Coughing in trot

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Magicsugar92

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My section D is 18 years old and I've owned her for 10 years. She's always been very giddy and forward going. We've always struggled with her weight and laminitis but just recently she's developed a cough whilst being ridden in trot or canter. She also seems a little 'down' and not her usual chirpy self. I accept that at the moment she is going through one of her rather fat phases but before I start trying to shift her belly I want to know the cough isn't anything to be concerned about. We're getting the vet out to her this week just wondering if anyone has any ideas of what it could be? Thank you in advance :)
 
Have you maybe recently started using a new batch of hay which is dusty and fed dry, causing irritation in her lungs?
 
Hi, no she is turned out 24/7 at the moment so is solely on grass. She has the odd haynet when she comes in to be ridden but we are on hayledge and all bales are usually really good ones
 
How are her temperature, pulse and respiration? Sounds to me like an infection of some sort, if she is off colour too - best not to ride her, if she has a viral or bacterial infection she needs rest to recover
 
We thought it was a virus but due to it only occurring in trot/canter sort of ruled it out. She's absolutely fine otherwise. All her vitals are fine. I must admit I'm a little worried it could be the start of COPD? But I've never had any experience of it before so can't be sure
 
My horse does this when he is less fit and quite often, after coughing a couple of times to clear his lungs he is then fine and continues working without doing it, it's can happen when they start to exert themselves which may be why it shows in trot not walk - he doesn't do it in canter though, although I never canter until he is properly warmed up. Is it prolonged or just a couple of times when she starting work. If it's prolonged then yes it needs checking if just a cough or 2 I would be less worried.
 
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Might just be that she is using her body properly and her lungs are working harder. It's very dry at the moment, she could be inhaling dry dirt/dust which she is then clearing when breathing a bit more heavily. Does the weather make a difference? For me, if she is still willing to go forward in a relaxed fashion that would be the key. When my horse had a viral infection, he completely lost his oomph! Why don't you just give the vet a phone call to set your mind at rest, wouldn't do any harm and the vets are usually quite happy to have a quick chat.
 
My horse always coughs three times in a row when I first trot him if a new bale of supposedly 'dust extracted' shavings have been put in his bed and not mixed in with his old bed enough.

Its the only time he coughs and I know immediately why (well, obviously I have already seen his bed anyway as I tack him up, but if I hadn't I would know it was due to that!)
 
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