Coughing horse - what to do?

[be positive]

Thanks. As stated though, I’ve spoke to the vet, and he lives out 24/7 on ad-lib good haylage so not sure what other management changes I can make.

The vet may not be able to come but there are things he can do other than management, he can prescribe antibiotics, he can probably give you are swab so you can get one to send in for testing, we did this with one that had an unusual nasal discharge which was not always there, so the correct antibiotics can be given, scoping would be the obvious way to get to the bottom of it and that may not be possible at the moment but it would probably be the best thing the vet can do if he comes out.

 

[Patterdale]

Thanks. I’m really hoping they’ll come out tomorrow now the rules have been relaxed a bit.

 

[Patterdale]

The really frustrating thing is that I can’t work at the moment, so I’ve got loads of time on my hands, great weather, dry fields and a new set of jumps delivered last week, pony has finally started going well......and I can’t ride ????‍?

 

[TPO]

The really frustrating thing is that I can’t work at the moment, so I’ve got loads of time on my hands, great weather, dry fields and a new set of jumps delivered last week, pony has finally started going well......and I can’t ride ????‍?

They know that, equine 6th sense ?

They get added points for it being a bank holiday as well as a pandemic

 

[Patterdale]

TPO ?

Got vet coming this week now that the guidelines have been relaxed! I’m so happy!

 

[Patterdale]

Update
Vet has been. The cough escalated a lot over the past few days until he was just pretty much always coughing with increased resp rate. Vet inspected everything and said he suspects it is post-viral, but thinks a new bale of haylage has set him off.
This is really good haylage (I thought!) but he said there were spores in it. Has anyone ever heard of haylage making a horse cough!?

Anyway I removed the haylage and started ventipulmin yesterday and I haven’t heard him cough since, and his resps are now normal. Did not expect improvement that fast but hopefully it will continue.

So what on Earth do I feed him now!?

 

[TPO]

Dampened/soaked (& rinsed)/steamed hay?

I bought a haygain steamer for mine. He picked up a viral infection from untreated liver horses and post virus was left with asthma ?

The steamed hay has helped loads. Recently I've just been dampening hay and <touch wood> he's been fine.

So if anyone wants to buy a HayGain...ha ha

 

[Patterdale]

Ooh I was thinking about steaming....but we don’t make small bales. Can you only use small bales with them?

 

[TPO]

Ooh I was thinking about steaming....but we don’t make small bales. Can you only use small bales with them?

No you can fill it with nets of hay or loose hay. When I first got the steamer we were on big bales but then switched to small.

 

[Patterdale]

How do they run? Do they need electric? Silly question ?

 

[TPO]

How do they run? Do they need electric? Silly question ?

Yeah it needs electric, plugs into a socket.

Fill the steamer with water and turn it on. Theres a thermostat on the chest. AFAIK haygain are the only steamers that reach the required temperatures to properly steam the hay.

Home made versions have been proven not to be effective (e.g. wallpaper steamers and wheelie bins)

 

[Patterdale]

Thank you.
I think I might just order in a lorry load of some fancy haylage from one of the equine specific companies. Be a bit more expensive than making our own but at least it should be dust free!
I don’t have electric where the horses live in winter so it would be a faff carrying steamed hay about.

Luckily there’s plenty grass for now!