[Examination and treatment of respiratory tract diseases in the horse in clinical practice].

In spite of regular vaccinations against equine influenza we are still observing a high rate of patients with respiratory problems in the equine practice. In our practice in Munich Riem, into which a horse clinic has been integrated, 4000 horses have been treated in 1985 alone. 874 of these showed some form of respiratory disease (= 22%). All of the 4000 horses have only been treated curatively, i.e. preventive forms of treatment such as vaccinations, deworming and examinations for insurance companies and prior to selling have not been taken into account. From 1983 until today in our clinic 256 horses with COPD had undergone clinical treatment. While out-patient horses had been treated for acute, subacute and chronic diseases of the respiratory system, in-patients were examined and treated for chronic respiratory disorders. Hospitalised horses had previously undergone treatment for varying periods of time. Apart from endemic or epidemic horse affections with signs of acute infections, the majority of patients treated belonged to a basically sound population. In the latter cases it is often just not possible to ascertain the individual causes of respiratory disease. Following documentation of the history of the present illness and after careful clinical examination including determination of breath frequency and type, lung auscultation and endoscopy (laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy), a symptomatic treatment of the horse is usually initiated. In cases of laryngitis or laryngotracheitis inhalations may be successful.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)