Recurrent Airway Obstruction in Horses: Welfare Guide

Key Welfare Considerations

• RAO (also called equine asthma or heaves) involves hypersensitivity to environmental allergens causing bronchoconstriction.
• Stable dust from hay, bedding, and feed provides the primary welfare allergen trigger for RAO.
• Clinical signs include coughing, flared nostrils, increased respiratory effort, and heave line from chronic welfare muscle use.
• Welfare horses with severe RAO adopt abdominal breathing with visible effort and barrel chest appearance.
• Environmental management is the most welfare-effective intervention — reducing dust exposure dramatically improves symptoms.
• Soaked or steamed hay significantly reduces respirable dust and welfare allergen exposure.
• Haylage provides lower dust welfare alternative to conventional hay for RAO horses.
• Paper or cardboard bedding provides welfare-lower dust environment compared to straw or sawdust.
• Turnout to fresh pasture provides welfare relief through clean air exposure away from stable allergens.
• Bronchodilators (clenbuterol, salbutamol) provide welfare relief from acute bronchoconstriction.
• Inhaled corticosteroids via equine nebulisers or AeroHippus systems provide welfare anti-inflammatory action.
• Systemic prednisolone provides welfare treatment for severe exacerbations but carries laminitis risk.
• Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may reduce airway welfare inflammation as an adjunctive measure.
• Regular welfare monitoring through rebreathing bag testing and tracheal wash cytology guides management.
• Well-managed RAO horses can maintain good welfare quality of life with appropriate environmental control.