Cough - Anything more I can do?

[laurahicks30]

My horse developed a cough on tues and I have had on her on a mixture of cough medicine nd honey twice a day as recommended by a firend...however she doesnt seem to be improving. Is there anything else I can do aprt from keeping her warm etc.. or do I need to just let it run its course?

 

[stranger1612]

Call your veterinary surgeon?

 

[Donkeymad]

Don't let it drag on. Lots of horses have had uncharacteristic chest infections this summer, probably due to the up and down weather. So I would call the vet soon too.

 

[michaeljarmuz]

Wet down hay, also what bedding you on if any?

 

[gloster_image]

Call the vet ASAP - trust me on this one i've had way too much experience with chest/breathing problems and it's not something to twiddle your thumbs on. If it's an infection it will need treatment. The vets don't charge to just ring up and discuss it with them - so do that and they will either give you advice or come out if they're concerned.

 

[the watcher]

If this cough is out of the ordinary for your horse I would check with the vet to be sure it hasn't picked up some sort of virus, there seem to be a lot about. In the meantime, treat as if it is a dust allergy, wet all food and hay and avoid bedding on straw. The cough mixture won't do any harm and may give some relief so you can carry on with that

 

[vicijp]

Get it scoped and blood tested, dont sweat it up, and put on a course of broad spectrum antibiotics. If the horse is young and the cough particularly bad, put on a course of bute.

 

[Grumpy Herbert]

Get your vet out just to make sure it's not an infection that'll need antibiotics. Don't hang around cos you could end up with long term damage if you don't get it sorted as soon as poss.

 

[laurahicks30]

Have had the vet out nd there doesnt seem to be any abnormalities with her chest breathing etc..., so he reckons is possibly an allergic reaction of some kind. She is grass livery so dust is a problem, but does have a problem with high pollen levels..could this have caused it?

 

[Scarlett1980]

My friends horse has had a cough and snotty nose for 6 weeks now. Has had two courses of antibiotics and been scoped. She's now put him on winergy ventil-ate as well.

Seems to be a lot of it going round this year.

 

[gloster_image]

Yep I highly recommend Winergy Ventilate if your horse has a long term problem with a cough or respiratory disorder.

Before you go that route, and if it's a one off cough, I would HIGHLY recommend putting aloe vera gel in her feed. You have to introduce it gradually, 25mls day 1 and 2 etc but make sure you buy the right stuff - PM me if you want details of the product and how to feed it (its up the yard so will write down details when I go up this afternoon for you).
It generally soothes and cools the airways and will calm the cough down as well as calming any allergic reaction going on.

 

[Gorgeous George]

George had a cough and runny nose a few weeks ago, rang the vet who recommended feeding off the floor and adding global herbs airway to his feed - seems to have done the trick.

 

[glenruby]

If its not caused by an infectious disease, then somethinalong the lines of RAOD (a type III hypersensitivity disorder) is likely. In these cases, a bronchodilator like Ventilpulmin is the usual treatment. This increass te diameter of the broncioles and smaller airways allowing increased ventilation. In many circumstances an NSAID is administered also to reduce the inflammation which is characteistic of RAOD.
Cough medicine is only symptomatic treatment and if there is an underlying disease, this will not be treated by cough medicine and as soon as u stop using it, the cough will return (unless the disorder is self limiting). For infectious causes, antibiotics are the only drug type that will treAT THE cause not the symptoms.
Hope this is of some use.

Oh and for he management of non infectious airway disorders good husbandry is vital.

 

[the watcher]

[ QUOTE ]
George had a cough and runny nose a few weeks ago, rang the vet who recommended feeding off the floor and adding global herbs airway to his feed - seems to have done the trick.

[/ QUOTE ]

Another vote here for Global Herbs products, Airway and Weez are both good