Inflammatory airway disease of horses.
Authors: Couëtil Laurent L, Hoffman Andrew M, Hodgson Jennifer, Buechner-Maxwell Virginia, Viel Laurent, Wood James L N, Lavoie Jean-Pierre
Journal: Journal of veterinary internal medicine
Summary
# Inflammatory Airway Disease of Horses: Distinguishing a Common but Often Misdiagnosed Condition Inflammatory airway disease (IAD) represents a significant clinical challenge in equine respiratory medicine, yet many practitioners struggle to differentiate it from more severe conditions like recurrent airway obstruction (RAO, commonly termed heaves) and other inflammatory respiratory pathologies. This 2007 consensus statement—compiled by leading equine respiratory specialists Laurent Couëtil, Andrew Hoffman, Jennifer Hodgson and colleagues—synthesises contemporary knowledge on IAD's aetiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management to provide evidence-based guidance for clinical differentiation. The key distinction hinges on recognising that IAD presents as a milder, non-obstructive airway inflammation characterised by excess mucus, neutrophilic infiltration and reduced performance, whereas RAO progresses to reversible or irreversible airway obstruction with clinical signs including coughing and exercise intolerance at rest. For farriers, physiotherapists and nutritionists working alongside veterinary teams, understanding these diagnostic criteria is critical: appropriate identification allows targeted management through environmental modification (dust control, turnout), strategic exercise prescription and nutritional support, rather than escalating to the intensive interventions required for RAO. Early recognition and intervention in IAD cases can substantially improve athletic potential and quality of life before disease progression occurs.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Use this consensus statement as a reference guide to distinguish between IAD, RAO (heaves), and other inflammatory respiratory diseases in clinical practice
- •Understand the key differences in presentation and management between IAD and heaves to guide treatment decisions
- •Apply evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for equine inflammatory airway disease
Key Findings
- •This consensus statement synthesizes current knowledge on inflammatory airway disease to help practitioners differentiate IAD from heaves and other equine respiratory inflammatory conditions
- •The paper provides a comprehensive review of IAD pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management based on expert opinion and current literature