Complications following hobday procedure

[Wimbles]

One of my horses was hobdayed during his racing career, I have since had the vet scope him and it is clear to see that there is permanent opening of the left side of the larynx.

They have advised against any type of further surgery but other than some tips about feeding I haven't had much else from them.

The reason I investigated were because the horse sometimes had grass/feed coming out of his nose and always has a cough when starting to work. I also find it strange that he doesn't really ever blow down his nose like other horses do. We have been lucky enough not to have any incidents of pneumonia/infections (I just get those!!)

He's fit and well in all other ways and looks great but the coughing and sometimes nasal discharge leads everyone to believe that he has the plague, especially at competitions!

Just wondering if anyone had any experience of this and had and advice of how to keep him well please?

 

[AdorableAlice]

I would get a good vet to look at him. My big horse was tied back and would occasionally eat too quickly resulting in food coming down his nose. I had to use a huge flat bottomed bowl and spread the food very thinly so he could not grab too much in one go.

I would also be thinking about checking your lads teeth, if he is slightly uncomfortable it would be a reason for not chewing well enough and causing the same problem. You might find there is nothing physically wrong but a tweak in management might be all that is needed.

 

[Wimbles]

Thanks for replying AA, my vet has scoped him and given me the diagnosis. His teeth are all up to date too.

The idea about the big flat bottomed bowl is just what I am after, thanks! Not sure if there's anything much I can do about the grass that comes down his nose when he's out grazing though :/

 

[ester]

My friend's horse had always been a bit like that, mild choke/feed out of nose etc but nothing really worrying for years. He had a good old cough after clearly inhaling some haylage on the way to a competition recently but seemed ok after and competed fabulously. Mild colic symptoms on arrival back home/not quite right and a few days later he got a pneumonia diagnosis and a couple of weeks in horsepital I think the only thing I would say is to just be very vigilant.

 

[gunnergundog]

Not sure if there's anything much I can do about the grass that comes down his nose when he's out grazing though :/

Poor pasture or muzzle him so that he can only take up a few blades of grass at a time.