Coughs +

[anniewarren]

Apologies this is long! My 16yr old has had a cough now for about 10 wks, started with soaking hay, reducing straw bedding not aggressive but would cough if going up hill and the start of any hack but not always would be some days and not others. He does not have a temperature, is bright eyed, no nasal discharge (only evidence of some mucus once on floor that must have been coughed up) and in a healthy conditiion. I decided to get this checked out by a vet as he was coming to see my friends horse. We lunged him in a school on small circle and he coughed quite abit. Vet listened to his lungs and confirmed all was well so this was good. He did not ask if I had given him anything for the cough and said that he could but if this did not work then back to square one so lets just do an endoscopy, which is booked for Tues, I have to trailer him to the vets. Following on from this he said he was lame on the near fore and off fore one worse than the other (at this point I will say he has been diagnosed with navicular when he was 8yrs and was dealt with) I have owned him since Dec 08 but still in touch with previous owner who had him from Birth so she knows him best. She advised that he has never been sound on the lunge in circles. Anyway the vet said he would also nerve block him on Tues under the endoscopy as he was excluded for any navicular lameness. Since then (last wk) it looks like he has knocked an old splint injury and has some swelling, warm but not hot I guess he knocked when being lunged hence why he was probably struggling. Since being diagnosed with ND he has done team chases, hunter trials, fun rides and hunting, he was also just outside the rosettes in the Ridden Hunter class at Devon County Show in 2004. What I am trying to ask is do you think the vet is being rather extreme? I am going to get a second opinion on the cough tomorrow.

 

[vetsbestfriend]

I know you said that the vet was at the yard treating another horse when you spoke to them but was the vet actually recommended to you by anyone or is anyone else able to give you some honest opinions on them.

Does seem quite a lot of investigations all in one go and the sceptics would say the vet is trying to make as much money as he can, especially if he is insured (excluding navicular). However, on the other hand at least you will have an early diagnosis on both the lameness and the cough and maybe save days/weeks/months of trying different things to see if they work before going on to endoscopy and full lameness work-ups etc. Plus with taking him to the practice, you will be saving on call out fees and less stress on the horse having to take him multiple times if they wanted to investigate both problems separately.

I would expect any vet to take as much full medical history as possible on a horse both before and whilst considering their diagnosis. This can often explain/help a lot, particularly around lameness issues/normal gait features.

Might be worthwhile having a chat with other practices in your area or even ring your current one to get some advice and reassurance.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do, but if you are not comfortable with the level of investigations being done, you can always say no until you get chance for a second opinion.

 

[anniewarren]

Thanks I've not used a vet as yet been luckily enough not to and friends would say he is not ill enough for a vet but I wanted cough sorted out just on the safe side.