Horse Emphysema

Horse Emphysema is rather like 'farmer's lung' in the human. Spores from hay and straw are breathed into the lungs causing irritation and a very dry cough. It is not 'broken wind' and is, in most cases,curable. To relieve this condition the horse must be kept in dust-free environment. All his feeds should he damp and his hay should be soaked in water overnight. As an alternative to hay,one of the vacuum-packed, dried grass products may be used.

Horses suffering from emphysematous conditions should be bedded down on wood shavings or peat, to avoid subjecting them to the spores that are found in straw. Neglecter sometimes brings relief when the horse is coughing.Work should be regulated to avoid too much hard galloping in dry, dusty conditions. A short pipe opener, once a week, may however help a horse that suffers in this way.