Feeling So Guilty!

For some time now my Clyde cross, Paddy, has been suffering. He is a trooper and such a “forward-thinking” horse, that I attributed his respiratory difficulties to humid Maryland summers, excessive heat, and being unfit. I re-doubled my efforts to get him fit and to get some weight off, but on the first truly hot day he came in from the field with nostrils dilated, sides heaving, struggling to breathe. Time for a vet check. It turns out it was not the heat, but instead he was suffering from constricted bronchial passages due to allergies. What?! I think. He’s never had this problem before. It turns out horses can develop allergies, just as humans, later in life. And horse with short, thick necks (check all above) were particularly susceptible. My poor horse was trying to breathe through a soda straw while I was asking him to work harder, to get fitter. More frightening, left untreated it could cause damage to the larynx, making the horse a roarer. Now I know and we are putting him on a low dose of Ventipulmin Syrup (Clenbuterol HCl) which has bronchodialating properties (among other things), used for horses with obstructed airways. Interestingly enough, this medicine is illegally used in body-building and for weight loss. The side-effects can be a little frightening, from “mild” sweating to tremors. I also imagine it will be illegal for horse shows, as well. So far (only two doses) I have not noticed any improvement. Will keep you posted, and I am very interested to hear from any others out there with similar horse allergies or compromised breathing problems. How is it being treated? Maybe take a tip from California Crome and employ a nasal strip?