Introduction
In Human medicine Asthma is defined as a respiratory condition marked by attacks of spasm in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It is usually connected to allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity.
For decades it has been known that horses suffer from Asthma like respiratory diseases, with the same above indicators as human Asthma. These such respiratory conditions were known in Equine Medicine as IAD (Inflammatory Airway Disease), RAO “Heaves/Broken Wind” (Recurrent Airway Obstruction) and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
These conditions are so similar to Human Asthma that, as of 2017, a peer lead revised consensus statement now classifies and incorporates these above conditions under Equine Asthma. Equine Asthma contains 2 subcategories, Mild-to-moderate Equine Asthma and Severe Equine Asthma.
Equine Respiratory Disease
Respiratory diseases are both a common and a serious problem in horses, they are typically divided into conditions affecting the lower (i.e. the lungs) respiratory tract and the upper (i.e. the nose, throat and trachea) respiratory tract. These diseases can be chronic, short lasting, infectious and hard to diagnose.
Equine Respiratory diseases combined, are No.1 athletic performance inhibitor in Equine competition, both professional and amateur. Respiratory disease affect both the youngest and oldest horses, some of these diseases can have high mortality rates and effect the longevity of a horse.