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  Discussion on COPD and cold winter-air.
Author Message
New Member:
Shireman

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 19, 2002 - 8:28 pm:

How often can you give a COPD horse Azium. She also gets Albuterol, which really doesn't seem to help this year, plus she has been through allergy tests and has gone through the series of injections and now she is down to once a month. She is allergic to almost everything. I really don't know what to do now at this point. Usually it isn't so bad in the winter, but it doesn't seem like it is going be that way this year.
Member:
Penner

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 20, 2002 - 3:00 am:

Albuterol (at least in humans) is known as a "Rescue Medicine", not much considered anymore a maintenance medicine, when used as directed ie: every 4-6 hours, 2 puffs from: a (best) spacer device, not the inhaler device method, as most people cannot do it right. Plus, people who use the short acting albuterol (other than as prescribed) will buildup a tolerance to it, & require more & more (don't know if this is true in equines).

Note that in the medical field, COPD, Asthma, Allergies, Allergic Rhinitis are NOT all the same disease, even tho they exhibit similar symptoms.

I do not know of your medicine, Azium, but I do know that people have a "Long Acting" variation of albuterol (ie: 12 hours - thus 2x in 24 hours), that is considered a "maintenance" type medicine (ask your vet if it is approved in equines), with the short acting albuterol as a rescue medicine - before calling the doctor.

I don't know how well you know your horse, but there is a system (in humans) of grading the severity of an attack. If you think you can really know your horse (basically see the horse every day at least, & have someone to call you if there is a problem), I can post the link human asthmatics use for their symptoms, at least.

Hope this helps.



Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 20, 2002 - 6:56 am:

Hello Cathy,
Azium is the brand name for the corticosteroid, dexamethasone. For information on the use of Azium (dexamethasone) and COPD see the article on COPD (» Equine Diseases » Respiratory System » Heaves & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Your post indicates a lack of understanding about what you are dealing with, study this article as it will explain the disease in detail. Note: the type allergy testing you are likely describing is not a useful test as both false positives and negatives are common. In the article you will also find a link to more articles on corticosteroids and their use.

Are you using oral albuterol or inhaled albuterol?
DrO
PS: Kathy when you post a new question you should start a new conversation not post it at the bottom of someone elses post. See the Before you post...link that is in every post form.
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