EXERCISE INDUCED PULMONARY HEMORRHAGE (EIPH) IN HORSES

Lung bleeding in horses, also known as Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH), is a silent injury that can go undetected by trainers and riders because it occurs deep within the lungs. EIPH in horses occurs when fragile pulmonary blood vessels in the lungs rupture during exercise. Lung bleeding can be detected by endoscopic examination. During the scoping, a long thin tube with a camera on the end is passed through the horse to view the upper airway and trachea. Lung washes and bronchoalveolar lavage (“BAL”) are the most accurate method to detect lung bleeding. Blood in the lungs and lower airways has been shown to be an irritant that leads to further lung bleeding in horses.

Numerous studies show that essentially all horses are affected by some degree of EIPH during intensive exercise. Only 5% of horses show blood at the nostrils.