Coughing??

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monica987

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Well lately Sparky has started coughing when I ride him. No other time. Before I bought him (was at the same yard) he had it and it got better through the summer. He was tested 2 days before we had him vetted and everything came back clear, nothing wrong.
This has started again over the last week but worse - he coughs about 5 times every 20 mins... sometimes more sometimes less.
We have taken him off hay and onto haylage (when we get it in) until then he is on soaked hay. It is mainly in trot. Whe he does, i stop him and walk, soon as i do it stops. And it stops when going into canter aswell.
As it this happened last year I am not too worries as nothing was wrong but it is slightly worse this year
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Any suggestions?
 
What bedding do you have him on? are you semi deep littering or on full deep littering?
After coughing does he blow out (ie like blow your nose)
What type of stabling do you have? a good airflow??
If you rule out all of above i would have chat to vets and see if they can help you, i have something at yard which helps with airways and i get from vets. It's help to keep on top and maintain healthy airways and chest - BUT forgotten it's name -D'oh
 
Thankyou - he is on a full bed of straw, completely mucked out every day and yes, he does blow his nose after each bout of coughing. A very good airflow
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I am stoof in the open air. He is basicly just in a stable with a roof that extends about 1.5 metres and then open air
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I had one like this, he was bedded on straw too and coughed on hay whether soaked or not. The cough stopped when he was on haylage. I used Devon Haylage. I put him back onto hay and the cough started again, so I am convinced it was the hay that caused it.
 
i'll dig out name of stuff, i get from vets
Sound normal if he blows out and has no discharge, some horse can't cope aswell as other horse with being stabled.
As long as he's in no distress and not lossing condition (looks fine in picture) i would suggest you put him on a 'airflow supplement' just to help him, and keep watching eye and you know your pony best and any change is discomfort get vet in-which i'm sure you will
One of mine is very hypersentsive .................... and that'si have this stuff from vets
 
You must take him off straw and put him on a dustfree bed like shavings or shredded paper each time he has a bout of coughing it will be damaging his lungs eventually he will have a serious problem
 
Sounds exactly what Flo has. Put him on something else than straw, I recommend Flax. Then Flo has soaked hay and I found garlic powder really helps plus oil in her feeds. In fact once I did this she completely stopped coughing.
 
Thankyou guys
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Will take all this into consideration and try some things. Last year he was taken off straw and put onto dust free stuff but it made no difference. He is now on haylage and I will look into supplements
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As it this happened last year I am not too worries as nothing was wrong but it is slightly worse this year

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Well I'd be worried - and would really want to get to the bottom of why it's happening. As Carthorse says, for each episode that it occurs his lungs are being damaged.

I would definately look at putting him on shavings, or eaisbed as that is even more dust free. I would also make sure that his stable was scrupilously (sp) clean. That means removing all cobwebs from the ceiling and walls, no rugs hanging on the walls and ensuring that the wet is taken out of his bed every day.

I would also have the vet up now whilst this is going on so that he can make a better assessment. I would also stop riding him immediately.
 
From experience I would def get your vet out. My mare had a cough the first winter I had her (5 yrs ago). Previous owner had never soaked her hay and had kept her on straw with no problems, vet treated her with ventipulmin and sputilosin and it cleared and had no problems for 4 yrs until last winter (until then she remained on soaked hay, dust free bedding, as much turnout as poss). She was very poorly last winter and I ended up with a huge vet bill (over £1000 - my insurance company wouldnt pay either) and now have to pay out £50 a month for a supplment from the vets.
My vet thought it was likely to be mould spores in the straw, so def change that. Like others have said soak or steam hay, or feed haylage and always from the ground not a haynet. As much turnout as poss and a breathe supplement or some sort, but I would def get the vet now to avoid further damage or distress.
Good luck :-)
 
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