Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

By: Dr. Philip Johnson

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Section: Overview

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Equine chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a non-infectious respiratory disease in which inflammation in the small airways of the lung leads to impaired ventilation. COPD is possibly the most common medical condition of mature horses and is a common cause of a premature end to their athletic careers.

Normally, the lungs supply the blood with oxygen inhaled from the outside air, and dispose of waste carbon dioxide in the exhaled air, a process known as respiration. Air is breathed into and out of the lungs through the airway, which begins at the nostrils and passes down the windpipe (trachea) into the lungs. The final smallest branches of the airway, where the oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange takes place, are known as terminal bronchioles.

Most commonly, COPD occurs in cold climates where horses are kept in barns for prolonged periods of time and where hay is moldy.

It is believed that COPD is caused by an allergic reaction to these molds when horses inhale them, causing an inflammation in the terminal bronchioles ("bronchiolitis").

COPD is also known by a number of other names. Each of these terms refers to some different aspect of the clinical manifestation of this important and common problem of mature horses. Other terms that are (broadly) used to refer to the same (very similar) clinical syndrome include:

Heaves

Recurrent airway disease

Inflammatory airway disease

Chronic bronchitis/bronchiolitis

Small airway disease

Bronchiolar hyperreactive disease

Equine asthma

Emphysema

Broken wind

Hay sickness

Summer pasture associated obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic airway disease

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of COPD should be considered for many problems associated with the respiratory system of mature horses. Oftentimes, observant veterinarians will detect signs of COPD in horses presented for examination for other problems. For example, during routine vaccinations, a horse may breathe with slightly increased rate and effort at rest. Clinical problems such as coughing, exercise intolerance, inappropriately increased respiratory effort following exercise, nasal discharge, and sudden-onset severe difficulty with breathing should all warrant consideration of COPD. In horses that are losing weight as a result of COPD, the weight loss is usually not as prominent as the abnormalities associated with breathing.

In many instances, the diagnosis of COPD can be made based on assessment of the horse's respiratory medical history and the results of physical examination.

Treatment

Treatment for COPD is primarily aimed at controlling the enviroment and preventing worsening of signs. Some medications but be affective in reducing the signs of illness.

What to Watch For

The most common symptoms of COPD are directly related to increased resistance to air movement through the airway passages as a result of bronchiolitis. All of these clinical signs are more prominent at times when horses are exposed to antigens in the atmosphere, typically during periods of indoor accommodation.

Increased respiratory effort

Intermittent coughing

Bilateral nasal discharge

Weight loss

Increased temperature

Heave line

Although there are numerous other causes of weight loss and exercise intolerance, COPD is generally the most common cause of coughing, nasal discharge, and respiratory embarrassment in adult horses. COPD is so common that, in many instances, the significance of signs of mild disease (such as intermittent coughing or slight nasal discharge) is not properly appreciated. All too often, intermittent coughing in barn-accommodated horses is attributed to an "innocuous" barn cough. In those cases, recognition and early treatment for COPD would be more effective than, as often happens, waiting until severe lung damage (irreversible lung scarring) has occurred.

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1 Inflammatory Airway Disease in Performance Horses
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1Bacterial Pneumonia in the Horse
Pneumonia refers to inflammation of the lungs, usually due to a bacterial infection. Most horses get pneumonia by inhaling bacteria, which are often normal inhabitants of the upper airways.
Read More
2Dorsal Displacement of the Soft Palate
There are two basic forms of DDSP. In the first type, dorsal displacement of the soft palate is present continuously. In the second form, the soft palate displaces dorsally only during exercise, or intermittently....
Read More
3Guttural Pouch Tympany
Guttural pouch tympany refers to distention of the guttural pouches with air. It does not appear to cause the horse any pain, but it can cause respiratory distress.
Read More
4Inflammatory Airway Disease in Performance Horses
Don't assume that coughing in an otherwise healthy horse is normal. Coughing is one of the first indicators that your horse may have inflammatory airway disease, also known as IAD. With recent advances,...
Read More
5Laryngeal Hemiplegia (Roaring)
Laryngeal hemiplegia is the term used to describe the inability of the horse’s larynx (connects the nasal passages to the windpipe) to fully dilate during breathing.
Read More
6Sinusitis
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinus lining, often occurring during an upper respiratory infection, caused by either bacteria or viruses. It can also be a complication of tooth infection, allergy...
Read More

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

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