Non-infectious respiratory disease in the horse

Summary

# Non-Infectious Respiratory Disease in the Horse Equine respiratory disease encompasses a substantial disease burden beyond infectious causes, yet non-infectious conditions frequently remain underdiagnosed or inadequately managed in clinical practice. Chapman's 2018 review synthesises the aetiology, pathophysiology and clinical presentations of conditions including recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), inflammatory airway disease (IAD), exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) and dynamic airway collapse, examining how environmental and management factors contribute to their development and persistence. Understanding the multifactorial nature of these conditions—particularly the interplay between dust exposure, ammonia inhalation, exercise intensity and individual susceptibility—enables practitioners to move beyond symptomatic treatment towards evidence-based intervention at the source. For farriers and physiotherapists, this contextualises how respiratory compromise affects performance, recovery and musculoskeletal compensation patterns; for nutritionists and coaches, it underscores the importance of stable management and conditioning protocols tailored to respiratory status. This work provides a foundation for cross-discipline collaboration in identifying and managing non-infectious respiratory disease, ultimately improving both athletic performance and equine welfare.

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Key Findings

• •Non-infectious respiratory diseases represent a significant clinical problem in equine practice with multiple etiological factors
• •Comprehensive review of causes and management solutions for non-infectious respiratory conditions in horses

Conditions Studied