Respiratory Examination

It is estimated that, on average, one in four horses in Germany suffers from a respiratory illness. And more than ten per cent even have chronic problems. However, with a timely diagnosis and treatment, as well as subsequent support from the owner, many respiratory illnesses are treatable.

For a medical diagnosis, we differentiate between illnesses in the upper and lower respiratory tracts. The upper respiratory tract includes the nose, paranasal sinuses, larynx, throat and guttural pouch. The lower respiratory tract includes air-carrying structures like the trachea, bronchial tubes, bronchioles, alveoli and interstitial supporting tissues. Infectious as well as non-infectious illnesses can occur in all of these areas.

Equine asthma, a chronic illness of the lower respiratory tract, plays a large role in equine medicine. Typical symptoms include nasal discharge, a cough and difficulties breathing – such as abdominal breathing that affects performance with an increased breathing rate – as well as difficulty resting. This widespread illness needs to be diagnosed as quickly as possible. Because, especially during their early stages, these disease symptoms can be controlled by optimising posture and with targeted treatment.

Infectious and non-infectious illnesses can occur throughout the entire respiratory tract and can be treated at Hanse Equine Hospital after taking a thorough medical history and comprehensive clinical examinations.

Services for respiratory infections:

• Arterial blood gas analysis
• Clinical examinations, including auscultation and percussion
• Endoscopy of the lower and upper respiratory tracts
• Stress endoscopy (overground)
• Guttural pouch endoscopy
• Tracheobronchial secretion analysis
• Bronchoalveolar lavage
• Thorax ultrasound scan
• Digital X-ray
• Thoracentesis