Lessons learned from smoke past....
I learned a lot about equine smoke inhalation back in 2017 when some kids lit the Mt. Hood National Forest on fire. Though more than 100 miles away, the smoke from that fire (and other seasonal forest fires) filled the Willamette Valley where we are located. Being at the base of the valley, the smoke drifted to our farm/area and sat here. For days, our visibility at was no more than 100 feet. My horses stood with their heads hanging, shuffling from hay pile to water trough and back again. When the smoke finally lifted, I grappled with the residual effects for a year. As I said, I learned a lot back then and now I am better prepared to walk out of the fire with my herd and help them in their recovery process. To follow is a list of what I have implemented here at my farm. I am not a veterinarian. If your horse is ill or showing lasting symptoms from smoke and ash exposure, call your vet for an evaluation.
Respiratory Support - As soon as the smoke and ash arrived, I began giving a tea of Marshmallow Root, Slippery Elm and Mullein. To date (8 days after the smoke has lifted) I am still giving this tea and will for at least another week or so.
Eyes - For watering/messy eyes, I have found that the Eye spritz from The ADR by Melissa Shelton DVM is very effective. However, if their eyes don’t clear up soon after the smoke is gone, your veterinarian should be contacted as the particulate can cause long term irritation and may need medical intervention to clear.
Cleaning up the aftermath - Having spent 24/7 with no escape from exposure, their bodies (as any would) became suspended in a sort of “state of shock”. Shallow breathing, lack of oxygen and the continual assaults on the airways need to be cleaned up and restored to balance. Now that the smoke has lifted, I am slowly helping my horses with the after effects of the physical shock. If you are wondering what those effects look like…they look different in each horse, just as they would in a human. They might be a bit lethargic, grumpy or extra reactive. Or an underlying (and perhaps unknown) condition may worsen or appear suddenly. They can revert to old patterns of stress management or even display symptoms of colic. More dramatic and obvious symptoms are coughing, wheezing, stuffy nose or watery eyes. Symptoms of prolonged stress/shock can be deep and show up immediately or weeks later and are versions of what we humans also experience when we have PTSD. I am not trying to sound dramatic or be “over reactive”. But I am determined to set about righting this ship sooner rather than dragging it out. It is not that difficult and allows for a smoother re-start to getting “back to normal” (if there is a normal to return to in 2020…but that topic is for another day)
First things first - I don’t start these protocols until the smoke has cleared and they can breathe easily again. I believe in allowing the body to rouse any and all protective mechanisms needed for survival. The body knows what it needs to do. It is not my job to override the system.
Once the smoke has cleared and they have had a several days to just breathe and return to a normal life, I begin what I call, the re-boot process.
Lymphatic system check - The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs that help rid the body of toxins and waste. It has no “motor” of its own and relies on activity and movement for pumping. The equine lymph system is huge, existing throughout the body and has “hubs” in a few places, one of which is behind the shoulder area with “chains” that run down the front legs. Since the horses have been standing around and are toxic as well, I have found that the lymph is typically compromised. I want the lymphatic system “on” and moving first, to support the detoxing process.
To check the activity of the lymph, place the pads of your fingers lightly on the inside of the front leg along the cannon bone about 1” – 2” above the fetlock. An active system will have a feeling of “up”. If you feel nothing, or a feeling of “down” it indicates a need for help it get moving in the correct direction. Start with Python Lifts (TTeam technique) beginning at the top of the leg. Continue theses all the way down to the fetlock. Check again. If no change, repeat the process. Do both legs. Check again the next day and provided you do not have to repeat the python lifts you can move on and begin adding a few light Shoulder Presses (Connected Riding technique). If you do not know how to do these exercises, contact me or your area TTeam or Connected Riding practitioner. There is proper technique to these and it is important to practice them correctly. Once the Lymph system is maintaining its activity, I move on.
Rebalancing from the effects of shock - Every horse I have worked on since this latest round of smoke exposure as well as all of those I worked on in 2017, had some level of shock effects compromising the system. Consider that they have spent many days shallow breathing and it stands to reason that the diaphragm may be “locked”. To mitigate these effects, diaphragm releases can be addressed pretty well with the Heart Girth presses from Connected Riding and lots of slow in-hand walking with turns. We are looking for big, deep belly breathing. However, for a full system check & re-balance, the techniques are more technical and require a trained therapist. And while I do this work (both in person and via distance) this article is not meant as a sales pitch. Please seek out whoever you trust.
Regardless of who you look to for support, it is well worth the time/money/effort to rebalance sooner rather than later.
Ideally, all of the horses will be back in a healed state within a month or two.