anyone used chopped straw bedding for copd? rate or hate please?

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Spotsrock

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So b1 is coughing again. It's quite a wet cough with some goop being ejected. She's seen vet for it numerous times over the years so we normally just pop on supplement, haylage and shavings, indoor barn at New yard so not sure if that has bearing, it's big and airy though.

Has anyone tried chopped straw with eucalyptus oil for copd horses? Been suggested and I quite fancy it but only if it would help! Do you rate or hate it please?
 
Not got any experience of it with copd I'm afraid, but in terms of how much of a nice bed it makes I love it! I mix it with shavings and it really does make a lovely bed
 
Depends how well ventilated it is Amymay - my COPD coped well enough in a barn stable but it was extremely well ventilated, agree with you on the straw though.

OP I would either stick to shaving/megazorb/aubiose/pellets etc :)
 
I haven't used chopped straw, but have used miscanthus & not only did it make the horses cough, it made me cough too :(
I have a copd horse who is kept successfully in an indoor barn (very well ventilated) on softchip. Its a small woodchip that has next to minimal dust. I can't keep my mare on shavings at all, even the dust extracted ones.
 
amymay said:
I would never use straw of any type for a horse with copd. Unfortunately the barn set up won't help either.
Click to expand...

This^^^

I would recommend virtually dustless cardboard bedding (1" squares) for any horse/donkey with RAO (COPD). I use it for all my horses, even though none of them have RAO.
 
It would depend if the dust has been extracted. I use chopped oat straw for feed for a Cushing's/IR pony who coughs a little if hay is dusty. This has the dust extracted and I can honestly say I don't notice any dust at all.
 
What about trying hemp? Less dust than woodshavings IMO.
Best would be not to stable but I'm guessing that's not an option for you.
You can damp the bed down too which may help.
 
I found that when I used unibed premium chopped rape straw for my copd sufferer youngster, she really did show a clear difference - even though she was in an internal stable.

However, I bought a bag of unibed original by mistake - which I think is made from wheat straw rather than rape straw (might be wrong though!) She did cough a little when I put this down, and I noticed that it was more dusty and lighter.

I'd say that choppd rape straw is a good option personally! :)
 
Cardboard is good and what I use for my boy with COPD. In a barn environment they can cope well if you can control environment...if other liveries on straw etc this could affect your horse, especially if DIY and people are mucking out etc when your horse is in. Don't know your set-up but just something to be aware of.
 
I'd use cardboard or paper on a horse with copd. My oldie is on paper bedding as I get it free and although he doesn't cough or have copd I wouldn't want to trigger anything. He was on straw and I tried the short chop stuff but found it worse than normal straw and that I went through a heck of a lot more of the chopped stuff than I did on the normal and of the paper bedding.
 
I just bought some nedz bed pro which is chopped rape straw thinking it would be good for pony with COPD. The first time she went in it she shoved her nose through it investigating and of course she now has an awful cough and discharge do will have to take her off it which is a shame so back to shavings.
 
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