## Overview Respiratory effort indicators are visible signs that a horse is working harder than normal to breathe. They include flared nostrils, increased respiratory rate, abdominal push during expiration, and fatigue during exercise. In horses with heaves, accessory muscles such as the scalenus contribute to the increased work. ## What It Indicates Lower-airway obstruction, pain, fever, or other causes of increased respiratory demand. ## Diagnosis Observation of breathing pattern and further work-up of the respiratory system. ## Treatment Directed at the underlying cause. ## Recovery and Prognosis Depends on the primary disease. ## Prevention Depends on etiology.
visible effort during breathing; flared nostrils; increased respiratory rate; abdominal push; exercise fatigue
## Overview Respiratory effort indicators are visible signs that a horse is working harder than normal to breathe. They include flared nostrils, increased respiratory rate, abdominal push during expiration, and fatigue during exercise. In horses with heaves, accessory muscles such as the scalenus contribute to the increased work. ## What It Indicates Lower-airway obstruction, pain, fever, or other causes of increased respiratory demand. ## Diagnosis Observation of breathing pattern and further work-up of the respiratory system. ## Treatment Directed at the underlying cause. ## Recovery and Prognosis Depends on the primary disease. ## Prevention Depends on etiology.
visible effort during breathing; flared nostrils; increased respiratory rate; abdominal push; exercise fatigue