Respiratory Disease Care:

1. Keep dust to a minimum! Soak and drain hay to eliminate dust, feed in hay net. Do all you can to decrease environmental dust. Sometimes turnout is best, other times confining to a stall (each barn is different).
2. Keep stalls clean & dry; feces and urine soaked bedding release ammonia. Ammonia is very damaging to respiratory systems, especially when compromised by an infection or emphysema.
3. Look for signs of improvement or worsening.
4. Improvement signs: less coughing, less nasal discharge, lower temperature (if fever was present), more energetic, greater appetite etc.                  Worsening signs: No change in coughing pattern, temperatures above 101.5, decreased appetite, increased nasal discharge, discharge changes from clear to colored and thick. If you suspect worsening CALL.
5. Administer antibiotics at the following dosage:
6. Penicillin _______ cc once / twice daily.                                                    Trimethoprim (SMZ) _________ tablets twice daily.                                        Naxcel ________ cc once / twice daily.                                        ______________ cc / tablets / once / twice daily                                         Continue antibiotics for ______ days.
7. Keep animal quiet, stall rest, or turnout (if horse does not buck, kick, or exercise), handwalking. Eliminate any strenuous activity!
8. This animal should be re-examined in ______ days.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE HORSE RECEIVE ALL THE ANTIBIOTICS RECOMMENDED. IF YOU ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY ADMINISTERING ANTIBIOTICS, PLEASE CALL!

For additional information please see: Equine Respiratory Disease