Getting the VibraVM ready:

When you receive your VibraVM, charge the unit, which will take about two hours. Assemble the unit according to the directions in the center of the manual, being sure to use the bio-bag to protect the body of the unit. Become comfortable with the feel of the unit.

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 treat horses. 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, usually less than half an hour, 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.

• With the VibraVM on gently touch or rub along the horse’s back, neck and face.

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:

Congestion and Frequency of Treatments:

 We have found horses need more time for expelling all the loosened congestion than originally thought, so we have adjusted our recommendations accordingly. Unless advised to do so by our staff or a veterinarian, you should not exceed two treatments per day.

For a typical treatment, we recommend the full seven minute Low or High mode treatment, which will loosen and liquefy the mucus. When possible, follow this with two to three minutes of the Massage mode.

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, and for foals start with High mode plus Massage. In larger animals, any time you think you are getting all the mucus you can out with Low mode, try a High mode treatment. The larger airways require lower frequencies to vibrate the mucus, so as congestion is cleared from them, then the High mode may be used to work down into the smaller structures of the lungs. 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.

For most horses:

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

Week Two – Twice a day on High, followed by two minutes of Massage.Or if you are seeing a good response on Low, alternate days between Low and High modes.

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

Week Four – If you are were doing once a day, go to every other day. Use High, or alternate Low and High, plus Massage afterward.

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

If you can't do 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, you may want to start using the High mode sooner, after the first two or three days.

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 per week in cold months, and every one to three days 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.

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

Congestion can be chronic or acute. The veterinarian can usually hear the wheeze and will treat with drugs. Even with all of the drugs available today, the horse can still have congestion that really requires the gentle power of the VibraVM to clear the mucus.  

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 High mode followed with at least two minutes of Massage mode for the first couple of days. 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.

We have reports of consistent increased focus and concentration in events such as barrel racing and cutting.

Performance and Race Horses:

VibraVM usage does relax the horse and lower its the heart rate, so for speed or performance events, we generally recommend that no treatments be given for a minimum of 8 - 12 hours before the event starts.

As noted above, performance horses treated the evening before an event consistently exhibit increased focus and concentration.

We are seeing excellent results with race horses for both improving their times and helping with those who are bleeders.

For improving race times (or before performance events):

Start about three to four weeks before the race or event. For the first week, give a VibraVM Low mode treatment once per day, to clear any congestion. After that treat every two to three days until the day before the race or event.

The morning of the race or event, treat with Massage mode for two minutes only. Do not give a Low or High mode treatment that morning, as this will make the horse too relaxed to perform well. A race horse will have a slow time.

Again observe the horse carefully. If there are signs of congestion in the week or so before the race or event, treat more often, but generally not more than once a day.

For helping bleeders:

Wait three to five days after the race, then give a VibraVM Low mode treatment once a day. You will probably see dark colored discharge. This is the clearing of the small scabs and clots formed in the lungs from the bleeding. Using the VibraVM will clear these out and help the lungs to heal.

Conclusion:

The VibraVM is a safe and effective way to treat mucus producing equine respiratory problems. The VibraVM helps clear mucus and opens the airways and helps these athletes to have better blood oxygen exchange. This provide 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.

 

Call us with any questions at: 303-805-4597.

 

V1.1.9  Updated 7/16/08