Chronic obstructive bronchitis

Your horse may cough from time to time, especially in the fall and winter months. However, if the cough develops into bronchitis and becomes persistent, this is more problematic. For example, viral and fungal infections of the airways are discussed as possible causes of so-called COB (chronic obstructive (= constrictive) bronchitis). In practice, this means a permanent inflammation of the airways that is maintained by dust and gases. In the past, this disease was also known as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). However, as it differs from COPD in humans in a number of key respects, the term COB has become established. Horses with COB are characterized by strained breathing.

Definition Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention

COB not only affects your horse but is also challenging to treat and requires a consistent and long-term change in husbandry and feeding. All the more important: Pay attention to the first signs and prevent a respiratory disease from becoming chronic as early as possible. Therefore, always take your horse's cough seriously and start the appropriate treatment together with a vet as soon as possible.

DEFINITION

What is COB in horses?

Your horse's respiratory system is very efficient. With every breath, it has to deal with a wide variety of particles from the air such as viruses, bacteria, fungal spores, pollen and dust. Normally this is not a problem because your horse's body has a kind of self-cleaning mechanism. The mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes, for example, constantly produce mucus that transports these particles out again. However, this only works if your horse is healthy and its immune system is strong. If an infection such as bronchitis occurs, mucus production is temporarily increased so that the horse can cough up the harmful particles. Unfortunately, the persistent coughing also irritates the mucous membranes, which in turn increases the susceptibility to additional infections caused by viruses, bacteria and the like. In addition, other substances such as pollen, dust, gases or mold spores can enter the deeper airways more easily and trigger inflammatory and allergic reactions. A vicious circle - especially if an infection is not recognized or treated too late.

If an affected horse is not given enough rest or the disease is not treated for long enough, it can develop into a chronic disease. This can be the beginning of COB. The lungs are now permanently overloaded and are no longer able to completely remove the large amount of mostly viscous mucus - and therefore also the harmful particles. Instead, these particles become trapped in the alveoli and clog them. The result: breathing becomes more strenuous and the horse finds it much harder to breathe. In the worst case, the airways can even cramp and lead to respiratory distress.

Good to know

Horses kept in stables are more frequently affected by COB than others, as they are constantly exposed to dust from bedding and hay, ammonia gases and mold spores. The risk of COB in horses also increases in winter due to long periods of standing in the stall, little exercise and the feeding of hay.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of COB in horses

The first sign of COB you will probably notice is a regular, persistent cough in your horse. It may initially only occur on contact with stirred up dust, such as when mucking out the stall. Your horse then has an allergic reaction to the inhaled substances such as fungal spores, mite droppings or the resulting hay and straw dust. Flower or grass pollen can also trigger a reaction, as can infectious agents (e.g. viruses or bacteria). However, there are also cases of COB in which animals never cough.

The disease impairs the horse's resilience and performance because oxygen exchange is restricted. Affected horses breathe heavily even at rest and quickly become out of breath during light exertion.

Other symptoms may include:

Clear to yellowish nasal discharge
Expectoration of mucus
Wheezing, accentuated exhalation
Less appetite
Puffy nostrils
Exhaustion/lethargy

If COB remains untreated, this has an impact on breathing: the horse finds it increasingly difficult and strenuous to breathe in and out. This is manifested on the one hand by an increased breathing rate (faster breathing) and on the other hand by increased respiratory muscles. The horse has to exert more and more pressure and force to get the air out of its lungs. You can recognize this on the sides of the flanks by the so-called "steam groove": the tendons are clearly visible in this area due to the constant tension of the muscles.

The further the disease progresses, the more clearly you can see it in the animal: It loses weight and suffers from severe shortness of breath. The lack of oxygen can also cause the mucous membranes to turn blue.

CAUSES

Causes of COB

The causes of COB are varied. It is usually preceded by an acute infection such as bronchitis, which was either not recognized or recognized too late. Some horses react more sensitively in the respiratory tract and, under the same conditions, develop COB more quickly than others. We can only speculate as to why this is the case. A genetic predisposition could be a possible reason. What we do know: High dust exposure, little fresh air, harmful gases (e.g. ammonia) and an allergy to pollen and fungal spores (e.g. in hay or bedding) can delay recovery or promote a chronic course.

DIAGNOSIS

Examination and diagnosis

Presenting the horse to a vet after just a few coughs - isn't that a bit excessive? Not at all. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial for the progression of COB. If your horse's cough has already progressed to a chronic stage, the first step in taking a medical history is to take a look at the conditions under which the horse is kept and fed, examine its general condition and listen to / palpate its lungs. This is done both at rest and under stress.

The diseased areas of the lungs can also be visualized by an X-ray examination. An endoscopy of the lungs can also be used to examine tissue changes and, if necessary, tissue samples and secretions can be taken and examined. A blood test and a blood gas analysis, which assesses how well the oxygen exchange in the lungs is working, are also available for the diagnosis of COB.

TREATMENT

Treatment of COB in horses

If the suspicion of COB is confirmed in your horse, the chances of a complete cure are unfortunately slim. However, your vet can give your horse medication to alleviate the symptoms. These are usually expectorants and antispasmodics.

One of the most important measures is also to optimize the way your horse is kept and fed. Switching to hay- and litter-free housing, ideally in an outdoor stall, and regular mucking out are a start. It may also make sense to change the feed (e.g. to allergen-free feed) and soak the hay. Your vet will also be able to give you detailed advice on this.

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PREVENTION

How can I prevent COB?

Viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites - your horse's immune system faces different challenges every day. Infection usually occurs from one animal to another through direct contact, via the air (droplet infection), through body fluids (e.g. saliva or urine), but also via contaminated food/water or objects. However, before an infection can occur, your horse's body uses a few basic defense mechanisms: Skin and mucous membranes, the ciliated epithelium of the respiratory tract and even stomach acid. Once the intruders have overcome these obstacles, your horse's immune system is in top gear. It calls on immune cells and antibodies to render the invaders harmless before they can do any damage.

Despite good defenses, an infection can still occur from time to time. However, if the immune system works reliably, the symptoms are usually only mild and of comparatively short duration. The situation is different if your horse's immune system is weakened. In this case, the body's defenses are unable to withstand the various stresses. If an infection occurs, the disease breaks out with clear symptoms and the healing process can take a long time.

Optimal care and feeding is the best prevention against respiratory problems of any kind. The following helps to keep your horse's lungs and airways healthy: