Coughing

[Rana]

Hi all

Not often you'll see a post like this from me, but I'm hoping for some advice from you experts out there

Approx a week ago, one of the ponies in the same barn as my horse was coughing quite badly. It was a dry cough, almost non-stop. As I'm always first to arrive, I left a note for his owner, and spoke to her in the evening. She thinks it was because his bed was unusually wet, and has changed his bedding - he's almost stopped coughing, just coughs occasionally.

However, this morning, my horse was coughing - exactly the same as the other pony, a dry cough, barely stopping. My immediate thought was choke, as she's prone to it, but she wasn't showing any symptoms of choke, other than coughing. She's an old horse (26), and has coughed on and off for the 12 years I've owned her - I just put this down to the odd batch of dusty hay.

This seemed a bit excessive though, and it's got me worried. So my plan is to turn her out today (with a rug on, cos it's p'ing it down!), and see how she is this evening. If she's still coughing, I'll soak her hay and call the vet tomorrow (unless she's worse, or showing other symptoms, in which case I'll call them as an emergency).

Does this sound like the right thing to do? Should I be calling the vet out today? I'm hoping the hay she had last night was just a bit dusty and she just needs some fresh air and a good cough, and she'll be fine again, but I am a bit worried that it might be an infection, or maybe COPD.

Coffee and choccy biscuits if you got this far!

 

[wormhugs]

Hi Rana,
sorry to hear that your girlie is not well

I think if this was my boy and he was coughing nearly constantly I would call the vet now and at the least ask for some advice if not just get them out for a look see. This would at least put your mind at rest.
My boy is doing fine now, am riding again

Good luck and do let me know how she is!
x

 

[scotsmare]

I would get the vet - sounds like a bit of a viral thing that will probably go round them all. At worst you'll end up with a bill for a visit and some anti b's.

 

[Theresa_F]

My youngster is doing this - dry cough, and he has never been sick. I am leaving him out (apart from last night as it was horrible) and keeping an eye on him. His cough seems worse after eating for a while - his feed is wet.

He has no temp, no glands up, no snotty nose or noisy breathing and is well in himself. Does not increase when ridden. Started on Sunday, he was not as bad last night and only coughed after he had been fed.

Think it might be a virus going round, and I will get some benylin today and give him a glug in his feed night. If he gets worse, other symptoms appear, or he is not improved in a few days then I will call the vet.

 

[Rana]

Thanks Wormhugs. Fab news that your chap is all better! I'm really pleased

She did improve in the time I was there - coughing constantly when I arrived, then stopped while I put her rug on and picked her feet out, then a bit of a cough on the way to field (if it had been any more constant, then I would have had the vet as an emergency at 6am lol).

I'm going to escape from work early, so I can get her in before the vets close - if she's worse, or no better, they'll be able to come out tonight (practice is only 10 mins from yard).

Fingers crossed it's nothing serious, but I think Scotsmare is right - the fact there's 2 of them with it probably means it's viral

The joy of trying to persuade Rana to eat her antibiotics....

 

[wormhugs]

I'm so please she seems to be getting better, that is very good news.
Sensible to get to yard before emergency call out time, the last twice I have had emergency call out it has been just after 6. There is a lesson there to be learnt I think!!
Just a small point though, if it is a viral infection, antibiotics will not have any impact, they are for bacterial infections. If its viral she will just have to lump it and get on with it.

x

 

[Rana]

She nearly always does something late in the evening (like colicking at 11pm!!), so we're well used to the emergency callouts....

Ooops, yep, you're right. Fingers crossed for a "stable cough" or a minor infection then!

 

[Rana]

Quick update - got to yard last night, no signs of coughing, but quiet. Agonised over whether to phone the vet, and decided I would, even though it wasn't really an emergency - and thank god I did! While I was waiting for the vet to call me back, she started showing signs of spasmodic colic.

Vet gave buscopan, finadyne, and antibiotics, told me to give her a small amount of feed, with hay, and check on her later. Checked her at 10pm, no colic, but coughing again. Decided the vet wouldn't be able to do much at that time of night anyway, and went down early this morning (5.30) to find a very well looking horse - no colic, no coughing, eaten all feed and hay (unusual at the best of times).

So going to call the vet this morning with an update, and perhaps get a course of antib's for her (just cos she's old and I don't want any infection to set in).

Looks like yet another of Rana's "24hrs of worrying Mum" days! (phew)

Thanks for all opinions and advice - much appreciated.