Kipcha
Well-Known Member
So, we have a 20 something year old horse named Buzz that we have had for 2 and a half years now, and we're sort of at a dead end on what to do for the poor guy.
We originally got him as a second horse after we got Ben, my Arabian. He came from a close relative of a friend so we did not get him vet checked (Our first mistake, I know) and wound up buying him. Turned out, this was a bad move.
Buzz had something called Heaves, which is pretty much asthma for horses. It's caused by being fed mouldy hay, which causes the particles to enter the lungs and cause inflammation and laboured breathing. However, it can be managed with good feed and overall, just good care. There were more issues, but that's getting into it too much. Point is, we bought him, brought him home, realised something was a little off and asked for the owner to take him back only to have him refuse. Our 12 year old horse turned out to be over 20. It was then we realised he had been dumped on us.
However, we know that he has his limits and while riding, we allow him to set the pace and we're very aware of him. Until recently, he's been perfectly happy despite his misfortunes. His not his fault that he was dealt such a cruddy hand earlier in life and we just loved him with all we got.
But now, we're in a rut. Buzz's breathing has started becoming more laboured and he seems to be less and less willing to run around and play like he used to. And yet, he doesn't seem to be giving up, if you know what I mean. He still seems happy enough on normal days, when the temperature is cooler. But on hot days, his nostrils are flared and his breathing is extremely prounounced.
I'm just wondering if anyone on here has experience with heaves? We've tried the syrup, which didn't work and normally ended with us and Buzz frustrated after giving it. The vet suggested a steroid treatment, but said it's temporary and with his age, lowering his immune system would probably not be the best idea. Is there something, perhaps, that we haven't found yet? Because we're at our wits end. But I do not think it's time for euthanasia, because on his good days, he still seems just as happy as ever. So we need to just find something for those bad days.
I know this is a long stretch, but I thought it was worth a shot.
We originally got him as a second horse after we got Ben, my Arabian. He came from a close relative of a friend so we did not get him vet checked (Our first mistake, I know) and wound up buying him. Turned out, this was a bad move.
Buzz had something called Heaves, which is pretty much asthma for horses. It's caused by being fed mouldy hay, which causes the particles to enter the lungs and cause inflammation and laboured breathing. However, it can be managed with good feed and overall, just good care. There were more issues, but that's getting into it too much. Point is, we bought him, brought him home, realised something was a little off and asked for the owner to take him back only to have him refuse. Our 12 year old horse turned out to be over 20. It was then we realised he had been dumped on us.
However, we know that he has his limits and while riding, we allow him to set the pace and we're very aware of him. Until recently, he's been perfectly happy despite his misfortunes. His not his fault that he was dealt such a cruddy hand earlier in life and we just loved him with all we got.
But now, we're in a rut. Buzz's breathing has started becoming more laboured and he seems to be less and less willing to run around and play like he used to. And yet, he doesn't seem to be giving up, if you know what I mean. He still seems happy enough on normal days, when the temperature is cooler. But on hot days, his nostrils are flared and his breathing is extremely prounounced.
I'm just wondering if anyone on here has experience with heaves? We've tried the syrup, which didn't work and normally ended with us and Buzz frustrated after giving it. The vet suggested a steroid treatment, but said it's temporary and with his age, lowering his immune system would probably not be the best idea. Is there something, perhaps, that we haven't found yet? Because we're at our wits end. But I do not think it's time for euthanasia, because on his good days, he still seems just as happy as ever. So we need to just find something for those bad days.
I know this is a long stretch, but I thought it was worth a shot.