Coughing.. potential RAO?

[laurabailey]

My ISH was treated for an upper respiratory infection back in may and had antibiotics, ventipulmin and sputolosin. He needed an extra tub of ventipulmin but was completely fine and in full work back out doing some low level dressage, sj and xc. Last month another horse was treated for a respiratory infection and my boy again started coughing. Had vet out again and he prescribed more ventipulmin and sputolosin as that worked last time. Again i needed another tub of ventipulmin as he still had the odd cough after the first lot. It looked promising, the coughing was becoming less frequent and he didnt cough at all for a few days. However once medication stopped the cough came back. He will have 2-3 coughs at the start of trot and then he will be fine. He will then have another cough 15-20 mins later. There is no wheezing and he isnt breathless and he looks and feels exactly the same. There is also no snot, just a dry cough.

I tried naf respirator boost liquid and that didn't really have any effect. Ive now got him on winergy ventilate and hes almost through the first tub and again that doesnt appear to be working.

He is on haylage and ive changed his bedding from straw to easibed. Im treating him as if he has rao but im still not getting anywhere. He is on 3 hours a day turnout (we have restricted grazing in the winter ) and he is stabled at the end of a large airy barn.

Just wondered if anybody has any ideas or tips for me to try. If it doesnt improve then next step is scoping.

 

[Firefly9410]

In my opinion that amount of coughing in those circumstances is nothing to worry about. You will not know without testing if there is any bacterial infection there. Virus can cause permanent damage to the lungs I believe. Your horse does not sound to me as if he has RAO though unless it is very mild and being well managed by the new dust free regime.