Common Ailments for Horses
Horse Allergies and Hay-Fever
Does your horse suffer from allergies and hay-fever like symptoms? Spring and summer can
certainly be the time of year when such unpleasant problems can make themselves known.
Just like humans, horses can suffer the horrible effects of hay-fever but luckily there are some
wonderful herbs available to ease the discomfort.
Hay-fever in horses can often manifest as a recurrent cold like symptom with coughing and
streaming eyes. It can be like a constant recurrent cold which your horse never seems to fully
recover from. The lungs can become inflamed and your horse can be more susceptible to
infections. Head shaking is another possible symptom. He may be tired and lethargic and
generally seem quite miserable.
There are different causes to allergic respiratory problems. There are moulds, spores and
weeds which can be found in hay or even in the pastures during spring and summer. The
body can become sensitive to these elements and cause an allergic reaction. When feeding
hay it is wise to wet the hay so you are decreasing the dust element.
Your vet will be able to possibly find the cause using a procedure that looks at the fluid and
cells in the horse's lungs to see how bad the allergy is. There is also a blood test that can
determine what 'in fact your horse is allergic to which in turn will make it a lot easier to treat.
From an herbal perspective the horse’s immune system is usually seen to be quite low. You
therefore can start treatment by boosting the immune system early in the season. Herbs such
as Echinacea, Garlic. Rosehips and Kelp are all great general immune boosting herbs.
Echinacea and Garlic will also be helpful for fighting any infection that may be developing.
Natural expectorants can help soothe a cough and clear the passages, making breathing easier
for your horse. . Herbs such as Mullein and Marshmallow are 2 such herbs. Vitamins found
in herbs can help restore damaged tissues and build up the immune system also.
Natural antihistamines have an important part to play when it comes to allergies. Horseradish
is a lovely effective herb and can help reduce streaming eyes and some of the uncomfortable
symptoms. Also calming down an over reactive nervous system with herbs such as
chamomile is a great way to go.
It is most effective to start addressing allergy problems well before the season begins. If you
work on building the immune system early then being prepared with your herbal toolkit then
you will find it possible to make a real difference in your horses’ life.
Join The Web’s No. 1 Group of Passionate Animal Lovers
http://www. brookbyherbs.co.nz
