Heaves is a chronic respiratory disease common in horses and is similar to asthma in humans. Heaves is also known as chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD), recurrent airway obstruction and small airway disease. The main cause of heaves is an allergic response to organic dust, including molds in feed and bedding. There is no cure for heaves. However in the most severe cases, preventative management and treatment measures can lead to improvement.
