The Athletic horse: why respiratory disease impacts performance

18 November 2021 | HRV vets Dr Lesley Hawson and Dr Nick Branson
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In recent articles we discussed how the adoption of a high flow/high pressure strategy in the cardiovascular system of the horse has enabled it to become recognised as one of the greatest animal athletes through superlative oxygen transport.

We also learned the rate limiting step in oxygen delivery is the rate at which oxygen moves from the lung tissue into the blood.

In this final article we examine the mechanisms of disease that impact on how well the horse can load up on oxygen in the lungs.

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