RAO and IAD: respiratory disease in horses revisited

Abstract

RESPIRATORY disease continues to be a major problem for horse owners and trainers worldwide. Lower airway inflammation is now recognised in a range of animals, from aged ponies to young racehorses. This article discusses recent developments in the definitions and understanding of recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) and inflammatory airway disease (IAD). For both conditions, it describes the clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment. A more comprehensive discussion of therapeutic options was provided in an earlier article in In Practice (Durham 2001).