Coughing and difficulty breathing - experiences?

[darkhorse123]

Id to get the emergency vet out last night for my 9 yr old cob.

All the time i have had him he has coughed once or twicewhen starting exercise but no problems. Last year had a coupel of days coughing - cleared up on its own.

He recently developed a cough again - no other symptoms - eating well, not lethargic, no temp, no runny nose

Last night he suddenly fell ill - a fellow livery rang me 8pm thinking he was colicking - rolling round, stampooing floor - very very unhappy

Vet came and his temp was fine, she thought choke so sedated him and put a tube into his stomach to rinse it out - saw a bit of food in his nose but nothing major

By now he was breathing very heavy and fast - she gave him a steroid injection and a weeks supply of antibiotics and soem meds beginnign with v for asthma - she also took bloods.

I stayed overnight with him as she advised and he improved and turned out this morning as she advised if he didnt worsen or stay same (when id to call her straight back)

She thinks it coudl be an allergic reaction, copd, horsey asthma or an infection.

Turned out today he was fine - runnign around, grazing - chased other horses who came near me.

Came in and ate his tea then was sleepy - im hom enow and yo is checking him for me.

So any experiences - what do you think it could be?

Hes been on same yard for 2 1/2 years with me - on haylage and shavings plus hi fi lite.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

The "V" is ventipulmin and is given to relax the airways deep in the lungs. I think a new allergic reaction is highly unlikely given that your horse has had a low grade intermittent cough for some time. I think it was quite likely a form of choke, maybe from snarfing his feed down too fast and inhalling some of it. Hi Fi Lite is very dry and if you watch some horses, they don't lift their heads from the feedbowl until every last scrap is gone. So if the feed is very dry, they're breathing in and out through big horsey nostrils all the time they're eating and can set off a cloud of dry feed which they can then inhale. I have 4 such piggy horses so never ever give dry feeds. I always damp with either wet speedibeet or plain water.

You need to watch the cough when he starts exercise. He's probably got a very, very low grade COPD/RAO probably due to either pollen if it's worse in the summer or dust if it's worse in the winter. If it is, then it's likely to gradually worsen over the years. With a dust allergy, maximum turnout is the answer, plus only muck out when horse isn't in or near the stable and keep him well away from the muck heap. You might also have to find new neighbours for him if a neighbouring stable feeds hay, not haylage, and beds on straw. If it's a summer pollen allergy then it's an absolute bugger to manage. Do keep exercising him because it will encourage him to cough up the sticky mucus that lines his airways. If it does worsen, you might need him to be endoscoped, just to make sure there isn't anything sinister happening in his lungs and then your vets will be able to guide you on drugs/management. I've got a veteran with severe summer pollen RAO and, sadly know an awful lot about managing it! PM me if you need any more info. Good luck x

 

[millreef]

Excellent advice Box_Of_Frogs - My AngloArab is suffering from a cough which is only evident when he begins to exercise but got very bad by the end of the summer. I can prepare much better for this summer on your advice.

 

[darkhorse123]

The "V" is ventipulmin and is given to relax the airways deep in the lungs. I think a new allergic reaction is highly unlikely given that your horse has had a low grade intermittent cough for some time. I think it was quite likely a form of choke, maybe from snarfing his feed down too fast and inhalling some of it. Hi Fi Lite is very dry and if you watch some horses, they don't lift their heads from the feedbowl until every last scrap is gone. So if the feed is very dry, they're breathing in and out through big horsey nostrils all the time they're eating and can set off a cloud of dry feed which they can then inhale. I have 4 such piggy horses so never ever give dry feeds. I always damp with either wet speedibeet or plain water.

You need to watch the cough when he starts exercise. He's probably got a very, very low grade COPD/RAO probably due to either pollen if it's worse in the summer or dust if it's worse in the winter. If it is, then it's likely to gradually worsen over the years. With a dust allergy, maximum turnout is the answer, plus only muck out when horse isn't in or near the stable and keep him well away from the muck heap. You might also have to find new neighbours for him if a neighbouring stable feeds hay, not haylage, and beds on straw. If it's a summer pollen allergy then it's an absolute bugger to manage. Do keep exercising him because it will encourage him to cough up the sticky mucus that lines his airways. If it does worsen, you might need him to be endoscoped, just to make sure there isn't anything sinister happening in his lungs and then your vets will be able to guide you on drugs/management. I've got a veteran with severe summer pollen RAO and, sadly know an awful lot about managing it! PM me if you need any more info. Good luck x

ty so so much box of frogs - from reading this i do think it coudl be copd caused by dust as his cough is worse in winter.

I do feed hifi lite but always moist - however just over a week ago he has got a new neighbour who has a huge straw bed. She also box walks so i imagine that will create more dust -in fact in teh past week over 6 new horses have come onto our yard - all have huge straw beds. It is a huge barn type block and he is in a far corner (I chose this stable as its well away from draughty entrance) - ty so so much I really think that coudl be it.
I will speak to yo tonight and other liveries - see if theres any chance i can swap his stable to one nearer the entrance.
I know i keep saying it but ty - it just all fits!