UC Davis

Horses exposed to fire smoke can suffer respiratory injury of varying degrees, ranging from mild irritation to severe smoke inhalation-induced airway or lung damage.

Knowing what is normal versus concerning can help to know whether a veterinarian should evaluate your horse.

• Respiratory rate at rest should be 12-24 breaths/minute.
• Horses should be examined by a veterinarian if any of the following are noted:
• Respiratory rate is consistently greater than 30 breaths per minute at rest;
• Nostrils have obvious flaring;
• There is obvious increased effort of breathing when watching the horse’s abdomen and ribcage;
• There is repetitive or deep coughing OR abnormal nasal discharge;
• Horses should also be monitored for skin and tissue injury, especially for the first few days after exposure.

Related: Horse Care During Wildfire Season

Related: The 5-3-1 Visual Air Quality Index

Published with the kind permission of the UC Davis Center for Equine Health. The UC Davis Center for Equine Health is dedicated to advancing the health, welfare, performance and veterinary care of horses through research, education and public service.

Photo: Dangerous beauty in an Alberta sunrise as smoke obscures visibility less than two miles away. Credit: Starizon Images