COUGH..........

[louisewarner]

My old boy aged 18 has been coughing alot since we moved yard, but nothing else has changed.

He is coughing, and farting at the same time in an explosive way, the noise of which reverberates around the yard! He seems very well in every other way, is eating and drinking and is well in himself. He is out as much as possible tho cant tolerate all day, is on shavings, has soaked hay (cant stand hayledge) and is carefully managed in every way.
He is not now in regular work, as he is retired due to old suspensory probs and arthritic spine.

Vet has been and doesnt think any infection is there, temp normal and Blood test was very good with nothing abnormal found. He has been prescribed Ventipulmin 4 squirts twice a day.
NO improvement in 5 days of this and still coughing and farting (simultaneously) for England........

What next?? Any suggestions anyone.........would lunging to open up his lungs a bit help? He rarely gets a good pipe opener, or would this cause more problems........he seems very happy but understandably the other people on the yard are getting worried about the noises! and I am worried what on earth we can do to stop it!

 

[the watcher]

The farting is just related to the effort of the coughing, I think. Could be a pollen allergy or maybe his teeth need a look, if bits of feed and grass and not being chewed properly they can cause coughing - although normally you will see bits of half chewed food being spat out simultaneously with the coughing and farting.

 

[Maizy]

Occasionally my old boy gets the loud farts after a deep cough and he amazes himself at the volume...he really gets his cheeky school boy face!! I am LOL - I should be concerned but it is not all that often and his face is a picture!!

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

My veteran is suffering something similar though without the farting! He has a dry, hacking cough - same as he got this time last year which was the year I moved him to a different yard because of serious welfare issues. The old yard was high up on a hillside, above the snowline and had no real hedgerows or hawthorn/etc in glorious bloom. The new yard is a "normal" level and is surrounded by gorgeous hedgerows and - it's a wonderful season for it - amazing displays of hawthorn blossom. Vet has been up - lungs, heart, circulation, temperature, appetite all fine. We've put him on antibiotics for 7 days just to see what happens (with a 23yr old horse I'm not bothered about over-dosage!!!) - vet thinks he might stop coughing whilst on the meds but start again as soon as he stops. If that's the case then we're gonna try him on ventopulmin (or was it piriton?). She thinks it's a summer allergy to tree blossom pollen. I have noticed that he coughs less when it's damp - I think the rain settles the pollen more. He's actually almost stopped coughing now, on the antibiotics so I'm just waiting to see if he'll start again when the course ends. Don't worry too much if ned is otherwise fine but you might want to discuss a trial course of antibiotics with your vet x

 

[louisewarner]

Thanks for your suggestions.....I will talk to vet again today. I have not noticed any quidding or eating problems, though have changed to a cube rather than a mix as less dusty?

I have heard Benylin cough mixture might help??

Vet probably wont do anti biotics as it all sounded clear, no temp etc, but will ask.

Many thanks all!

 

[embonaught]

I'm having the same problem with my mare and she's only 9. She's been on 3 scoops of ventapulmin, twice a day, for nearly two weeks and it hasn't shifted it. When ridden, it's like she's holding her breath, then gets more tense and in a greater tizz. I'm at my wits end because its both distressing and distracting. Physio next to rule out any sore spots then trying a list of things to try and get to the bottom of it. Wish I could help!