What Is Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage In Horses?

Exercise‐induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) is bleeding that occurs from the lungs of horses during exercise. It occurs in the majority of Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses and in many other horses subjected to strenuous exercise.

What causes exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage in horses?

Lung bleeding in horses, also known as Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH), is a silent injury that can go undetected by trainers and riders because it occurs deep within the lungs. EIPH in horses occurs when fragile pulmonary blood vessels in the lungs rupture during exercise.

How is exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage treated?

Some alternatives to furosemide that are used to prevent and treat EIPH include nasal dilators, con- centrated equine serum, nitric oxide (NO), herbal formulations, conjugated estrogens, aminocaproic acid, a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and rest.

What drug prevents exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage in performance horses?

Lasix has also been used to prevent EIPH in horses for more than 40 years, and approximately 90 percent of horses running in North America are administered this preventative medication before racing. Lasix is recommended by every major U.S. veterinary organization to protect the health and welfare of the racehorse.

What causes hemorrhage in horses?

Causes of uncontrolled hemorrhage in horses may be due to non-surgical trauma, surgical trauma, invasive diagnostic procedures including percutaneous organ biopsy, coagulopathy, hypertension, cardiovascular anomaly, vascular damage, neoplasia such as hemangiosarcoma, toxicity, or idiopathic in nature.

How do you treat a horse with EIPH?

The medical treatment for EIPH is to administer a diuretic called Furosemide (brand name Lasix among others) 4 hours before exercise, which increases urine output and thus reduces blood volume. In this way it has been shown to reduce calculated pulmonary capillary blood pressure and transmural pressure.

How does pulmonary hemorrhage happen?

It happens when blood leaks from blood vessels in the windpipe or airways into the main lung. Pulmonary haemorrhage is a rare condition and can affect people of all ages. Pulmonary haemorrhage can start gradually and continue for a long time, or it can be a sudden life-threatening event.

Can cold air cause pulmonary hemorrhage?

Sometimes pulmonary bleeding will occur secondary to airway inflammation or it may result from a reflex increase in blood pressure caused by exposure to the cold.

Is pulmonary hemorrhage fatal?

Pulmonary hemorrhage, also referred to as massive hemoptysis, is a potentially life-threatening condition involving bleeding from the pulmonary or bronchial vasculature which is usually due to higher pressure of the bronchial system.

How do you tell if a horse is a bleeder?

You will know if your horse suffers from exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage or bleeding by the visual and auditory observations of these symptoms:

1. The flow of blood from either or both nostrils following extreme exertion.
2. Mucous tinged with blood oozing from the horse’s nose.

Do horses lungs bleed when they run?

Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), or bleeding from the lungs, occurs world-wide in the performance horse. However, it is observed rarely in other species. EIPH is an important cuase of exercise intolerance. It occurs primarily during spring racing in Quarter Horses, Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds.

What percentage of horses with EIPH show signs of epistaxis?

Epistaxis is seen in a small proportion (~5%) of horses with EIPH. Blood in the tracheobronchial tree is identified in 45%–75% of racehorses via endoscopic examination, and hemorrhage is detected by cytologic examination of bronchoalveolar lavage in >90% of racehorses.

How do you treat a horse with EMS?

How is EMS treated? Because most horses with EMS are overweight, the mainstay of treatment involves management changes that promote weight loss. These include reducing overall calorie intake, dietary sugar restriction, and increased exercise.

How do I protect my horse from EIA?

Prevention is key to stopping the spread of EIA. Use a sterile needle, syringe, and IV set for all injections or treatments. Disinfect dental, tattoo, surgical equipment, lip chains, and bits thoroughly between horses. Remove all debris and blood with soap and water before disinfection.

How do you prevent EIA in horses?

To reduce your horse’s chance of becoming infected with EIA:

1. Reduce exposure to biting flies through proactive management and insect control.
2. Never reuse needles or syringes; only use sterile needles and licensed blood products.
3. Use a sterile needle each time you puncture a multi-dose medication bottle.

What is the most common cause of hemorrhage?

Injuries, such as cuts or puncture wounds, bone fracture or traumatic brain injury. Violence, such as a gunshot or knife wound, or physical abuse. Viruses that attack the blood vessels, such as viral hemorrhagic fever.

Why is my horse coughing after exercise?

If the cough occurs only during or after exercise, it is possible your horse has exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. In these cases, the blood sometimes runs down the throat and causes a cough.

What drug is used to treat exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage in the horse?

Furosemide reduces the incidence and severity of EIPH in Thoroughbred racehorses. Horses with and without EIPH demonstrate equal improvements in race performance after administration of furosemide, indicating that the drug may enhance performance via mechanisms unrelated to EIPH.

Is EIPH common in horses?

Exercise‐induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) is bleeding that occurs from the lungs of horses during exercise. It occurs in the majority of Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses and in many other horses subjected to strenuous exercise.

How can I increase blood flow to my horses feet?

Regular exercise gets the muscles contracting and the heart pumping, thereby increasing blood flow to all your horse’s tissues and organs. On the correct footing, exercise helps to increase blood circulation to your horse’s hooves as well, encouraging proper formation and growth.

What to give a horse that bleeds?

Furosemides are available to help treat bleeding lungs and if often administered before a race. The medicine works to reduce blood pressure in the lungs. But they also work as a diuretic, causing the side effects associated with diuretics, and have also been said to increase a horse’s performance.