Coughing, and changing from hay to haylage.

[Spot_the_Risk]

I've posted about our very unfit cob with an occasional cough before. I'm doing a test with him, we stopped the hay (which the vet has seen and said was good) and are now feeding haylage. If the hay was the cause of the problem, how long before we should see a reduction in coughing? IMO he is coughing less, has been on haylage six days now. Be interested in your opinions on this.

 

[hellybelly6]

It took my horse 2-3 weeks.

What bedding is he on? I found my horse needed to come off straw and hay, even soaked hay.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Thanks for that, ours live out all year, so he has minimum exposure to dust, and the vet didn't think it was COPD, but I figured that trialling haylage wouldn't do any harm (although they are being very silly on it!).

 

[kellyeaton]

i would say within a month!

 

[lynsey1808]

It took mine about a month too, echo what has been said above, even soaking hay for hours did not stop mine coughing.
Now he never coughs and haylage is much easier to manage than wet hay!!

 

[Banjo]

mine hairy cob has developed a cough. It an occaisional one. He lives out all year too. I am damping/soaking his hay. I have also got him a 'HORSEYLIX' respiratory one. Its got stuff in it to help clear the airways.I only let him have it for a few minutes at a time as its high in sugar. It seems to help a bit.