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| ===Other Tests=== | | ===Other Tests=== |
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− | Reduction of | + | Reduction of respiratory distress after the administration of a bronchodilator confirms the presence of bronchospasm<sup>1, allen</sup>. To test this, intravenous atropine can be administered at 0.02mg/kg. Horses with RAO (or SPAOD) should respond within 15 minutes<sup>1</sup>. The dose of atropine should not be repeated as there is a risk of intestinal stasis. |
− | respiratory distress after the administration of a bronchodilator | |
− | confirms the presence of bronchospasm. This ‘test’ is | |
− | best performed using intravenous atropine.
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− | ivis Reduction of respiratory distress after administration of a bronchodilator confirms the presence of bronchospasm, the major cause of airway obstruction in heaves. Intravenous atropine (0.02 mg/kg) should relieve respiratory distress within 15 minutes in a horse with RAO or SPAOD. A single atropine dose is safe but, the dose should not be repeated or there is a risk of intestinal stasis. In rare cases, horses with chronic interstitial pulmonary disease will present with classical signs of RAO but these animals will not respond to a bronchodilator.
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| ===Pathology=== | | ===Pathology=== |