Welcome to a COPD World!

Hello Everyone! Welcome to the Wonderful World of Equine Respiratory Illnesses! I am starting this forum to encourage and give hope to horse owners everywhere whose horses have been diagnosed with COPD, RAO, Heaves or common allergies.

I am a new entrant into this world of watchfulness and careful management! Wish me Luck!

I actually received the news yesterday that my 12 year old American Quarter Horse, Sunny, was in the beginning stages of COPD. Unfortunately, I was at work whenever the diagnosis came through and I did the WORST thing any concerned owner could do before having an extended talk wit the vets - I looked it up on the Internet. By the time I was finished reading about the dire and fatal end that my horse would experience, seemingly within days of his diagnosis, I was devastated and in tears.

Thankfully, I have a wonderful network of friends throughout the country from my work as a Saddle fitter and and fantastic team of Veterinarians, Residents, Vet Students, Vet Techs and support staff at the University of TN, Knoxville, Veterinary Teaching Hospital. They were thorough and efficient and loved my boy as if he were their own. I can't say Thank You enough!

Needless to say, by the end of the day and hours of conversation later with the veterinarians and horse owners who are successfully managing this horrible disease, I have hope. I have hope that Sunny & I will continue our Dressage Career as we have followed it in the past. I have hope that his lungs will remain healthy and clear for years more. I have hope that Sunny & I will be together for a long time. I have hope that I want to share with others who are struggling with this same diagnosis for their horses.

This is a journey for us all. Please submit any stories or comments that you have (especially if they are success stories!!) so that we can all learn from them and maybe find the right combination for our own horses!

Thank you & Stay tuned for updates!!
Amanda & Sunny