Several months ago, I had the opportunity to learn about the Equi-Resp from Tonda Collins, the owner of the company. I was thoroughly impressed with the thoughtfulness that went into the design of this nebulizer. The unit has multiple fans to help keep the motor free of dust and ensure a long lifetime of use. It seemed easy to use, with only a few parts: a motor, a mask, and the tubing and cup.
Perhaps, most importantly, it had clinical data behind it in the form of a nuclear scintigraphy study performed by Rood & Riddle. The results of the nuclear scintigraphy procedure proved that this machine, when used at the proper psi, would effectively deliver medication to the horse’s lungs and respiratory system. Therefore, I felt confident that the Equi-Resp would be a fantastic neb unit at a very reasonable price for our thoroughbred and standardbred race horse customers, and maybe some serious barrel racers as well.
A Cure For Chronic Sinus Problems?
Turns out, I was not wrong about that, but I completely underestimated the usefulness of this machine for every horse in every discipline. One of my horses has been struggling with a chronic sinus issue. His right nostril was draining constantly. Faced with the prospect of taking the horse for a sinus scope and possible flap surgery costing thousands of dollars, I decided that I would first try the Equi-Resp.
Above all, I have been thrilled with the results! As a result of using the Equi Resp, the horse drained and drained. We used the unit on him twice a day. It was extremely easy to use and disinfect afterwards. Currently, we are down to using the Equi-Resp on him once to twice per week, and he is doing much better. We plan on continuing to use it on this horse one to two times per week for the foreseeable future.
A Nebulizer For Any Horse
We decided to try it on other horses. If a horse was coughing, out came the Equi-Resp. What I found most surprising was that the horses enjoyed it. I had envisioned a crazy-eyed horse rearing and backing up the moment I turned it on – maybe even running down the barn aisle with the machine flailing about behind it. So far, every horse we have put the neb unit on has just relaxed into it and stood quietly. Every single one. This includes an Arabian weanling.
During show season, we have decided it would be a really good idea to use the Equi-Resp at the show, especially shows that last more than a few days, and on horses returning from the show. The chelated silver solution will knock out any bugs the horse may have picked up while traveling or from a barn mate down the aisle. It does not matter what discipline you are showing in, this machine will help keep your horse healthy, and improve performance.
Respiratory ailments are very common during the winter months. I know that I do my best to keep my barn as warm as possible. However, that also means there are more contaminants in the air since my barn doors are closed. Regular use of the Equi-Resp will help ward off those infections and keep your horse’s airways clear and clean.
equi resp cups & pure cleaner IMAGES
If you have a horse that has allergies, COPD, Roaring, Heaves, etc., try the Equi-Resp. This includes the motor, with two internal fans, two medicine cup and tubing sets, the mask (which is flexible and will not break if dropped – I know), a bottle of Pure (cleaner), and a bottle of Equi Silver nebulizer solution. Replacement cups and tubing are sold in sets of two. If you have been on the fence about purchasing one of these machines, I would encourage you to make the investment. My horses and I are glad I did!
-Written by Grant R, Showroom Manager
Eqiu-Resp Technology
Scientific Proof of the ability to reach deep into the lungs for incredibly effective treatment.
Testing completed by Dr. Nathan Slovis, DVM, DACVIM, CHT of the world famous Hagyards Equine Medical Institute of Lexington, KY.
Nuclear Scintigraphy is a process where a radiopharmaceutical is inhaled and the radiation emitted by the horse is captured by external detectors (gamma camera) to create the image. When you access the image from the scan, you want to see the distribution and amount of the uptake gives you an idea of how that specific organ (lungs) is functioning. In this case it demonstrates that Equi-Resp ELITE can deliver Silvaplex into the lower respiratory system.
Product is delivered to certain areas thru particle size distribution. The smaller the particle, the deeper it can go. Our Elite is proven to reach the lungs. The EquiMist is perfect for upper airways.
PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION
- Nasal passages typically 10 + microns
- Upper Airway/Trachea 5-10 microns
- Lower Airway/Lungs 2-5 microns
It may interest you to know that the lungs are roughly 1/3 of the body of a horse. Their lungs hold roughly 56-57 liters of air, which is roughly 5 5gallon buckets of air. Human lungs 7-8. This is why it is imperative to get a system that has the ability to reach that amount of lung space.
Equi-Resp FAQs
Why Nebulize?
Horses develop many of the same respiratory issues as humans. Allergies, Asthma, COPD, plus Exercised Induced Pulmonary Disease (bleeders). Many issues become resistant to antibiotics just as in humans. When you nebulize, you get right to the heart of the issue. You are able to distribute the medication exactly where it needs to go in the respiratory system.
Why use EquiResp instead of other nebulizers on the market?
EquiResp offers easy to use products designed with the user in mind. All units are 3 easy pieces. You don’t have multiple parts that can break or need to be replaced. We offer two different systems. Our Elite which is proven to reach the lungs and great for multiple horses or serious issues.Our EquiMist is the latest technology in battery operated systems.
What is the difference in the Elite and the EquiMist?
The Elite is an exclusively designed form of jet nebulizer. Powerful, rugged, quiet, and easy to use. There are many types of jet nebulizers on the market. The small human ones are just one example. However, they do not have the power to truly nebulize a horse. You have to remember human lungs hold 7-8 liters of air. A horse’s lungs hold 56-58 liters of air. Using a human nebulizer to nebulize a horse would be like using a rowboat to tow a Cruise liner.
The Elite was specifically designed for equine nebulization and to handle the rigors of barn use. Two fans to keep it cool and keep dust out of the unit. The pressure gauge sets it apart from other jet nebulizers on the market. Being able to adjust pressure based on viscosity of product, temperature or elevation makes it ideal for many applications.
The EquiMist is the latest and newest technology in battery powered units. Just as cell phones and laptops have greatly come down in size, so has battery operated units. We utilize the latest in MicroMesh technology. Our medicine cup is designed to have the power to push the medication thru 3000 small holes in the mesh to give you the smallest micron possible in nebulizing. Again, utilizing just 3 easy pieces and charges anywhere a cell phone charges and only takes 5 minutes to charge. No need to wait hours for a battery to charge.
What comes with an EquiResp system?
Absolutely everything you need to use to nebulize your horse or animal. You don’t have to worry about additional items to order to get you started.
What are the residual costs in owing a unit?
The only thing you ever have to purchase again are medicine cups or Silvaplex. Our typical turnaround time is, order it today and it goes out tomorrow. We send you the tracking info as soon as it ships.
What are the warranties on systems?
The Elite and mask have a 3-year warranty. The longest in the industry. The EquiMist controller/battery have a 2-year warranty.
Can you use a Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) with our mask?
Absolutely! An MDI fits perfectly into our mask just as our medicine cups do.
What about cleaning?
All systems come with a bottle of our disinfectant PURE. It is a hospital grade product which has won numerous safety awards and kills over 400 viruses including MRSA. What sets it apart from other disinfectants is it has no odor. Keeping odors to a minimum when dealing with a respiratory issue is essential.
Can you use Essential Oils in a nebulizer?
Aroma therapy is not respiratory therapy. Oils are extremely potent, and many are made in less than perfect conditions which makes them a poor candidate for nebulizing. If you are considering aroma therapy for your horse, do not use them in your nebulizer.
"Nebulizers are designed as a method of delivering medication directly into the nose or mouth and into the lungs. Aromatherapy diffusers and essential oils are powerful and are meant to deliver the essential oils aromatically throughout a room rather than prolonged direct inhalation directly into the lungs. Essential oils are lipophilic. This means they are dissolve in fats. This allows them to pass membranes efficiently. The challenge with using essential oils with a nebulizer is there is only one cell membrane thickness for them to cross. The ability to cross membranes makes essential oils very potent but the use in a nebulizer for a thirty-minute session could cause damage due to the presence and prolonged use of a certain chemical in the particular essential oil. Short direct inhalations of essential oils, from your hand, will provide adequate distribution and is a safe way to include essential oils into your horse care protocols."
- excerpt from a Barrel Horse News article by Industry Professional- Lauren Kelland-May.
For additional information on Nebulization from Certified Respiratory Therapist Nancy Graf please scroll down to the end of this article and as always, please consult your vet before administering any new substances to your horse.
What solutions do you provide?
All medications need to come from your veterinarian. Antibiotics, bronchodilators, corticosteroids are all prescribed by your vet. Many medications need to be diluted. We have a dilution chart on our website. Each system comes with a bottle of Silvaplex. An all-natural chelated silver. Silver is a natural antibacterial, antimicrobial, viral and fungal. Nothing and no one are allergic to it, and it doesn’t interfere with anything else you give or do. You can read more about it on our website.
What is the difference between Chelated silver and Colloidal silver?
Colloidal silver is a dietary supplement and is typically 10-15 parts per million. Anyone can make colloidal silver. Purchase a $39 silver generator and make it, but you have no idea of it’s efficacy or effectiveness.
Chelated silver has to be made in a lab. You cannot make it yourself. Chelated silver is typically 100-110 parts per million. Ours is made in an FDA approved lab and bottled in an FDA approved bottling plant. We have a certificate of analyst on every batch.
Why are parts per million important?
Imagine the spray from a garden hose versus the spray from a spray bottle. The garden hose droplets are going to be much larger and fewer, so you have fewer parts per million in the spray. The Spray bottle will create a finer mist, thus more and smaller parts per million. These parts are called microns. The smaller the micron, the deeper it goes into the respiratory system. We have a diagram on the website showing this.
Do veterinarians use EquiResp?
More and more vets are discovering how easy it is to use and how they can send home with a client without worrying about missing parts or damage. In addition, the Elite offers exceptional value and ability to nebulize many variations of medications without numerous cups or changes.
What scientific data do you have?
The nuclear scintigraphy study above shows how deep particles get into the respiratory system with the Elite system.
Final Note on how nebulization works and the use of essential oils with horses
Nancy Graf has 27 years’ experience as a Certified Respiratory Therapist. She has been an educator in the field, has worked on numerous clinical research projects, has won several awards in the field and has also sat on several boards in the field of Respiratory Therapy. Nancy is also on our advisory board. Here is what Nancy has to say about the practice:
"Essential Oils and Direct Nebulization into the Lungs I’ll start this by saying I am not an expert on essential oils or their effects. I am, however, very experienced with nebulization, the causes of bronchospasm and the effects of volatile organic compounds (VOC) on the lungs. VOC is a term given to a broad category of chemicals that range from industrial solvents to plant-based oils. Essential oils fall into this category and they do release VOCs. Along with VOCs, they also contain strong aromatic properties that may contribute to the information below. Breathing conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in humans are similar to heaves/COPD in horses. These conditions can have airway sensitivity caused by a variety of triggers. Common known triggers of airway sensitivity are VOCs and strong fragrances. In other words, conditions such as these usually have heightened sensitivity to fragrances and may cause worsening symptoms (sometimes life threatening) when exposed to them. This is especially concerning when directly nebulized into the lungs of an animal (or human) who is already suffering from difficulty breathing, inflammation and bronchospasm. Arguably, aromatherapy and essentials oils have their place and contribute to health in many positive ways. It was stated best by Brent Bauer, M.D., director of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine program at the Mayo Clinic, 'Whatever is powerful enough to exert a beneficial effect in the body is powerful enough to exert a negative effect.' Until studies and evidenced based practices are established for the use of essential oils in this manner or without direction from your veterinarian, and for the safety of your horse I would advise against this route of administration."
Equi-Resp Replacement parts and accessories
