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Can horses have hay fever or a pollen allergy?

Does your horse cough and spit a lot in the spring and summer? A pollen allergy, or hay fever, can be the cause. Pollen allergy is irritating for your horse, itching, coughing and runny nose and some horses will shake their heads when they suffer from pollen. We were asked whether our product HELTIE horse Respiratory, which supports the airways with problems with dust, can also help with a pollen allergy. The answer is: Yes!

Shaking head and coughing in horses

Cough and a runny nose can have several causes. A cold or dust, for example. And shaking of the head can also be the result of problems in the cervical vertebrae or with the teeth. But when the complaints arise in the spring and summer and disappear after the pollen season, when it rains or when the horse is stabled, then there is a good chance that a pollen allergy is the culprit.

Does my horse have hay fever or a pollen allergy?

If you are not sure whether your horse has hay fever or a pollen allergy, you can find out by keeping a good record of when your horse shows the symptoms. Pollen allergy symptoms include:
  • running nose,
  • cough,
  • itching of the nose
  • shake your head,
  • breathing problems and sinus infections.
For example, keep a record of your horse's symptoms in a logbook, in which you also write down the weather and whether the horse was in the stable, in the pasture or in the paddock when you saw the complaints. This will give you a better idea of the circumstances. Horses can be allergic to the pollen of different plants and trees, which bloom at different times. Often it is a combination. You can have this tested by the vet, with a skin test or a mucus test. A pollen allergy can develop at any age.

Pollen allergy measures for horses

It is important to provide sufficient fresh air and especially to give meadow grazing at favorable times (if it is raining, windless or at night, for example). Also ensure a stable that is not dusty, for example by using flax or wood shavings as bedding, ventilating well and avoiding drafts. If your horse shakes its head while riding, the use of a nose net (pollen net) may help.

Stimulation of mucus formation in the trachea

You can also give HELTIE horse® Respiratory. This product stimulates the production of mucus in the airways, including the breathing tube. Now you would think that a horse with pollen allergy already has enough mucus, but that is not the whole story. The mucus forms a protective layer and, together with the cilia in the breathing tube and lungs, it is a "natural filter" against intruders such as dust and pollen. This filter works better when the mucus layer is healthy and thick enough. The pollen then enters the bloodstream less easily, where it causes the allergic reaction. Many respiratory products do have a soothing effect, thanks to ingredients such as eucalyptus and euchinea. HELTIE horse® Respiratory also has this soothing effect, but also stimulates the formation of mucus, so that the natural filter against dust and pollen will work better. HELTIE horse® Respiratory tract provides more peace of mind and takes the edge off a pollen problem.

Don't forget the ECS-system

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex signalling network involved in many key physiological processes. The ECS includes the cannabinoid receptors, the endocannabinoid ligands, and the enzymes related to their synthesis and degradation. Did you know thad these phytocannabinoids can also extracted from Cloves? Alterations in the ECS are associated with different diseases, including inflammatory and immune-mediated disorders such as allergy. Different studies have convincingly demonstrated that cannabinoids play a role in allergy. It has been shown that cannabinoids exert anti-inflammatory properties in the airways and the skin of allergic horses. Therefore we always advise to feed your horse cannabinoïds from cloves if your horse has an pollen allergy during the season.

Experience of Elisha with HETIE horse® Respiratory

Since I moved to a new place, my horse got hay fever. She started to shake her head badly, rub her nose against everything and she became short of breath. I called in the vet and he prescribed a nasal spray. Was effective only the administration was drama. I read on the internet that increasing resistance and soothing agents for the airways are the most effective for hay fever. Then I came across HETIE horse® Respiratory and HELTIE horse® Cannabidol and went to try it out. Administration is very easy over the food and after a week I gradually noticed a difference. She scraped her nose much less and became less snotty. She was quietly back on the land and stole and I could ride fine again. I will also start on time this year. Sources:
  • Angelina A. · Pérez-Diego M. · López-Abente J. · Palomares O.. The Role of Cannabinoids in Allergic Diseases: Collegium Internationale Allergologicum (CIA) Update 2020. PMID: 32526734 https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/508989
  • R S Mueller 1, E Jensen-Jarolim 2 3, F Roth-Walter 2, E Marti 4, J Janda 5, A A Seida 6, D DeBoer. Allergen immunotherapy in people, dogs, cats and horses - differences, similarities and research needs. PMID: 29675865.

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