Cough, mild raised temperature, lethargy

[peaceandquiet1]

Our pony developed a cough quite suddenly. We thought he had an allergy as there was haymaking going on. Vet gave ventipulmin. His temp was high end of normal. A few days later he developed a thick creamy nasal discharge, so started antibiotics. Nasal swabs clear. Then another horse here (there are seven in total) developed same symptoms-so making the allergy theory seem less definite. She also had antibiotics.

Pony stopped coughing and was allowed to exercise on lunge. Again no coughing. Daughter rode for ten mins-in walk-no coughing. Then yesterday-coughing fit. Horse is still coughing though not as bad.

Nasal swabs for both have not grown anything. Other ponies are all asymptomnatic at the moment.

Could both have had flu-all vaccinated, but still?

Very worried about them.

 

[Tnavas]

Probably just a virus. As pony is coughing limit exercise to walk as you don't want him inhaling the nasal discharge which can lead to lung problems.

Keep an eye on his temperature if it goes up call the vet. Damp all food and feed from ground level.

To help clear nasal discharge a little Vicks at the base of each nostril will help. To protect skin around the nostrils from the affect of the nasal discharge smear some Vaseline on the skin.

For gucky legs where they have wiped their nose on them, wash with salty water, seems to remove dried snot better than anything else. When dry rub some baby oil into the hair, seems to stop the snot sticking.

Best not to take pony off the premises until everyone's healthy again.

To avoid catching bugs don't allow ponies to sniff noses at shows and take your own wTer and buckets with you. Communal troughs are great places to spread illnesses.

 

[shannonandtay]

I have just had my pony ill from a virus and he ended up in the vets for a week as his throat became inflamed and he was unable to eat. Since then six others have had the same symptoms as you describe, with the nasal discharge and some with coughs some without. My lads temperature went up to 39.4c and another had a temp of 40c the rest didn't have raised temperatures. It hasn't made any difference whether they've had flu vaccine or not as some had and a some hadn't had it. My vet said it wasn't flu and he also tested negative for strangles. He had three weeks out of work in total and has been fine since. All tnavas advice is what we were told by the vet so feeding off the ground and soaked feed and hay.

 

[peaceandquiet1]

Thanks for replies. Neither have discharge or raised temps now, and look normal, but have been left with this occasional cough. We do take our own water etc and have been to a strangles/flu talk and kids know to keep their distance from other ponies etc. However the last show they were at-June 29th-there was a tack and turnout and the judge touched every pony......kids now saying there was a coughing one.....though maybe that was too long ago. Became aware that the pony was ill on 20th July when he under performed at a show then started coughing a few days later. They were not off the premises between those dates.