory illnesses can be treated successfully, some conditions such as asthma in horses can only be managed. That’s why it’s important to ensure working animals have a good diet and a clean, comfortable shelter where they can rest.
Advice that our vets can give owners whose animals are suffering from respiratory illnesses can include:
- Give their animal plenty of water and rest them in a clean and well-ventilated shelter until they have recovered.
- Make sure their animal’s shelter has good ventilation so that fresh air can circulate.
- Keep their animal’s shelter clean so that their respiratory illness will not be aggravated by dust, dirt or ammonia gases.
- Soak their feed in water so that it is not so dusty.
Thanks to our supporters’ compassion, SPANA can provide expert veterinary care to sick and injured working animals who are suffering from respiratory illnesses. We can also empower their owners by providing training in good animal welfare and teaching children about the importance of working animals. If you’re interested in supporting SPANA, learn how you can get involved.