Spacer devices have been used for many years in horses with asthma as they allow treatment where it is needed: in the airways. Although they were designed with a soft cup to fit over a child’s mouth and nose, it very conveniently fits over a horse nostril! Before you start treatment of your horse, please read these instructions carefully to maximise the effect of the medication used.
Before first use:
Wash the two parts of the chamber with fairy liquid and let it drip dry. This assures any static is removed from the chamber and all the medicine gets through to your horse.
How to use:
Put the two parts of the chamber together and attach the soft cup, the inhaler attaches to the free end of the device.
Check that the valve is working properly; it should be moving freely.
Place the soft cup over one nostril, it may require a little training to get your horse used to the sensation.
Shake the inhaler 4-5 times before each use and make sure it is facing the correct way up, as shown in the picture.
Once your horse is comfortable with the device, you can put up to three puffs at a time in the chamber whilst closing the end with the soft cup with your hand, then transfer to your horse’s nostril. Once your horse is comfortable with the sound the inhaler makes, you can leave the device on the nostril throughout administration of medication.
Try to keep the other nostril closed whilst your horse is breathing in the medication.
Let your horse breathe at least 5 times with the device in place before putting more medication into the chamber and at the end of the session.
After use:
Make sure the device is kept clean; use water with fairy liquid to clean once a week (drip-dry).
With good care, a device can last about 6 months before it will need to be replaced.