Coughing - should I do anything?

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Gorgeous George

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George was coughing this evening when I went up to ride and had a bit of a runny nose (pretty much clear discharge but a bit snotty). He seemed ok in himself so I did start to ride and he was ok in walk, but as soon as I trotted he started to cough, so I got off and called it a day. I took him for an in-hand walk and he scoffed into loads of grass, and ate his carrots/apples in his stable with gusto
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and I didn't hear him cough. I checked his temp and it was normal. Should I do anything or is he just a bit off-colour? Did wonder if it could be the sudden change in temp?

Thanks
 
I have always thought that coughing is not a natural thing for a horse to do - they don't do it to clear their throats for example, like we do.

I'm not sure I'd call the vet, but I would be watching him carefully over the next few days I think .
 
he has his hay dry in a haybar, never soaked it but do you think I should whilst he's coughing? I was worried about working him whilst he was coughing in case I made it worse, or he really was feeling 'off'
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do horses get colds like people do?
 
little ones got the vet next week for a cough that just will not go, jay has had 2 weeks of with a virus, he had a snotty nose & cough
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hope he is ok soon xx
 
Unless you are doing excessive fast work or fittening work, I would worry about schooling him. Are his glands up? I would soak his hay. You will prob find the cough disappears
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Mine coughs on unsoaked hay too
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It may just be that the hay was dusty. Next time work him through it. Will used to cough for a couple of strides and that was it. I changed him to shaving and Haylege never had another cough. He was a devil for eating his straw as well as the hay even when hay soaked. If it doesn't stop and gets worse call the vet, But I wouldn't worry too much at the moment unless he has a snotty nose and his eyes start to run.
 
I rode my boy this morning, and he had a cough which isn't like him, I carried on ,a couple of snorts later no more coughing.
I have gone on to hay from haylage and I'm sure that this has contributed to his coughing.If it is the odd one at the start of the ride I wouldn't worry too much about it, if it continues through out the ride then I would be inclined to do something about it.
 
I cant wait to leave mine out over night Im having the same problem.He coughs if the hay is dusty.I use a haybar and that helped but this last lot of hay isnt as good and I am tipping half a bucket of water in the haybar which seems to help .I do it in layers so that it trickles through without running straight out the bottom.
 
it coud be two things my main thought would be a cold due to the weird weather a lot of horses are getting this .
all less of a thought would be dusty hay soak the hay for a while .
i would try and give the horse a spoonful of cough mixture in each feed and also boost the immunity by giving echinacea if this doesnt work soak hay
if these methods do not work then i would refer to vet
 
mollie has been coughing of late so i have got her some garlic and am soaking her hay
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if it persists when she is a little fitter then i will consider giving my vet a call and just having a chat with him and see what he thinks. the weather is quite damp at the moment with it going wet/dry/wet/dry etc etc.

xx
 
Weather temperature changes often cause problems...its when more susceptible to pick up viruses etc...or more affected by hay, allergens.
Did you take temperature...if heightened that would be sign of virus/infection..rather then a touchy cough?
 
I have the answer Benilyn for us works a treat just a handful every now and then till you see it improving! they love it no harm done!
 
Hi,
Horses don't get common colds, only things more severe like equine flu! I certainly don't think this is George's problem!! It sounds like a bit of dusty hay or bedding, I would soak his hay for now and make sure his bedding isn't too dusty either. If his nasal discharge is a whiteish colour it is also a sign of dust, when its green in colour it can be more of an infection. I have a gelding that suffers with nasal discharge and coughing if his haylage or bedding is more dusty than usual and my OH (Vet) always tells me to give him a couple of days rest if he has a persistant cough in trot as you can cause excess strain to their breathing equipment!! If George needs to be kept ticking over just WALK him on the lunge for 10 mins for a couple of days until his cough has stopped. Hope he's better soon!
 
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