Coughing After Long Trot/Canter

[_unregistered_]

I recently posted that my mare was coughing in the morning, after great advice from this forum I have been soaking her hay and it's worked a treat no more morning coughing and it's had another great effect that she's not drinking half as much which means less pee too !

But today is the first time she's been rode all week and after each long trot or canter she had a little spout of coughing, nothing came up and it was only short lived but i've not noticed this in her before.

Little concerned now.

 

[MrsMozartletoe]

Maybe cos she not coughing in the morning etc, something just working its way up? I'm no expert though so hopefully someone will know better than me.

 

[viola]

My horse's RAO started with that sort of symptoms so might be worth investigating in that direction.

 

[viola]

More on RAO: http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/121310.htm

 

[Tia]

Yes sounds like she had RAO previously; she may not be quite over it yet. OR could she have been munching on her ride? One of mine will cough a little if the rider allows her to grab some grass along the way; never at a walk, only ever at trot or canter.

 

[_unregistered_]

Thankyou for that I was just googling RAO. I will read that right now.

 

[_unregistered_]

She had a mouthful of haylage when I went to tack her up but I pulled, what I thought was all of it out of her trap before putting bit in - no good waiting for her to finish as when she sees her bridle she just stops munching. I don't think she had any left but maybe she had a bit half way down her throat.

 

[_unregistered_]

Sorry to sound thick but is RAO similar to COPD ? I read the article but she doesn't present with all the symptoms, she never has flared nostrils and doesn't cough when eating, but maybe she's got a mild dose ? if so is there anything more I can do to help her, she's bedded on bliss and her hay is now soaked thoroughly before she has it - or she has haylage.

 

[viola]

COPD is an old name for RAO

Maybe have a look on here- About Respiratory Problems in Horses:

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/vet/tag/Respiratory_problems

 

[Tia]

COPD was the previous name for RAO - it was proven to be incorrect though, so they changed the name.

Try her tomorrow but don't let her eat before or during your ride and see what happens.

 

[milliepops]

If she only coughed once or twice I really wouldn't worry about it for the moment. My mare (who has soaked hay) will almost always cough once or twice when she starts trot work in the school. 1 cough, 1 'nose blow' then nothing more. She is fit and healthy and has always done it.

I would keep an eye on her to be sure, but if she hasn't been worked all week then possibly something has settled in her chest. It is probably just her clearing herself out