Why use Flexineb? . . .
Respiratory problems in horses are frequently the cause of poor performance. The most frequently occurring lower respiratory tract disorders are Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO, or "heaves"), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD) and Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH, or "bleeding"). Typically, their treatment includes systemic administration of drugs orally or through injections. However, administration via inhalation through horse nebulizer masks is now considered to be a viable alternative for the treatment of respiratory disorders (including breathing, airway or lung problems). Flexineb is an easy-to-use delivery device that produces a very fine mist of aerosolized drug or natural therapy solution, enabling this method of treatment for the horse.
What can I use with Flexineb? . . .
- Antibiotics to treat infections in your horses’ airways.
- Bronchodilators to open up your horses’ airways.
- Corticosteroids to treat inflammation in your horses’ airways.
- Natural products to sooth and condition your horses’ airways.
What drugs can be nebulized with your equine nebulizer device? . . .
- Antibiotics such as Cobactan® and Excenel®
- Bronchodilators such as Atrovent® and Ventolin™
- Corticosteroids such as Pulmocort®, Dexamethasone and Flixotide™
- Mucolytics such as Parvolex® and saline solution
Click here for our Medication Guide for drug and administration info. Always consult with your veterinarian regarding diagnosis and treatment protocol for your horse.
Please note: the viscosity of the drug will affect the nebulization rate of the drug. To overcome this, some drugs can be diluted with saline solution to increase the nebulization rate. Check the Medication Reference Chart page for information on expected delivery time for different drugs and dilution rates for some drugs.
What size masks are available? . . .
There are three Flexineb E3 Mask sizes available:
-Foal/Pony Size: will fit sizes from foals/small ponies to yearlings; 11 to 16 inches
-Adult Size: will fit 2 year old Thoroughbred to large Warmblood breeds; 16 to 20 inches
-Large Size: will fit larger horses such as draft size; 20 to 26 inches
*Measure just above the nostrils.
Where can I find information on the benefits of nebulization/aerosol therapy? . . .
Aerosol therapy offers the benefit of directly targeting the affected area of the respiratory tract rather than going indirectly to the site by delivering the drug orally or by injection. For more scientific information, please visit our Manuals & Guides or Clinical Publications & Research page.
What is different about Flexineb® versus other equine nebulizers on the market? . . .
The Flexineb® is portable, easy to use, easy to clean and disinfect. It is silent, fast and does not waste medications. The distance between the nebulizer and the horse’s respiratory tract is short. It is also well tolerated by the horse.
Do you have a brochure I can read that tells me information about it? . . .
Yes, please visit the Manuals & Guides page of our website.
How can I purchase it? . . .
You can purchase it here or through one of retailers.
What arrives when I receive Flexineb®? Are extra parts required before I can use it? . . .
The Flexineb® system contains everything needed to start nebulizing and treating your horse.
Do you supply medications or solutions? . . .
Medications are not supplied with Flexineb® as these must be prescribed by your vet. The system is supplied with a bottle of 0.9% saline solution for immediate use. This helps the user become familiar with how it operates and to introduce your horse to the system before using it with medications.
What is the warranty on the parts? . . .
The following warranty protection applies to system components:
- Mask Assembly (excludes inlet and exit valves): 24 months
- Medication Cup: The medication cup is a consumable part and its life is very dependent on the drugs nebulized and how well it is cleaned and maintained. Therefore the medication cup component is not covered by warranty.
- Controller: 24 months
- Cable: 24 months
- Battery: 6 months
- Power Supply: 24 months
Please note: any damage caused by improper handling is not subject to warranty protection. The warranty expires when the device has been interfered with by a third party.
Are spare parts easy to get? . . .
Yes, spare parts can be ordered directly from us. You can order those here.
Do veterinarians use this product? . . .
Yes, Flexineb® was designed with extensive input and support from equine veterinarians in Ireland, the UK, France, Germany, Australia, Canada and the USA.
My veterinarian is unfamiliar with nebulization practices. Do you have dosage information?. . .
You can find guidance for medications and dosage in the Medication Reference Chart.
Can the device nebulize essential oils? . . .
Yes, to nebulize common essential oils like Eucalyptus Oil or Olbas® Oil first fill the medication cup with 0.9% saline solution and then add a few drops of the oils. Please refer to our Medication Reference Chart for information on other products we have tested and advice on whether they must be diluted or not. Some natural products can be harsh on plastics and metals so please contact us for advice on products not referred to in our Drug Table. It is very important to wash out the medication cup after nebulizing essential oil solutions to prevent potential damage to the plastics and vibrating mesh materials.
What operating time will I get from a fully charged battery? . . .
Approximately 4-6 hours depending on the condition of the battery.
How long does it take to charge the battery? . . .
Approximately 4 hours to fully charge a discharged battery.
Once I turn on the Flexineb®, how long will it run? . . .
The Flexineb® controller is set to run for 35 minutes each time the POWER button is depressed. After this time, if there is still medication to dispense or if you are using the extension cup, you will need to depress the POWER button again to resume nebulizing.
Can I disinfect the product? . . .
- Mask: The mask and its components can be disinfected using the likes of Accel TB or Steri-7™ without having any adverse effect on the materials.
- Nebulizer: We recommend cleaning the nebulizer with clean warm water and dishwashing soap.
How do I clean the product? . . .
Wash the mask in clean warm water and dishwashing liquid and rinse off with clean water. For a more thorough cleaning, dismantle the mask components and wash them individually. To clean the nebulizer, put a few drops of dishwashing liquid and clean warm water in the medication cup, close the cap and shake it. Gently squeeze the cap to push warm water through the mesh screen. Rinse out afterwards with clean warm water and shake dry. It is essential that the water is clean, otherwise it may clog the mesh. DO NOT USE WELL WATER.
Med Cup Cleaning Instructions in English and Spanish with Photos - April 2015.
Why has the nebulizer slowed down during use? . . .
It may be for different reasons, so please check the following: Some drugs are more viscous than others and take longer to nebulize. Check our Manuals & Guides page for information on expected delivery time for different drugs. The mesh may be clogged with residues of drug or other contaminants. Wash out the medication cup as described here. Charge the battery and check the LED status as outlined in the E2 User Manual or E3 User Manual. If the nebulizer does not recover, it may need replacing.
Can I use a Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) with the Flexineb™? . . .
Yes, remove the nebulizer and rotate the clear aerosol chamber to the horizontal position. Insert the supplied Metered Dose Inhaler Adaptor into the top of the aerosol chamber. The MDI can then be inserted and actuated into the aerosol chamber. See the User Manual on our Manuals & Guides page for more information.
What scientific data do you have? . . .
For scientific data, please refer to the Clinical Publications & Research page for details.
Do you have testimonials from customers who use the Flexineb? . . .
Yes, please refer to the Testimonials section of our website for testimonials from a broad range of Flexineb users.
