Respiratory problems in horses are frequently the cause of poor sportive performances. The most frequently occurring lower respiratory tract disorders are Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO) also known as Heaves, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD) and Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage (EIPH) also known as Bleeding. Typically, their treatment includes systemic administration of drugs using injections or the oral route, however administration via inhalation through horse nebuliser masks and inhalers are now considered to be a viable alternative way to treat respiratory disorders (including breathing, airway or lung problems). Nortev's Flexineb E3 is an easy-to-use delivery device that produces a very fine mist of aerosolized drug or natural therapy solution enabling this method of treatment for the horse.

Some examples of drugs that have been successfully nebulised using the Flexineb E3 are:

— Antibiotics such as Cobactan® and Excenel®
— Corticosteroids such as Pulmocort® and Dexamethasone
— Bronchodilators such as Atrovent® and Ventolin™
— Mucolytics such as Parvolex® and Saline solution
— Saline solution with a few drops of Olbas oil or Eucalyptus oil will also nebulise

Please note the viscosity of the drug will affect the nebulisation rate and delivery time.

To overcome this some drugs can be diluted with saline solution to increase the nebulisation rate. Refer to our Medication Guide on our Product Documentation page for more details.

Please note the following are NOT to be nebulised with Flexineb: AZIUM, VET ONE DEX, VEDCO DEX, DUPHACORT, RESPRADIL, VETADINE, BROMINE, MILTON / BLEACH, COLLOIDAL SILVER, DE-IONISED WATER, IONISED WATER.

There are three Flexineb E3 Mask sizes available:

-Foal/Pony Size: will fit sizes from foals/small ponies to yearlings

-Thoroughbred Size: will fit 2 year old Thoroughbred to large Warmblood breeds

-Customised Large Size: only available on special request and will fit the largest of horses

Nortev can provide this information on request, including scientific data on nebulisation. Refer to our Medication Guide or our Product Instructions page for more details.

Yes you can, but based on our experience, it is better to stagger treatments to gain the full benefit of nebulisation treatment. Example: If your horse is suffering for an infection that is also causing inflammation, from information gathered worldwide from various veterinarians the protocol for treatment would be as follows:

Step 1: Nebulise a Bronchodilator, this will help to "open" up your horses lungs. Allow to take effect for at least 10 minutes.

Step 2: Nebulise a Corticosteroid, this will help to reduce inflammation within your horse's lungs. Allow to take effect for at least 10 minutes.

Step 3: Nebulise your Antibiotic, this will help fight the infection. Repeat as recommended by your veterinarian.

Yes, remove the nebuliser and rotate the clear aerosol chamber to the horizontal position. Insert the supplied Metered Dose Inhaler Adaptor into the top of the aerosol chamber. The Metered Dose Inhaler can then be inserted and actuated into the aerosol chamber. Refer to the Instructions for Use on our Product Documentation page for more information.

The Flexineb E3 MDI System only contains the Mask Assembly which will only allow drug delivery by Meter Dose Inhaler (MDI). It does not contain the Electronic Controller, Cable and Medication Cup which is required for nebulisation of a wide range of drugs. The standard Flexineb E3 system includes all system parts to allow both MDI and nebulisation treatments for you horse. With the full system you have the ability to deliver a broad range of medications and natural therapy solutions.

Aerosol therapy offers the benefit of delivering nebulised medication directly to the site of infection in the airways of the horse rather than going indirectly to the problem by delivering the drug orally or by injection. Check out our Product Documentation page and this will give you access to free information on the benefits of Aerosol Therapy.

The Flexineb E3 is portable, easy to use, easy to clean and disinfect; it's silent, fast and doesn't waste drug. The distance between the nebuliser and the horse's respiratory tract is short. It's also well tolerated by the horse.

Yes, please visit the Product Documentation page to access our brochure.

Yes, Flexineb E3 was designed with extensive input and support from equine veterinarians in Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Canada and United States.

Yes, to nebulise common essential oils like Eucalyptus Oil or Olbas® Oil first fill the Medication Cup with 0.9% Saline solution and then add a few drops of the oils. Please refer to our Drug Table for information on other products we have tested and advice on whether they must be diluted or not. Some natural Products can be harsh on plastics and metals so please contact Nortev for advice on products not referred to in our Drug Table. It is very important to wash out the Medication Cup after nebulising essential oil solutions to prevent potential damage to the plastics and vibrating mesh materials.

The Flexineb E3 system contains everything needed to start nebulising and treating your horse.

Approximately 3 to 4 hours depending on the condition of the battery.

Approximately 3 to 4 hours to fully charge a discharged battery.

Cleaning the Mask:

The Mask can be washed using clean warm tap water with some dish washing up liquid. Rinse off with warm clean tap water and dry off before re-use. Disinfection: First disassemble all parts of the Mask and wash them thoroughly with clean warm tap water and dish washing up liquid. Rinse the parts off and let them air dry on a clean dry surface. Disinfect each part by wiping down thoroughly with anti-bacterial wipes before re-assembly. Please click on the following link to watch our medication cup cleaning video.

Cleaning the Medication Cup:

It is very important to wash out the Med Cup after each use to avoid contamination or damage of the metallic vibrating mesh. Protect the electrical connector from getting wet when cleaning by using the protective cap provided. To clean out the Med Cup open up the soft blue Cap and place 2-3 drops of mild dishwashing liquid (do not use dishwasher detergent) into the Cup and fill with distilled water. Close the soft blue Cap and shake the Cup vigorously for about 15 seconds and squeeze the soft Cap to push water through the mesh whilst shaking. Open the Cap and rinse out from both sides with distilled water. Shake off excess water and let air dry before re-use. Disinfection: To disinfect the outside surfaces of the Med Cup use anti-bacterial wipes. Do not immerse the Med Cup in water or cleaning chemical solutions! Do not nebulise or put chemical cleaning solutions inside the Cup as they may permanently damage the metallic mesh or reduce its life! Do not use sharp instruments to clean the metallic mesh in the Med Cup! For continuity of treatment it is highly recommended to carry spare Med Cups!

Yes, please refer to the Testimonial section of our website for testimonials from a broad range of Flexineb E3 users.

Yes, please refer to the Clinical Publications and Vet Sign In sections of our website for clinical study details carried out with Flexineb E3.

For scientific data, please refer to the Product Documentation sections of our website for details.

To purchase Flexineb E3 contact your local Flexineb distributor. If there is not a distributor in your country, please contact Nortev by email at info@nortev.com or by telephone to +353 (0) 91 799778 or place your order using our online shop on this site. Shipping cost options will be itemised if you buy online or by your distributor if ordering over the phone.

The Flexineb E3 system is robust but you must take care of it if you want trouble free use. Always stay with the horse during use, clean it regularly and store it safely away from freezing temperatures and damp conditions. Like all electro-mechanical devices it has some wearing parts which can wear out or become damaged during use. For example, the Medication Cup is a replaceable part and its life is very dependent on the drugs nebulised and how well maintained it is between uses. Typical life of a Medication cup with 0.9% Saline is 150 treatments however this can be reduced if many different drugs or natural therapies are nebulised in the same cup or if the cup is not cleaned regularly. The rechargeable battery will eventually require replacement after 12 months approx depending on usage and number of charge / discharge cycles. If you have a problem or need support, take a look at our Troubleshooting Guide section first to see if you can identify what is gone wrong, otherwise just contact our Customer Service Team and we will get your Flexineb E3 working again as soon as possible.

Information on product Warranty can be found in the Instructions for Use on our Product Documentation page.

Yes, spare parts are available and can be ordered directly from Nortev's online shop or by contacting our Customer Service Team on +353 (0)91 799778.

No. For warranty reasons, safety and trouble free use it is highly recommended to use Nortev approved spare parts and cleaning solutions. For example, if you use a different charger it could damage the electronic controller. Use of non-approved cleaning solutions and chemicals could corrode and damage the materials in the Flexineb E3 parts.

The Flexineb E3 product is unique for equine use but Nortev have another device called Flexineb C1 for use on small animals. With Flexineb C1 you will be able to treat a large number of respiratory issues suffered by cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, rodents and other small animals. If you require any additional information, please contact our Customer Service Team on +353 (0)91 799778.