Archiesmummy
Well-Known Member
Archie has never had a days illness in his life, (toddles off and touches wood ...).
I have noticed that our last couple of rides,during a very sedate plod around the forest, he may cough, 3 or 4 times, one after another. He then clears his nose, 99% of the time which I understand is a good sign, but it is so out of character that I am worrying about him.
This weather is very changeable at the moment and I am wondering whether the recent hot spell then getting caught out with torrential rain and a bit of a cold spell has given him a little cough. It could be some grass stuck in his throat perhaps or swallowing gnats and flies ... they are horrendous at the moment, with the damp grass and humidity.
He is not unwell in himself, no discharge from his nose or mouth, eyes bright and he isn't constantly coughing. For instance, today, we ambled along for about half an hour then he coughed 3 or 4 times. He cleared his nose mostly afterwards but say between cough 3 and 4 he didn't. He went on to cough again and then cleared his nose but it sounded like it was clearing a dead fly or something as opposed to refreshining his airway. Hope you understand what I am trying to explain.
He is eating and drinking fine and pooing normally so all else seems okay.
I do monitor him closely and am not sure at this stage calling a vet would come up with anything as he seems well in himself. Is there anything else I can do, checks I can do to determine whether a vet is needed or its just one of those things.
Many thanks.
I have noticed that our last couple of rides,during a very sedate plod around the forest, he may cough, 3 or 4 times, one after another. He then clears his nose, 99% of the time which I understand is a good sign, but it is so out of character that I am worrying about him.
This weather is very changeable at the moment and I am wondering whether the recent hot spell then getting caught out with torrential rain and a bit of a cold spell has given him a little cough. It could be some grass stuck in his throat perhaps or swallowing gnats and flies ... they are horrendous at the moment, with the damp grass and humidity.
He is not unwell in himself, no discharge from his nose or mouth, eyes bright and he isn't constantly coughing. For instance, today, we ambled along for about half an hour then he coughed 3 or 4 times. He cleared his nose mostly afterwards but say between cough 3 and 4 he didn't. He went on to cough again and then cleared his nose but it sounded like it was clearing a dead fly or something as opposed to refreshining his airway. Hope you understand what I am trying to explain.
He is eating and drinking fine and pooing normally so all else seems okay.
I do monitor him closely and am not sure at this stage calling a vet would come up with anything as he seems well in himself. Is there anything else I can do, checks I can do to determine whether a vet is needed or its just one of those things.
Many thanks.
I got the vet out and they diagnosed RAO, apparently it can come on very suddenly and out of the blue! Changing his bedding from straw to shavings, giving him soaked hay and making sure his stable is as ventilated as possible have helped loads.
Have you listened to his breathing from his nose? If there is a clacking sound when he breathes in or out or he is wheezing I would have the vet. My horse has been like you describe for a short while and then he started misbehaving, we had the vet out on Wednesday and it turned out he has a mild upper respiritory tract infection and has been put on Ventapulmin. Could be something like this but it's nothing too serious, I can ride him again on Monday though, again, he was perfectly happy in himself just had a dry cough and was clacking. I don't mean to worry you but it could be nothing, hope this helps