Equine Recurrent Airway Obstruction
Authors: Niedźwiedź Artur
Journal: Macedonian Veterinary Review
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Equine Recurrent Airway Obstruction Equine Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO)—commonly termed heaves or broken wind—represents a significant welfare and performance concern in middle-aged horses, with inflammation triggered primarily by organic dust exposure in the respiratory tract. The condition manifests through characteristic pathological changes including neutrophilic airway inflammation, bronchospasm, and excessive mucal secretion within the bronchiolar walls. Encouragingly, clinical signs typically resolve within 3–4 weeks of implementing environmental modifications, underscoring the primary importance of dust exposure reduction in management protocols. However, affected horses remain susceptible to respiratory allergens throughout their lifetime, necessitating sustained management strategies rather than viewing RAO as a reversible acute episode. Therapeutic intervention should prioritise environmental control, with corticosteroids and bronchodilators administered to modulate inflammation and restore pulmonary function, though these pharmacological approaches remain secondary to addressing the underlying dust exposure that perpetuates the disease cycle.
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Practical Takeaways
- •RAO management prioritizes dust elimination through environmental control—this is more effective than medication alone and can resolve clinical signs within 3-4 weeks
- •Horses with RAO need lifelong allergen management as they remain chronically susceptible; prevention of exposure is key to maintaining health
- •When clinical signs persist despite environmental changes, corticosteroids and bronchodilators can improve pulmonary function, but should support rather than replace dust control measures
Key Findings
- •RAO is one of the most common diseases in middle-aged horses, characterized by neutrophilic inflammation, bronchospasm, excessive mucus production and pathologic bronchiolar changes
- •Organic dust exposure induces airway inflammation and clinical disease
- •Clinical signs resolve within 3-4 weeks following environmental management changes
- •Affected horses remain susceptible to allergens throughout their lives and require ongoing proper management