Cough is back, advice please!

[m1stify]

My mare developed a dust/hay allergy in March this year, went on a course of 2 tubs of ventipulmen and also a course of steriods. Cough cleared up & I moved yards i.e. totally changed her management, from american barn to very well ventilated outside stable, hay to hayledge, minimum turnout to 8-10 hours turnout every day, dust-free shavings. She has been off the meds for about 8 weeks now, and no cough until last Friday when it came back in a big way
The first time the cough came on extremely gradually, over a number of weeks but this time its back chronically, basically going from no coughing at all to full blown cough in less than 24 hrs.
Nothing in her care has changed, I have checked everything. Vet came out and scoped her and the irritation in her airways is back.
But something has triggered it, and I would love some suggestions of what it could be. I am thinking pollen, is there any particular pollen that would have been prevailant last week?
Is it normal for cough to come back a 2nd time in a non-gradual manner?
BTW mare didn't suffer last july when I got her. She passed a 5 stage vet exactly one yr ago.

 

[attheponies]

I've had the same problem with my mare - cough which got worse not better despite steaming hay etc. Vet out who prescribed ventapulmin & 24 hour turn out. Mare much (though not completely) better, exactly same with another horse on the yard who is now on shavings etc. Sorry to hear your horse has got worse - not much to suggest as you seem to be doing everything you can, but there does seem to be a really high prevalence this year.

 

[m1stify]

I would just love to find out what triggered it though has to be something she was in contact with in the last few days.
No rapeseed crops near the yard, I drove around last night and could see none.
Has anyone given their horse local honey to help with allergies?

 

[K27]

The only thought i've had is: Wood Shavings!- i only say that as i have severe dust allergies myself and i literally can't breathe if i have to go near wood shavings- even the most dust extracted ones! i can only cope with paper bedding, any of the wood based or straw beddings are a no go for me! all of my horses are on paper and it really seems to be the type of bedding thats like Marmite- people either love it or hate it!, but they never have breathing probs or snotty noses (one has mild copd) so i think it does help in keeping their airways clear, i think that is also why some racing yards use it too. Maybe you could have a "trial" and see if theres an improvement of paper or cardboard?

Could be pollen related too as you suggest- are any of your horses neighbours on straw or dusty beddings?

Also i had a mare with bad sinusitis a few years back and we gave her naf respirator boost liquid which helped, and years ago my horse had a lung infection which was when his mild copd was diagnosed and after he had finished his antib's and ventipulmin i gave him some herbs for breathing , i think i got them from Equimins/hilton herbs- they seemed to be useful i think!

Good luck -hope your mare makes a good recovery soon- must be a bit of a worry for you!

 

[m1stify]

Thanks, that's great have decided to take her off the shavings and put her on paper or cardboard. Will try the herbs also hopefully she just needs a boost and will recover. She is great in herself and her breathing is fine. Also waiting to hear from vet as he took bloods to see can they pinpoint the allergen

 

[jodie3]

I was going to suggest cardboard bedding too. My cob had COPD and I found he was better on the cardboard than shavings.

I know this sounds odd but I know of several humans who have breathing problems and they find haylage aggravates them more than hay!

 

[pip6]

You can't get rid of all dust unfortunately.

I got a lovely cough syrup (from Lincoln I think) from the local saddlers. It was glycerin, licorice, aniseed & menthol. How about giving her a dose of manuka honey before she is stabled each night? Might be worth a jar to try. Aanother thing to try before she works is putting a little Vicks around her nostrils (the vaseline stuff not the inhaler, & obviously don't put it on the sensitive tissues inside). Will help open her airways & breath deep, shifting any rubbish.