GB2461887A - Mask for a horse - Google Patents

Abstract

A mask for an animal 1 to reduce the amount of air inhaled breath and cause recirculation of proportion of exhaled breath. The mask comprises an air porous fabric part 6 which in use hangs in front of the nostrils 5 and weight means 9 to return the air porous part to position if displaced by the animal during any activity.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN EQUIPMENT FOR ANIMALS

The present invention concerns improvement in equipment for animals, more especially it concerns equipment intended to moderate the animal's breathing.

Certain such equipment in the form of a mask has been successfully marketed by the present applicant, and is described in patent GB 2 402 597. It has been discovered that moderating the breathing of animals, especially horses, can bring considerable health benefits, believed to arise primarily from increasing the carbon dioxide in the horse's lungs. Additionally, the use of the mask can effectively retrain the animal to breath correctly. The prior mask fits tightly around the nostrils and/or mouth of the animal, and whilst extremely effective, it is not particularly suitable for long-term use andlor unsupervised use. Many horse owners see their horses perhaps once a day for exercise and grooming, and can only use the prior mask at these times. However, such time is precious to the owners. These horses are denied the benefits of the prior mask at other times.

Particular conditions requiring control of breathing include hay fever, which horses do suffer from, sweet itch and separation anxiety, which can cause overbreathing not unlike panic attacks in humans. There remains a need for equipment that moderates breathing, especially to increase carbon dioxide in the lungs, which can be used continuously or substantially continuously, and without supervision.

The present invention now provides a mask for animals, effective to reduce the amount of air breathed in and to cause recirculation of a proportion of exhaled breath, comprising an air-porous fabric part which in use hangs in front of the nostrils and weight means to return the air-porous part to position if displaced by the animal during any activity.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention additionally comprises a skirt section attached to the lower part of the air-porous part. The skirt section is desirably of water-repelling nature, so that drinking and grazing of wet or damp grass does not cause transfer of moisture to the air-porous part, since moisture can substantially reduce the permeability of air-porous fabrics, and cause distress. For this reason, the mask should be removed if it is raining.

Additionally, the skirt section can include the weight means. Such weight means can comprise a number of small weights arranged along the bottom edge of the skirt section, or a continuous strip of weighted cord, but it has been found that two weights located at the outer ends of the skirt are satisfactory. Such weights may be permanently located in the skirt portion, but are preferably retained within pockets the skirt section. Such pockets may be provided with fastening means, but J have found that a simple flap is adequate to retain the weights in the skirt section during all normal use.

The weights themselves may be metal discs, such as some forms of curtain weights, including lead discs. The pockets permit removal of the weights for washing of the mask, if weights are lost, they can be replaced by stones or other metal pieces.

A desired form of the mask of the invention is designed to be attached to a normal horse head collar, by two straps. The straps may be fastened onto the head collar by fastenings such as buckles, or, preferably by a Velcro� or similar attachment system.

The Velcro� system allows quick and easy attachment, and good adjustability. Other designs can, of course, be used, and the mask may be provided with integral or attached straps to fasten it to the head of the animal.

The fabric of the air-porous part is desirably a cotton towelling material. It is particularly desirable to use an organic cotton fabric to avoid the possibility of inhalation of chemicals from the material into the lungs. The fabric is preferably of multiplayer construction, especially comprising two outer towelling sections and an inner part such as a synthetic fleece material to moderate the permeability of the entire air porous part.

The skirt section may be constructed of a synthetic water-repellent fabric such as gabardine or other hydrophobic or non-absorbent material.

The mask is intended to reduce the volume of air taken into the lungs, and to reduce the loss of carbon dioxide in the exhaled air. Preferably the mask is constructed and used to increase the end tidal carbon dioxide levels in exhaled air by 5 vol% or more, more desirably by approximately 10 vol%, as measured by a capnometer It is believed that use of the mask of the invention can alleviate symptoms of a variety of ailments, including hay fever and sweet itch. Its use calms the horse, decreasing the risk of injury to horse and owner, and can generally improve the overall health of the animal.

A mask according to the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig 1 side view of a mask according to the invention in use on a horse, and Fig 2 is a plan view of a mask ready to be attached to a horse head collar.

Referring, to Fig 1, a horse's head is indicated at 1, and the horse is wearing a conventional webbing or leather headcollar, 2. A mask is generally indicated at 3, and is attached to a soft synthetic headcollar by Velcro� tabs, 4. The mask is thus stretched across the muzzle area of the horse, overlying the nostrils, 5, shown in dotted outline. The mask hangs otherwise relatively loosely over the mouth., permitting the horse to graze, groom, drink etc. The mask should ideally be fitted so that from the front the owner can see the bottom of the horse's muzzle but not the bottom of the nostrils. From the side, the bottom of the skirt is level with the upper lip and the lower lip is visible.

The structure of the mask is better illustrated with reference to Fig 2. The main part of the mask comprises an air permeable fabric section, 6. This section may be formed from two areas of cotton towelling on either side of a synthetic fleece material.

Attachment means, 4, comprise the two parts 4a and 4b of a Velcro� type tab.

Attached to the lower part of the fabric section 6, for example by stitching, is a skirt portion, 7, of gabardine or polyester. The preferred shape of the skirt is as shown, with a shorter portion in the central portion, and longer portions at the edges. At the outer edges of the skirt portion are two pocket sections, 8, which may be created by stitching the skirt portion, and located within the pocket sections are two round metal weights, 9.

In use, the weights return the mask to its proper orientation if it is dislodged during rolling or other activity.

Trials have shown that horses tolerate the mask very well, and early indications are that general health improvements can be observed.

Trials measuring the carbon dioxide levels in a particular horse have been carried out over six sessions, after an initial measurement. The peak value of CO2 in the expired breath, termed "end-tidal C02" or ETCO2. ETCO2 levels indicate metabolically-produced CO2. Trial results are illustrated in Fig 3, showing initial levels at Day 1 (Dl) and at a number of subsequent dates, and levels after approx 30 minutes use of the mask according to the invention.

The increase in ETCO2 levels in this horse, attributed to use of the mask are: Day 1 -12.24% Day 2-10.00% Day 3-7.84% Day 4-8.00% Day5-6.52% Day6-6.38%

Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS1. A mask for animals, effective to reduce the amount of air inhaled and cause recirculation of a proportion of exhaled breath, comprising an air porous fabric part which in use hangs in front of the nostrils and weight means to return the air porous part to position if displaced by the animal during any activity.
2. 2. A mask according to claim 1, comprising also a skirt portion descending from the air porous part.
3. 3. A mask according to claim 2, wherein the weight means is located in the skirt portion.
4. 4. A mask according to claim 3, wherein the weight means is a pair of weights located in pockets in the skirt portion.
5. 5. A mask according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the skirt portion is formed from a water repellent fabric.
6. 6. A mask according to any one of the preceding claims, also comprising a pair of straps capable of attaching the mask to a head collar.CLAIMSI. A mask for animals, effective to reduce the amount of air inhaled and cause recirculation of a proportion of exhaled breath, comprising an air porous and water repellent fabric part which in use hangs in front of the nostrils and weight means to return the air porous and water repellent fabric part to position if displaced by the animal during any activity, the air porous and water repellent fabric part so constructed to increase end-tidal CO2 in the animal by at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, when in use.2. A mask according to claim 1, comprising also a skirt portion descending from the air porous and water repellent fabric part.3. A mask according to claim 2, wherein the weight means is located in the skirt portion.:. 4. A mask according to claim 3, wherein the weight means is a pair of weights * located in pockets in the skirt portion. * a***** 5. A mask according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the skirt portion is formed **** *. : from a water repellent fabric which remains air permeable when used in wet * ** conditions.S*.**.. * S6. A mask according to any one of the preceding claims, also comprising a pair of straps capable of attaching the mask to a head collar.