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You are here: Home / Articles / Horse care

Q & A: Calming panic attacks

Tim Couzens MRCVS

27 October, 2000

Q: I have owned my nine-year-old Welsh Cob for three years and I've had a variety of problems with him.

He was very nervous when I bought him and refused to have his tack put on but he has now overcome this fear. Then, last year, he caught a viral infection and suffered from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and had time off work as result. Due to the COPD he was turned out which brought on an attack of laminitis. This lasted 48 hours and as a result he now has to wear egg bar shoes.

Since last December he has suffered panic attacks where he sweats up and finds it hard to get air.

My vet has done tests but has been unable to find anything wrong. He believes my horse has nervous asthma and has put him on a bute trial to try and locate any pain.

It feels like my poor horse has given up within himself and shows no enthusiasm for work. He is fed hay, Alfa-A, Equilibra and garlic.

I might add he was a stallion until he was five. Could oils, herbs or homoeopathy help get back his zest for life?



A: As you have probably realised, this is not a straightforward problem, especially since there is no definite diagnosis.

If you can rule out pain as one of the possible underlying causes then it is likely your horse's problem is either respiratory in origin or linked directly to some psychological condition. This, in turn, can lead to respiratory difficulties such as acute asthma attacks. At this stage it is best to try and aim any treatment in this direction until you and your vet are able to find out more about the problem.

There are several approaches based on natural medicines that you could try. If you are unsure which therapy might be the best then it would be wise for you to ask for a referral to a vet who specialises in natural medicine.

Herbal remedies

Plant-based medicines can help in two ways:

  • Calming - herbs which can help allay fear and anxiety in horses include valerian, vervain, chamomile and red poppy.

  • Easing respiration - a number of herbs can help with respiratory problems such as asthma and COPD.

    Marshmallow and liquorice are often used and can be foundin some proprietary mixes which you can buy in local feed stores. There are also other less familiar remedies which dilate the airways and make it easier to breathe. Good examples include lobelia and ephedra. If you feel your horse would benefit from these remedies they need to be prescribed under the supervision of a veterinary herbalist.



    Homoeopathic remedies

    Again there are several remedies which might help both your horse's panic attacks and the associated difficulty in breathing.

    For acute panic attacks the best remedy to consider is aconite, which should be given in the 1M potency every 15-20 minutes until the horse calms down.

    Other homoeopathic remedies which are helpful for resolving acute panic include argentum nitricum, gelsemium and stramonium.

    If you feel your Welsh Cob's problem might be tied to some past event or a psychological trauma then ignatia would be a remedy worth considering. Failing this, you could consider using Bach flower remedies, which can help with emotional problems.

    Excellent respiratory remedies which could be used to prevent asthmatic/ COPD attacks include:
    • Arsenicum album if the breathing is very wheezy.

    • Pulsatilla for gentle, amiable horses where there is a lot of catarrh

    • Silica for animals with a weaker overall constitution.

    • Sulphur where there are associated skin problems.

    • Spongia where the breathing iseasier when the horse¨s neck is extended further forwards.
    • Lobelia and kali carb might also be of help in some situations.

      In general, use the 30c potency of your selected remedy and dose twice daily. If you plan to use tablets you should avoid touching them directly. You could crush them up in a folded piece of white paper and then tip the resulting powder onto the surface of a cut apple.



      Bach flower remedies

      These remedies will help purely on an emotional level but by acting in this way may help prevent or minimise the risk of further respiratory problems. Suitable flower remedies for acute panic situations include cherry plum, rock rose and scleranthus.

      Where deeper emotional problems could be the underlying cause of your horse's symptoms, consider using Star of Bethlehem to help allay the effects of past traumas or agrimony, which is an excellent remedy for hidden anxieties.

      Finally, if you feel your horse might be depressedand has lost all enthusiasm for his work, gentian, oak, gorse and wild rose might help to lift his spirits.

      You should select no more than five remedies at any one time and combine them together in one bottle. Aim to give five or six drops ofthe combination twice daily, directly into the mouth or mixed into a little feed.



      Aromatherapy

      Essential oils can have a profound effect on health and can help both at an emotional level and on the respiratory system.

      As these oils are very potent, it would be wise to seek specialist help (see our contact list in the box on the right) before trying to treat the problem yourself. Inappropriate use can lead to damage if you are unsure how to apply the oils.

      Good essential oils for treating respiratory problems include:

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