Coughing

[worldchimp]

Can you offer any advice? My horse has started coughing a couple of days ago. It is fairly irregular when he does it. Not constantly and he has done it in the stable or out in the field. I have ridden over the weekend and seems fine in himself. I have started soaking his hay (which is a new bale opened for about a week) and nothing else has been changed from his usual routine. He has no discharge and his droppings appear normal. Is there anything else I can do or check?

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I'd check temperature, pulse, breathing rate, assuming you already know what "normal" is for him. It could very well be low grade COPD/RAO caused by being stabled. Stable dust can set it off. He may always need his hay soaked. Could you leave him out for a week and see if the cough goes? Does he cough more when you work him? That would indicate a problem for him getting air into his lungs and could be COPD related or he could just have picked up a virus. I'd keep soaking the hay, give as much turnout as possible, check temperature/pulse/breathing rate, see what he's like after some vigorous work. If it's just a virus, it will need to run it's course but I wouldn't exercise him hard until he's over it and give him loads of tlc. If it's low grade COPD, see if you can increase his amount of turnout and keep his stable as dust free as possible. If you're at all concerned or he gets worse or doesn't start to improve in a week or two, I'd think about getting the vet out as a precaution x

 

[splash30]

It could be that they might have picked up a bit of a virus, my youngster started coughing no other signs either a few weeks ago, but not all the time like yours, spoke to the vet and they recommended letting it run its course but if i was worried they would come out, now a couple of weeks on i have not heard him cough at all.
I always find i need peace of mind and will have a chat with the vet to discuss.