cough and nose discharge

[Op_al12]

I have had my pony for 3 weeks on a full loan. From when she arrived she has had a snotty nose, especially coming in from the field. It isn't yellow or clear, instead its brown? On about the 10th day of having her, we had a lesson and after trotting she started coughing. It wasn't a dry cough, more of a wet cough with foam around her lips. She didn't do it for a while but yesterday and today is started up again, after cantering. Once she has coughed, she doesn't cough again that ride. Also when eating, she makes a grunting sound, as if she is drawing air in. She hasn't lost her appetite but she can be lazy, which her previous owner said was normal? I am starting to get a little worried.
thank you

 

[be positive]

What has her owner said about it? a brown discharge is not normal, combined with a cough it could be due to many things some of which are fairly serious and will require treatment, is she on a yard or at home? if she was on my yard at livery she would be in isolation and I would have insisted on a vet being called, possibly a phone consultation would be enough to get a basic diagnosis and treatment underway, either way you do need to do something, contact her owner and make a plan of action.

The noise when eating is less of a concern, some are noisy but it could be related to the discharge, sinus issues, tooth abscess, sore throat can all affect how they eat even if it doesn't put them off eating it may be uncomfortable, I wouldn't ride her until I knew a bit more about what is wrong as she could be feeling pretty poorly.

 

[PSD]

I would definitely be speaking to a vet as coughing for any horse isn’t “normal” and I think it’s unfair the owner has said that to you

 

[EGUSVet]

Is it bilateral or unilateral discharge?
what is the consistency of the discharge?
brown colour? Dark brown or like rust brown?

 

[Gloi]

I think I would be speaking to the owner and getting them to get the vet to look at the horse and from what the result is then decide if you want to continue with the loan. You don't really want to be taking on a horse with an unknown problem.
How old is the horse?

 

[Pinkvboots]

Are you sure it's brown discharge? If I look at my horses noses and wipe them it will be brown because of the dry dusty ground they are grazing from, and that mixed with a bit of a wet nose would make it seem like its brown especially when coming in from the field, the cough could just be a dry cough it's been very dry of late very suddenly after all the wet weather we have had.

 

[Gloi]

If it is brown, it could be stained with dried blood from somewhere higher up the nose or in the lungs which needs investigating.

 

[Op_al12]

I think I would be speaking to the owner and getting them to get the vet to look at the horse and from what the result is then decide if you want to continue with the loan. You don't really want to be taking on a horse with an unknown problem.
How old is the horse?

she is 10

 

[Op_al12]

Is it bilateral or unilateral discharge?
what is the consistency of the discharge?
brown colour? Dark brown or like rust brown?

it is a darker brown and its not to thick but it doesn't drip. i have noticed she is usually snotty coming in from the field.

 

[Op_al12]

Are you sure it's brown discharge? If I look at my horses noses and wipe them it will be brown because of the dry dusty ground they are grazing from, and that mixed with a bit of a wet nose would make it seem like its brown especially when coming in from the field, the cough could just be a dry cough it's been very dry of late very suddenly after all the wet weather we have had.

yes, that might be the case. I've noticed her nose is usually runny after coming in from the field. But her cough is more wet and foamy, could this be from dry weather?

 

[EGUSVet]

it is a darker brown and its not to thick but it doesn't drip. i have noticed she is usually snotty coming in from the field.

Both nostrils or only one? And does he have a high temp?

 

[Equi]

yes, that might be the case. I've noticed her nose is usually runny after coming in from the field. But her cough is more wet and foamy, could this be from dry weather?

This does not sound normal. I would want to isolate for the safety of the other horses but primarily i would want a vet to check your horse. White/clear discharge at this time of year is not totally abnormal if a horse has allergies so a vet may not come for that, but colour in the discharge and how the cough presents would ring alarms especially if its a new horse.

P.s. is she fed anything bar grass/hay?

 

[Op_al12]

This does not sound normal. I would want to isolate for the safety of the other horses but primarily i would want a vet to check your horse. White/clear discharge at this time of year is not totally abnormal if a horse has allergies so a vet may not come for that, but colour in the discharge and how the cough presents would ring alarms especially if its a new horse.

P.s. is she fed anything bar grass/hay?

yes, she gets lo cal balancer and chaff

 

[Op_al12]

Both nostrils or only one? And does he have a high temp?

both nostrils and no temp

 

[Equi]

I think this will be one for the vet.

 

[Pinkvboots]

yes, that might be the case. I've noticed her nose is usually runny after coming in from the field. But her cough is more wet and foamy, could this be from dry weather?

It could be does she come in and have any hay? If so I would soak it and see if it improves.

Maybe give the owner a call and see if she is prone to a cough or runny nose, seen as she has no temperature and no yellow snot it does sound more like a dust dry condition type thing but if there is any change I would get a vet.

 

[Gloi]

A picture ofthe discharge may help people to see if it is abnormal