In 2009, at the young age of 5, Cherokee began to develop a periodic cough. Despite the best of veterinary care and medications, by 2012, these mild allergies swiftly developed into chronic full blown asthma attacks. This is what heaves in horses basically is - allergy induced COPD and asthma. When all traditional treatments failed, we resorted to having her full allergy tested and started her on allergy shots. If this last ditch treatment didn't work, we had to consider euthanization as she did not have any quality of life.
Just six months later, Cherokee placed 2nd out of a field of 40+ arabians in a fast 25 mile endurance race! To say that allergy shots worked - is an understatement! They worked a miracle! From 2013-2016, she was one of our main LD endurance mounts. All thanks to continued allergy shots.
Due to the extreme nature of her allergies, Cherokee will likely need retesting and reformulation of allergy shots every 2 years. For us, the expense is more than worth it. Though she still sometimes has a mild cough due to ragweed pollen and weeds in the hay, she is enjoying life fully as the alpha lead mare of our small herd.
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