Special Report on Diseases of the HorseUnited States. Bureau of Animal Industry
Science
Special Report on Diseases of the Horse
United States. Bureau of Animal Industry
Horses -- Diseases
_Grunting._--A common test used by veterinarians when examining "the
wind" of a horse is to see if he is a "grunter." This is a sound emitted
during expiration when the animal is suddenly moved, or startled, or
struck at. If he grunts he is further tested for roaring. Grunters are
not always roarers, but, as it is a common thing for a roarer to grunt,
such an animal must be looked upon with suspicion until he is thoroughly
tried by pulling a load or galloped up a hill. The test should be a
severe one. Horses suffering with pleurisy, pleurodynia, or rheumatism,
and other affections accompanied with much pain, will grunt when moved,
or when the pain is aggravated, but grunting under these circumstances
does not justify the term of "grunter" being applied to the horse, as
the grunting ceases when the animal recovers from the disease that
causes the pain.
_High blowing._--This term is applied to a noisy breathing made by some
horses. It is distinctly a nasal sound, and must not be confounded with
"roaring." The sound is produced by the action of the nostrils. It is a
habit and not an unsoundness. Contrary to roaring, when the animal is
put to severe exertion the sound ceases. An animal that emits this sound
is called a "high blower." Some horses have naturally very narrow nasal
openings, and they may emit sounds louder than usual in their breathing
when exercised.
_Whistling_ is only one of the variations of the sound emitted by a
horse called a "roarer," and therefore needs no further notice, except
to remind the reader that a whistling sound may be produced during an
attack of severe sore throat or inflammation of the larynx, which passes
away with the disease that causes it.
CHRONIC BRONCHITIS.
This may be due to the same causes as acute bronchitis or it may follow
the latter disease. An attack of the chronic form is liable to be
converted into acute bronchitis by a very slight cause. This chronic
affection in most instances is associated with thickening of the walls
of the tubes. Its course is slower, it is less severe, and is not
accompanied with so much fever as the acute form. If the animal is
exerted, the breathing becomes quickened and he soon shows signs of
exhaustion. In many instances the animal keeps up strength and
appearances moderately well, but in other cases the appetite is lost,
flesh gradually disappears, and he becomes emaciated and debilitated. It
is accompanied with a persistent cough, which in some cases is husky,
smothered, or muffled, while in others it is hard and clear. A whitish
matter, which may be curdled, is discharged from the nose. If the ear is
placed against the chest behind the shoulder blade, the rattle of the
air passing through the mucus can be heard within.
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