Adherence to treatment recommendations and short-term outcome of pleasure and sport horses with equine asthma.

Treatments for mild forms of equine asthma are extrapolated from those recommended for severe equine asthma (heaves), but little is known about owner's adherence to recommendations and treatment efficacy. The objective was to determine which recommendations are implemented by owners and their perception of the clinical response to treatment. Medical records of 43 horses diagnosed with moderate asthma between 2010 and 2012 were retrieved from the Université de Montréal database. Treatments and perceived responses were recorded by telephone survey, 2 to 35 months after diagnosis. All 33 owners who completed the survey attempted to decrease exposure to dust and half had also administered medication. Twenty-four owners (73%) described a > 50% improvement in the clinical signs. There was no association between a specific treatment and outcome. A majority of owners of pleasure and sport horses with equine asthma perceived improvement when limiting exposure to hay and barn dust (alone or with medications).