The effect of smoke from forest fires on your horse
Given the widespread forest fires in recent years — including the devastating fire in L.
A.
last January — both humans and animals have been exposed to unhealthy air containing wildfire smoke and its dangerous particles.
These particles, with a diameter of less than one micron, are extremely small, and this feature causes them to reach the deepest parts of the lungs’ airways and settle there.
Since horses’ lungs are very large compared with those of other mammals, these microscopic particles may pose a more serious concern for the health of our equestrian athletes than larger particles of dust from the arena or road.
In response to the increase in the number and intensity of forest fires in the United States, horse specialists at University of California-Davis explain why smoke is dangerous for horses, how smoke inhalation should be assessed and treated, and what steps you can take to protect your horse.
What makes wildfire smoke dangerous Smoke is made up of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, suspended particles (a combination of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air), soot, hydrocarbons, and other organic materials, including nitrogen oxides and trace minerals.
In general, suspended particles are the main pollutant of concern in wildfire smoke.
The composition of smoke also depends on the material burned.
Different types of wood, vegetation, plastic, building materials, and other combustible materials produce different compounds when burned.
Carbon monoxide — a colorless, odorless gas — is produced in the greatest amount during the smoldering and slow-burning stages of a fire and can be fatal in high doses.
How smoke affects horses Horses exposed to fire smoke may experience varying degrees of respiratory damage, from mild irritation to severe damage to the airways or lungs due to smoke inhalation.
These dangerous particles can cause eye irritation, nasal discharge, and diseases such as bronchitis.
They can also worsen heart and lung diseases such as congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, and asthma.
In addition, smoke irritates the airways, reduces lung function, and can worsen conditions such as heaves (recurrent airway obstruction).
High concentrations of suspended particles can cause persistent coughing, increased nasal discharge, wheezing, and increased physical effort to breathe.
Suspended particles can also alter the immune system and reduce the lungs’ ability to clear foreign materials such as pollen and bacteria.
Assessment and treatment of smoke inhalation in horses Knowing what is normal and what is concerning in your horse’s respiratory health can help you determine whether your horse needs to be examined by a veterinarian or not.
A horse’s resting respiratory rate should be between 12 and 24 breaths per minute.
Understanding what is normal and what signs are concerning can help you decide whether your horse should be examined by a veterinarian or not.
©Amy K.
Dragoo If any of the following are observed, the horses should be examined by a veterinarian: a resting breathing rate consistently above 30 breaths per minute, noticeably flared nostrils, the horse showing a clear increase in effort to breathe in the abdominal and chest areas, repeated or deep coughing, or abnormal nasal discharge. Horses should also be monitored for damage to the skin and tissue, especially in the first few days after exposure to the conditions mentioned above.
Protect your horse from air pollution. When smoke is visible, limit exercise.
Horses should not take part in activities that increase airflow into and out of the lungs.
This can cause bronchospasm (narrowing of the small airways in the lungs).
Provide fresh, plentiful water near the horse’s feeding area.
Horses drink most of their water within two hours after eating hay, so placing water near the feeder helps increase water intake.
Water keeps the airways moist so the trachea and the large and small airways can clear inhaled smoke particles.
When the airways are dry, these particles remain in the lungs and respiratory passages.
Limit dust exposure by using dust-free hay or soaking it before feeding.
This reduces mold, fungi, pollen, and bacteria in the dust, substances that are difficult for the lungs to clear.
If your horse is coughing or having trouble breathing, contact your veterinarian.
They can tell the difference between an airway reaction to smoke and dust and a bacterial infection, bronchitis, or pneumonia.
If a horse has a history of heaves or recurring airway problems, it is at risk of secondary problems such as bacterial pneumonia.
If your horse has primary or secondary problems caused by smoke-induced respiratory damage, contact your veterinarian.
They can determine whether the horse needs intravenous fluids, bronchodilator drugs, or nebulization to help moisten the airways.
Your veterinarian may also recommend tests to determine whether your horse has a secondary bacterial infection that could be adding to its current breathing problem.
Additional notes: As the number and severity of wildfires in the United States increase, having an emergency plan to evacuate your horse is essential.
©Adobe Shutterstock Always have an emergency evacuation plan for your horses, because wildfires can spread so quickly that there is often little time to prepare.
For recovery, give your horse enough time to fully recover from smoke-related airway damage.
Airway damage from wildfire smoke can take four to six weeks to heal.
Ideally, after all the smoke has cleared and air quality has returned to normal, allow your horse at least that much time to rest.
It is recommended that horses not return to training earlier than two weeks after smoke inhalation and only after the atmosphere has been completely cleared of any smoke.
Trying to exercise before that can worsen the condition, delay healing, and affect your horse’s performance for weeks or months.
Just like humans and other animals, horses are also irritated by smoke particles, but over time they should recover from its effects.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is used to assess recommendations related to holding sporting events for human athletes.
This measure can also be reasonable for equestrian athletes.
National Collegiate Athletic Association has published these recommendations on its website: “Specifically, schools should consider removing sensitive athletes from outdoor practice or competition venues when the AQI is above 100.
At an AQI above 150, athletes should be carefully monitored.
All athletes should be removed from outdoor practice or competition venues when the AQI is 200 or higher.
” About Kent Pinkerton, PhD Kent Pinkerton, PhD, is a professor in the University of California-Davis schools of medicine and veterinary medicine.
His research focuses on the health effects of inhaled environmental pollutants; pollutants that can alter respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological structure and function.
For more information: To get advice on how to prepare an emergency evacuation plan for a horse, click here.
For tips on how you can protect your horses and stable from fire, click here.
Source: Practical Horseman – Health