Bleeding (EIPH)

Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH or bleeding) occurs when capillaries in the lung rupture during intense athletic effort, resulting in the presence of blood in the airways. Very few horses demonstrate overt bleeding from the nostrils during an episode of EIPH. Instead, the bleeding is much more subtle, occurring completely internally. A definitive diagnosis is made through visualization of the lower airways by endoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage.

EIPH occurs predominantly in racing breeds, but horses involved in other disciplines are often affected. Therefore, it is not unheard of for an eventing horse, especially one with a history of racing, to be diagnosed.

Most veterinarians rely upon pharmaceuticals for treatment and prevention of EIPH. However, researchers are investigating the promising connection between omega-3 fatty acids and EIPH prevention. Omega-3 fatty acids play a role in the flexibility of cell membranes. Flexibility of the red blood cell (RBC) membranes is crucial, especially during exercise, when heart rate increases, blood thickens, and packed cell volume rises. Increased elasticity of RBCs allows easier passage through narrow blood vessels in the lungs and muscles, thereby improving blood supply and oxygen delivery. Omega-3 fatty acids may also reduce inflammation in the lungs.

Improved elasticity of RBCs may reduce the incidence of EIPH. Hopeful results in human medicine have led researchers to explore the effects of a combined dose of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), two omega-3 fatty acids, to reduce signs of EIPH and pulmonary inflammation in horses. Scientists at Kansas State University reported a reduction of EIPH in Thoroughbreds after the horses were fed a diet enriched with EPA and DHA for 83 days. Researchers at the University of Liege in Belgium recently reported an increase in RBC membrane fluidity in exercised horses fed a diet enriched with DHA and EPA for four weeks. Both of these studies illustrate the possibility that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the incidence of EIPH.

Fish oils (cold-water species) and flaxseed (linseed) oil are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oil is a direct source of EPA and DHA, whereas flaxseed contains alpha-linolenic acid, which must then be converted by the body to EPA and DHA. Though fish oils are typically not as palatable as vegetable oils to horses, new deodorization and flavouring technology has made some fish oils more palatable.

Which solution is right for your horse?

EO-3™ Concentrated direct source of DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids. EO-3 is a rich source of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA in a palatable liquid form. EO-3 can be fed to all classes of horses including foals, breeding stock, and performance horses to improve the critical ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in the diet.

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