07/08/2023
Lung Health tidbits... While so many of us, here in Texas, are facing drought conditions, it bears to mention how this dust can effect not only our horse's lung health, but ours as well. We'll focus on our equine partners with this tidbit. Fungus spores live in soil and though they are super beneficial to the environment, they can sometimes wreak havoc on our horse's lungs. And believe it or not, according to National Institute of Health, "Fungi can be remarkably drought tolerant. They can remain active and even grow under extremely dry conditions. Similarly, fungal abundance can increase under drought." During drought, dust from the soil is even more prevalent. When we drag our arenas and clean out our stalls we are stirring up some serious dust and some serious fungal spores. When a horse breathes in that dust he introduces a lot of pathogens into his lungs. Horses with a strong immune system can often fight off those pathogens. But some horses, especially those with a weakened immune system, struggle to stay well. Unfortunately, many of the drugs we give to combat inflammation and allergy symptoms can actually open the door for some of these pathogens to build in our horse's lungs. Immune suppressing medications, like steroids, can suppress our horse's immune system making them more vulnerable to certain pathogens. Knowing your horse, knowing the types of medication that they are taking as well as doing your own research, can help give you and your horse the best possible options for getting him well and keeping him well. Let us know if we can help. Have a blessed week! Joy
