Respiratory emergencies in the adult horse

Responding to an equine respiratory emergency requires rapid localization of the problem and appropriate choices for therapy. Localizing the cause of respiratory distress is aided by history and thorough physical examination. When examining the patient, one must focus on the presenting signs as indicators of URT or LRT dysfunction. Table 3 summarizes the characteristic presenting signs based on respiratory tract location and suggests the initial treatment course indicated. Respiratory distress in the absence of signs related to the pulmonary system suggests inadequate oxygen delivery secondary to a nonpulmonary problem such as shock or severe anemia, which is just as compromising to the animal but requires an entirely different therapeutic approach (see Allen and Schertel, this issue). Thus, localization of the source of respiratory distress is always the first step in determining successful treatment.