Wildfire smoke's impact on horses

Today in most of Minnesota, the air is hazy with smoke from wildfires in Canada.  In fact, the air quality is worse in the Twin Cities right now than in Beijing! The good news is that smoke band is predicted to move out within the next 12 hours.

Current air quality index for Minnesota

Many of you are probably wondering what precautions you should take with your horses while we are dealing with this poor air quality. Horses, like humans, are certainly affected by breathing in this air with smoke particles and liquid droplets. If your eyes are burning, or your chest tight, chances are your horse's are too. Keeping horses indoors will not necessarily protect them as the smoke may also seep indoors and barns are already characterized by poor air quality when kept closed up due to ammonia from urine and manure as well as dust particles from hay, shavings, dirt, and hair.  A general rule of thumb is that if you can see the dust or smoke particles in the air, it is being harmful to you and your horse. Read more about recommended ventilation systems for barns here.

What you can do to take care of your horse is limit their activity for the duration of the air advisory as the smoke can irritate their eyes and lungs. Watch your horses carefully for signs of respiratory distress such as persistent coughing, nasal discharge, or breathing rapidly. Consult with your veterinarian if you notice these symptoms as your horse could have developed reactive airway disease or heaves, or bronchitis or pneumonia. This article by UC Davis Vet School, is an excellent source of additional information.

While extreme and persistent smoke exposure can result in a lengthy (4-6 weeks) healing period, most horses should bounce back from any symptoms from this brief exposure quite quickly.  Mainly it is important to monitor your horses for respiratory distress and to not exercise them for long periods or high difficulty while the air advisory is in effect.

Browse horse properties for sale in the twin cities area of Minnesota at www.donavin.com.