The Effects of Dust Particles in Equine Upper Respiratory Diseases
Date
2019-05-09
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Abstract
Equine upper respiratory diseases are the most common types of diseases in horses, especially for horses kept in barns for long periods of time. One of the most common types is Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO). RAO is caused by the buildup of dust and mold in the respiratory system. RAO can’t be fully cured and if the disease is severe enough, it can cause a horse to be in constant distress and lead poor performance in the future. However, there are several ways to help ease the horses’ pain and discomfort. The most common method for treating the symptoms of this disease is to administer steroids and other medications. Although RAO can be temporarily masked with basic medications, a horses’ symptoms never seem to fully go away or decrease in severity when treated in this manner. There are several methods and practices used to help minimize the symptoms of RAO. This can be accomplished by first developing an understanding of the equine anatomy and obtaining basic information on upper respiratory diseases. Once that is established, a person must look into the main methods to eliminate dust and mold from a horses feed and prevent them from inhaling these microbes. Once that is established, the hygienic quality of your hay should be tested before purchasing it and by using equipment such as hay steamers or soaking the hay. Limiting the amount of dust inhaled by the horse can be done by increasing a horse’s turnout and improving the air quality in the barn. If all of these methods are implemented when treating a horse with RAO, it will not only relieve horses of the symptoms, it can improve their quality of life and increase overall health.
Description
Thesis completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Alfred University Honors Program.
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Thesis
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Keywords
Honors thesis, Equine studies, Horses, Respiratory diseases