Equine User Protocols

Equine User Protocols

• Getting the VibraVM ready:
• When you receive your VibraVM or VibraVM Pro charge the unit which will take about two hours. Assemble the unit according to the directions in the manual, being sure to use the bio-bag to protect the body of the unit. Become comfortable with the feel of the unit and changing modes.

• Control:

• Cross tie
• Chute
• Free reign

The veterinarian or horse owner has several options for restraining the horse for treatment. The methods referenced above have all been used successfully to control the horse for treatment. The primary difference between methods is personal preference and availability of equipment. They will all work.

• Acclimate:
• Most horses will take only a short while to adapt to the VibraVM. Use the same techniques you would when using clippers for the first time. A few horses have taken several days to accept the device. A gentle approach is always the best.
• A few suggested steps:

• Turn the VibraVM on in the barn and just let it sit on a shelf.
• Let the horse smell the device and show it is harmless.
• With the VibraVM on gently touch or rub along the horse’s back, neck and face.
• Repeatably place the nose piece or mask in/on the horse's nostril with the VibraVM off.
• Turn the VibraVM on when in/on the horses nostril.

After several treatments, you may find your horse will come when hearing the sound of the VibraVM.

• Nose piece -- Proper insertion:

• Avoid the false nostril
• Feel the vibrations on the throat

When you insert the VibraVM into the nose you have to make sure it is not in the false nostril. The device should be positioned in the center of the nostril, rather than toward the outside edge of the nose. You will know it is the correct place if you can feel vibrations on the horse’s throat. You will soon learn where to position the VibraVM.

• Nose Mask:

This attachment may be easier to use, especially for the head shy or hotter horse. Simply place the nose mask over the nostril, gently trying to seal it. Feel the vibrations on the horse's throat and position the nose mask where they feel the strongest.

• Volume control:
• There are two possible volumes, half and full. The device ships set to full volume. There is a toggle action to switch between full and half volume. With the device turned off, press and hold the Mode button. Turn on the power button while continuing to hold the Mode button. All five of the Progress indicators lights will light, then LED 1 will light for half volume or LED 5 will light for full volume. Release the Mode button returning the device to its previous mode.
• Generally use full volume for horses, including miniatures and foals.
• General Guidelines:

Do not treat more than twice per day. We have found horses need more time for expelling all the loosened congestion than originally thought, so we have adjusted our recommendations accordingly.

For a typical treatment, we recommend the full seven minute Low, Medium, or High mode treatment, which will loosen and liquefy the mucus. For the VibraVM Pro we recommend at least 3 and ½ to 4 minutes of either Manual or Auto modes. Follow any of these modes with Massage mode, which will automatically stop after 2 minutes.

The Massage mode will relax the airway's long smooth muscles and act as a bronchial dilator opening up the airways. Using these two modes together is especially effective for severe or long established conditions.

For most horses, including miniatures, start out with Low mode plus Massage. In larger animals, any time you think you are getting all the mucus you can out with one mode, try the next highest mode treatment. The larger airways require lower frequencies to vibrate the mucus, so as congestion is cleared from them, then the Medium mode may be used to work down into the smaller structures of the lungs. High mode can be used occasionally to clear the smallest structures. The smaller the lungs, or lung structures, the higher the frequencies.

We have had great success with chronic conditions like heaves/RAO, COPD, and asthma. It may take years for the horse to manifest heaves/asthmatic symptoms. The VibraVM is a gentle device that may take several months of dedicated application to obtain the desired improvement, although with every treatment you will see results.

• The VibraVM Pro Manual settings:

The VibraVM Pro has five LED lights which can roughly be mapped to the VibraVM's Low, Medium and High settings. These are given as guidelines to set the VibraVM Pro:

VibraVM Low – VibraVM Pro LED 1 and 2

VibraVM Medium – VibraVM Pro LED 2 and 3

VibraVM High – VibraVM Pro LED 3 and 4

• Chronic Conditions Protocol - General guidelines for most horses:

Week One – Twice a day on Low, followed by two minutes of Massage.

Week Two – Twice a day on Medium, plus two minutes of Massage.

Or if you are seeing a good response on Low, alternate treatments between Low and Medium modes, plus Massage.

Week Three – If you were treating twice a day, go to once a day. Use Medium, or alternate Low and Medium, plus Massage.

Week Four – If you are were doing once a day, go to every other day. Use Medium, or use High occasionally, plus Massage.

Continue to space out the treatments until you are at two or three treatments per week, choosing Low or Medium and occasionally High mode according to your horse's response.

When starting out, if you can't give the VibraVM treatments twice a day, morning and night, do what you can. We have seen good results even with three treatments per week. It will just take a little longer to clear out the congestion and move to the maintenance schedule. For miniatures or foals, you may want to start using the Medium mode sooner, after the first two or three days, then move to High sooner after three or four days. Again follow these with Massage mode.

All through this process, it is important to observe the animal to see how it is responding to the treatments and adjust the treatment schedule to meet each individual animal's needs. Your veterinarian can help in the assessment of the horse’s condition at any time.

Generally, once the congestions is cleared, you can go on a maintenance protocol of once or twice a week in cold months, and two or three times a week in warm months. Remember heaves is a chronic condition and treatment will probably be required long term.

At times, such as in hot and humid weather or in response to an allergen, the horse may relapse. You will want treat to once or twice per day for several days or longer as needed, until the symptoms subside. Start again with Low progressing to Medium and High depending on the horses response.

If you hear wheezing with no cough, you can increase the Massage mode treatments. Just restart the VibraVM or VibraVM Pro in Massage mode again. You can give up to 3 consecutive Massage treatments.

• Acute Conditions Protocol:

Acute conditions like pneumonia, bronchitis, or sinusitis will respond quickly to the VibraVM treatments. After a treatment, you can expect coughing, sneezing, or nasal discharge. We recommend one or two treatments per day until the condition subsides.

Start on Low plus Massage for the two or three days to clear the upper airways, then alternate with Medium plus massage to clear the lower airways for another two or three days, then use Medium and occasionally High plus Massage after that. Observe the response from the treatments to determine which mode to use.

• Foal Pneumonia:

Foal pneumonia is a common problem that is sometimes difficult to quickly control. The combined use of the proper drugs and the VibraVM will help reduce the long term effects of the condition. The foals take the treatment very well. Nasal discharge, coughing and wheezing are all reduced in a short period of time.

Aggressive use of the VibraVM at the start is highly recommended. Treat the foal two times a day on Low mode followed with at least two minutes of Massage mode for the first day or two. Then move to Medium plus Massage for three or four days, then use High occasionally plus Massage. Again, observe and adjust the treatments as needed.

• Beneficial Effects:

• Relaxation
• Restful Sleep
• Better Performance

The VibraVM has a very apparent calming effect on the horse. Generally about three to four minutes into the treatment the horse will drop its head and may even fall asleep. Try to keep the horse awake otherwise he may startle when the treatment ends.

Cutting and barrel racing horses have been treated the night before an event to calm them down prior to their performance. After a long trailer ride, giving the horse a VibraVM Low mode treatment will help it have a restful night.

Typically, it takes only fifteen minutes of loping the next day to get them ready for the event.

Due to the relaxing effect, do not give a VibraVM Low, Medium or High, or VibraVM Manual or Auto treatment the day of the event. Use only Massage mode, which will automatically turn off after 2 minutes.

• Sport Horses:
• Please see Sport Horse User Protocols for thoroughbred, standardbred or other race horses, dressage, hunter/jumpers, cutting horses, barrel racers, ropers, reiners, endurance racers, or any other performance events. The VibraVM helps healthy horses maximize their oxygenation, allowing them to give their best athletic performance.

• Conclusion:
• The VibraVM is a safe and effective way to treat many equine respiratory problems, especially those which produce mucus, or cause constriction.
• The VibraVM helps clear mucus and opens the airways and helps these athletes have better blood oxygen exchange. This provides maximum oxygen to their muscles and allows them to give their best performance. The VibraVM treatments also have a calming effect on the horse.
• We are doing further research and encourage you to experiment with what works best for your horse and your situation.
• Please visit our website at www.vibravm.com, or call us with any questions at: 303-805-4597.