Treating a Horse with Heaves | The Incredible Dr. Pol

Twenty-two year old horse, Julep, is suffering the effects of weather change and Dr. Pol is finding out why.
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With 100,000 patients, Dr. Pol has seen it all. Specializing in large farm animals, this senior is anything but retiring as he takes an old school, no-nonsense approach to veterinary medicine. Unflappable and unstoppable, this Doc routinely puts in 14-hour days and is a legend in the community. In this series, we travel with Dr. Pol across rural Michigan to care for every family pet and head of livestock in need of his expertise.
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Treating a Horse with Heaves | The Incredible Dr. Pol
• Treating a Horse with ...
Nat Geo Wild
/ natgeowild

[@lightninggamez5425]

For all of you wondering about the horse’s weight- the horse was obviously old and sick. ALL old horses, especially those with heaves, loose weight and look bony. Their back also begins to sag. This is very common in horses as they age. We have multiple horses that are 20+ years old, and this is something that naturally happens to many of them. PLEASE don’t be the online vet here. People who actually own and care for horses know this. If Dr. Pol thought the horse was being abused, he would have said so. Thank you.

[@AirwrekaDoesntRead]

Lightning Gamez yeah that’s true, but even a 22 year old shouldn’t look emaciated. At this point they shouldjust free feed her or up the grain to help her out.

[@dionnedunsmore9996]

Ppl r amazing in that sense arent they?!! Smdh theyre instantly able to diagnose an animal that theyve not even ever seen IRL😂lmao oh i forgot to mention...they do this without a degree in veterinary medicine or experience owning anything other than a their 1st horse!🤯😳 im tellin ya!! Theyre just AMAZING!!🤯😂lmdao * n amazing bunch of idiots that is! Judgemental idiots🤬 smdh

[@prcervi]

@@AirwrekaDoesntRead when they're that old and got the heaves, them losing weight is quick but putting weight back on them is a serious pain. Seriously, when the asthma kicks up in my lungs the last thing on my mind is eating(have a meal? i just want to breath!).

[@margauxjones1485]

Yes, heaves can cause weight loss, however this horse has poor nutrition. If well fed and kept, 20-30 is not old. Recently a 27yr old Arabian mare successful completed the Tevis 100 mile race. This horse looks terrible.

[@thebookofrevelationreveale4722]

Lightning Gamez I have two 26 year old horses WITH heaves that do not have weight loss issues. 22 years old is not that old to be losing that much weight! The HAY Quality can play a huge part in horses nutrition. I doubt whether this horse is given any grain also. A good quality hay and grain can make a huge difference in a horse of this age! This is not common in a 22-year-old horse!

[@Baby-Ghoul444]

its 2 am im so tired but im binge watching these

[@honeydew3434]

Milk Bone same and I have to go to counseling in an hour 😂

[@joeysheperd4486]

Bambi same

[@JIMBO8472]

Yeah we like Dr Pol.

[@bwayne40569]

😂💯

[@countrygirlxo7188]

I love how the horse on the other side of the fence is checking on her and comforting her. Animals have the same emotions we do, and it’s so touching to witness it 💕

[@skullluigi13]

As some one who owns a horse with heaves I can say, in the hotter months horses with the condition WILL loose a lot of weight. Yes it's very distressing to see a horse so underweight but the owners other horses were in good condition and after the steroid injection they were shocked and pleased to see her eating grass, which I imagine she didn't feel like doing before it she couldn't catch her breath.

[@r.mcbride2837]

The poor things. That has to be miserable. Can you put dehumidifiers in their barn stall areas and/or give them oxygen during times of stress? Just curious what could be done to make them more comfortable. Thanks.

[@prcervi]

@@r.mcbride2837 dehumidifier would likely be ineffective, there are many open spots in a barn to outside areas at all times so more humidity would just get in, also you have to dump the water in those things after not very long. Big box fan might help, keep an air flow going and keep the temp lower by a bit(stagnant humid is miserable, windy humid is okay).

[@squonkie2713]

The dog in the beginning running to Dr. Pol is so cute D':

[@jp8649]

Seeing a horses ribs does NOT immediately indicate that it is underweight. This is obviously a senior mare (she is, it literally says she is 22 in the description), seniors lose volume around bony areas (hollows of the eyes, flank, ribs, hips, along the spine, croup, etc). You can tell that she is not underweight by the fullness of her barrel. It's like the people who immediately jump oh racehorses and complain that they think they're underweight, you just don't have experience with race fit horses. Which is why it's important to have the facts before you complain. It's honestly embarrassing to see people try to play vet online. As an equine nutritionist, I'm actually curious what they're feeding her because she looks really well kept for an elder-mare.

[@stephanie.9703]

J P thank you finally someone who understands

[@adonnaprice9676]

S.ucking air real healthy🙄

[@garyscott3656]

22 is young, my oldest is in her upper 40s and I have try not to let he get fat. My Arabian with heaves is nowhere near that skinny and she is 25. The horse in the video is lacking something.

[@michaelexman5474]

Oh a sweet old lady.

[@MsKorearock]

Beautiful horse

[@dawsonwood5470]

Good job

[@Tiki-Magics-World]

"I'd hate to do elephants. I would need a wet suit." LMFAO 😁😁😁😁😁

[@avahood9329]

hi

[@ede8427]

???

[@sergiofernandes2868]

Adoro o veterinário D.Pol

[@CatKellyEventing]

This was posted on my birthday and on one of my favorite animals! Horses!

[@elizabeta9880]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 good video!

[@Tiki-Magics-World]

Oh how i would love to meet Dr. Pol. We could go out for lunch and we can go "Dutch" treat. Lololol 😋

[@sndszoo4538]

I watched this episode last night

[@normamartinez5636]

Me encantaba su programa lastima que no lo dan en tv desde Chile

[@matches.themusic4357]

So, I also have a 22 year old horse with heaves. Horses with heaves often drop weight fairly quickly. If you can't breathe, you're not going to want to eat. A lot of times once the heaves is treated, or the flareup dies down, they'll gain back their weight. Once we figured out a treatment plan, her body condition improved drastically.

[@jeansbeans7452]

“ can all breathe easy again!” Me: u sure? Dr pol “except her!” Me: Exactly! Lol

[@Raizelash]

Why is everyone complaining? Did you p not watch the dam thing? They said the horse had hard time breathing and the airway is swollen sooooo the animal doesnt wanna eat. Like calm the fk down. Once the horse start feeling better I am sure its gonna start eating

[@janetross1900]

ratatatata tatatata She has the asthmatism

[@kedoh75]

No follow up?

[@applepro9999]

How can i watch Dr pol free online i dont have subscription to any providers. Any one know?

[@sarapagedelawarelegallaw711]

I would like to respond to the weight/abuse issue. My 21-year-old American quarter horse has chronic COPD. He has been under inhaler treatments and now steroids. For the majority of his life he was built like truck. He is given 6 lb of grain a day, alfalfa and grass. He is very thin and his back has sunken. Horses with COPD use the majority of their energy just to breathe. This is very common and if anyone would like to see my feed bill... Abuse is not what's occurring. This horse is my soul and I will empty my bank account to buy him more time.

[@hulshofkringstad4095]

My horse has here's

[@lolno2509]

the doberman😍

[@user-rd7ut3wz7v]

Ок

[@hulshofkringstad4095]

Heavas

[@dionnedunsmore9996]

Whats the humidity like up there in Michigan? Im in Bmore n we usually deal w 70%-90%+humidity levels. I assumed Michigans levels would be low bcuz theyre so north, but i guess wen u consider the humidity off the great lakes huh?? Whats the humidity like there? Humidity wood make it considerably more difficult for an asthmatic to breathe😯 ** i liked the dog greeting Dr. Pol when he pulled into the property lol she ran straight to em😊❤hello there mister!😁lol

[@prcervi]

could just check the weather site

[@alicemcdonald7358]

Go getum dr. Pol

[@equiformando]

Goodmorning. My name is Marta and I am a veterinary student in Italy. I have a project called "equiformando", got a blog and instagram page. I ask you if I can use clips of this video to make a post about equine RAO. Of course, I will give you all the credits you need. Thank you, Marta

[@saltyheifer6565]

She might just be old and a tall thin breed, but you're supposed to feel the ribs when you touch the stomache area, not see them. "If you can hang o coat on their hips, there needs to be more food at their lips" Is something I've heard a few times

[@joannechinkers254]

Aphmoo Poptart it is more than that. This horse has been neglected. They might love her, but they did not get her help on time. She is not that old, she has no topline and no muscle and is horrifically thin.

[@kashbabie1002]

joanne well obviously it’s not neglected they took it to the vet and paid the bills and he’s been their vet for over 25years. that’s not neglect. the horse was sick meaning it was loosing weight so he took it to the vet. where’s the neglect

[@cheyennemontuori1618]

@@joannechinkers254 she is 22 years old. If she was neglected then they wouldn't of called the vet. Horses only live to be 25-30 years old. Your lucky if the horse lives past that. She's skinny from age

[@sarapagedelawarelegallaw711]

@@joannechinkers254 you are in correct. My 21 year old AQH SUFFERS FROM CHRONIC COPD. He is fed 6lbs of grain a day, alfalfa cubes, large amounts of grass hay and access to grass. He is very thin. Horses with these illnesses use their energy just to breathe and therefore drop weight rapidly and it is very hard to build it back up. He is also on a steroidal treatment.

[@deryadinc7216]

Çok şiddetli zayıflama, arka ekstremiterlerde eğrilik, kondisyon bozukluğu,,

[@juliecasey4851]

Wow. That poor horse is starving.

[@tinachandler3091]

Julie Casey actually, it you look at a human with COPD or emphysema, they get thin in the shoulders, barrel chest from breathing with the auxiliary muscles, or a 'barrel belly'. Severe asthmatics have digestive issues as well

[@clairedaw9006]

Tina Chandler my grandfather had emphysema, he was all skin and bones in his later years, no matter how much he ate (he couldn't eat a lot but he did eat) it was a horrible thing to see and quite honestly, i'm glad he passed and his suffering ended, it is no way for humans or animals to live

[@tinachandler3091]

Claire Daw I'm so sorry. Emphysema stinks

[@clairedaw9006]

Tina Chandler it does but he's in a better place now, a place where he will never again have to suffer from the ailments of the mortal coil

[@juliajohnson8844]

Actually, horses tend to not eat as much during the hotter months. Which is probably one of the reasons she is skinny.

[@FrequencyFit]

What was the exact steroid, does anyone know? Also is Heaves treated the same has Horse emphysema? If not, what would be the difference and also what symptoms are different? There is a horse on a farm i live on that was diagnosed years ago with Horse emphysema, but every video i watch and everything i find online it seems exactly like Heaves. Thanks for any and all input.

[@prcervi]

small bit of googleing, it's the same thing, just different names

[@FrequencyFit]

@@prcervi just curious if horse-COPD also the same?

[@KB4QAA]

@@FrequencyFit The difficult part is getting the horse to stop smoking cigarettes. ;)

[@ashleykerridge8776]

I'd be willing to be it was Dex. Dexamethasone. One of the most common treatments for heaves

[@alpalmieri8644]

ROA is heaves it's not curable and can be treated with steroids but you can't keep them on steroids it's cause liver damage.Dex is what my vet gave my horse but summers coming and he's not gonna be well in this Florida heat and rain all summer.

[@emilysmith3602]

Try feeding her geez

[@newpathshorsesanctuary5852]

What if the horse has founder also and can't get a steroid shot?

[@amberosborne2412]

She’s so skinny

[@a.w3747]

She looks like she needs to put on weight as well. Beautiful horse.

[@lynn.d1015]

That horse is seriously underweight! Why was it allowed to get that thin ?!

[@ANNEKE1999]

Lynn .D It is old and is sick. Old horses tend to lose weight and look bony (even if you feed them well, we had some old Dartmoor Ponys and Haflingers and most of them lost weight when they reached 25+ years) and in its current condition it is no wonder that it lost some more. That‘s just normal.

[@joannechinkers254]

Why is she so thin? I have seen plenty of horses with heaves at a decent weight. Plenty of horses older than her at a decent weight. No one should wait until a horse is in that condition before calling a vet.

[@truthhurts5158]

She looks pretty skinny

[@prcervi]

that's old horses for you, they don't keep weight less so when they're also unwell and don't want to eat

[@danvanhoose6783]

Walking bone pile.

[@zanetruesdalethewolf]

Are you sure to let the horse to the owner? I mean, look at how thin and skinny the mare is! They never feed her or what?!

[@spencerjohnson7776]

Some old horses can't put on weight.

[@prcervi]

it's an old horse, and it's got what is basically asthma for old horses she's actually looking pretty good for all those factors that are making her drop weight to not pretty looking(barrel is in good condition, so she is def eating as much as she pleases)

[@04fx4p9]

Poor mare... she's so skinny, clearly not getting proper care.

[@akumanightthorn]

04FX4 P This is actually how most patients with emphysema look. They can eat all they want but their body just never wants to digest it properly.

[@13desmarie10]

Actually she isn’t deathly skinny she’s getting grass could have teeth issues

[@andrakarsten226]

@Lynette Scribner she is the correct weight for her age and disease.

[@andrakarsten226]

@Shelby Larson I'm so sorry she's gone now ❤

[@multifandomsxoc2262]

that horse is so underweight! feed her some food oh my god he should have said something

[@mooshroomawster]

oH mY gOd the horse had a swollen air way which most likely led to weight loss, watch the dam video and pay attention this time.

[@esterweybright9928]

The horses are in poor condition .

[@appletree8441]

Just turn it into dog food

[@pseudohumor695]

First, I do not consider a 20 year old horse as an old horse.. Heaves is a real pain in a horse and causes a lot of stress.. Any type of exercise will cause problems.. Personally, I think she was a bit underweight in spite of what Lightening Gomez says.. Showing way too much rib and under weight with little muscling in hind quarters.. The feeding program should be different for this animal.. Surprised Doc did not say anything but he was there for her not eating.. He respects that people have different ways of caring for their animals unless it is life threatening.. Being slightly under weight is not life threatening..

[@lightninggamez5425]

For all of you wondering about the horse’s weight- the horse was obviously old and sick. ALL old horses, especially those with heaves, loose weight and look bony. Their back also begins to sag. This is very common in horses as they age. We have multiple horses that are 20+ years old, and this is something that naturally happens to many of them. PLEASE don’t be the online vet here. People who actually own and care for horses know this. If Dr. Pol thought the horse was being abused, he would have said so. Thank you.