Horse Respiratory Disease: IAD and RAO Welfare

Inflammatory airway disease and recurrent airway obstruction cause chronic respiratory distress in horses, requiring environmental and medical management.

Key Facts

Inflammatory airway disease (IAD) affects horses under 6 without neutrophilic airway inflammation
Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO, formerly heaves) is the equine equivalent of severe asthma in older horses
Dust from hay and bedding is the primary trigger - high-quality dust-free forage dramatically improves outcomes
Soaking or steaming hay reduces respirable dust particles by over 90%
Bronchodilators and corticosteroids provide relief - inhaled formulations minimize systemic side effects
Moving affected horses to outdoor living with pasture access often provides dramatic improvement

Welfare Considerations

RAO causes severe respiratory distress during exacerbations - horses show labored breathing, nasal discharge, and exercise intolerance that significantly reduces quality of life. The cough associated with IAD is persistent and uncomfortable. Environmental management that reduces dust exposure is the cornerstone of management - an affected horse kept in a dusty stable will have ongoing welfare compromise regardless of medication. Moving horses outdoors wherever possible is often the single most effective welfare intervention.

What You Can Do

Soak or steam hay for horses with respiratory disease - replace round bales with dust-extracted alternatives
Use rubber matting or paper bedding instead of dust-generating straw
Maximize turnout to provide clean outdoor air - stabling exacerbates airway disease
Discuss inhaled bronchodilator and corticosteroid options with your vet for acute management
Monitor respiratory rate at rest as an indicator of airway distress
Have stable ventilation assessed - poor ventilation increases dust and ammonia exposure