Coughing horse! *bit long*

[kimky]

Over the past three weeks my mare has picked up a cough? she did choke about a month ago, but there was no need to chube her as she coughed it up her self, i dont know if this is relevant or just a coincidence? It doesnt seem to be chesty, more tickly cough. My yard owner tells me its more at night when shes stabled, only once or twice if that whilst riding? Today after been stable over night for the past 14 days she seems to have a deep inhale and exhale from her belly?
Ive turned her out for the night. And gave her a blast of Airways by global herbs. Im planing on getting the vet in the next few days if her condition doesnt improve. She seems perky and forward in all areas.
Any ideas of what it could be guys?
Im thinking dust allergy? But ive owned her 11years and shes stable most her life, so why now?

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Chube her? Jeez. Tube her I guess you mean. It does sound like classic COPD/RAO, especially with the double exhale you describe. In time she will develop a "heaves line" round her abdomen as a result of her abdominal muscles having to help her breathe out. If she coughs more when stabled, it is very likely a dust allergy but does she have hay or haylage when stabled? It could be an allergy to the spores in hay. You could try changing to haylage or soaking her hay before feeding it to her. If it is COPD/RAO from a dust allergy, then the fact that she coughs a few times when you ride her is important. That should tell you that she is becoming exercise intolerant because she can't get enough oxygen into her body as her lungs are clogged with mucus. You say you've had her for 11yrs but as a horse ages it's immune system becomes less robust so a newly developing allergy is entirely possible. My veteran only developed summer pasture associated COPD when he was 21! I'd get the vet out to listen to her breathing but while you're waiting you could check your horse's breaths per minute while at rest. It should be between 8 and 12 breaths per minute when standing quietly in her stable. My veteran's was 45 per minute last year when he was very ill and it shot up to over 65 when he was a bit stressed from being too warm standing in his stable in his overnight rug (he's out at night, in for 4hrs or so in the day). If your horse has raised breaths per minute it should tell you that something isn't right. Pass the info on to your vet. Good luck.