Dust allergy ??

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Just wondered if any one had a bit of advice. I bought my lovely horse a few month ago. They did tell me they thought she might have a mild dust allergy as she had a cough a few month before. She had a bad reaction from the horse box when she first came I called vet and she was prescribed ventapulmin. Any way since that shes been fine she lives out 24/7 with me with shelter and other horses. We have recently had hay put in the field for them as the grazing is not great. They are swapping to haylege in 2 week. But the last few days in have noticed her when I look at her stomach shes breathing quite hard ! She is absolutly fine in herself. She was very overweight when I got her and I am really trying to get her weight down put she is so greedy with the hay ! Could this be making her breath heavy? You can only notice she is working hard to breath by looking at her flank going really in and out .

 

[lamlyn2012]

Yes, what you describe is an allergy to dust and/or spores in the hay. If you have to feed hay it should always be soaked. Her well being is all about management. Can you section off a section of field and feed her haylage until haylage is available to all. You can buy small bales just to tied you over. It sounds like her breathing is very bad so I would speak to your vet regarding further treatment but make sure you remove the cause as otherwise treatment is futile.
Obstructions of the airway are not always accompanied by coughing.

 

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Thankyou for your reply. The problem is that the hay is in a round feeder in the middle of the field and it's just out constant. There is 6 horses in the field. She is very settled with the others and think she would struggle if I seperate her. I have spoke with the yard owner tonight and they are going in haylege next week. He didnt think it would be a problem as it's good quality hay and nit the best time of year so will be getting rained on.She lives out 24/7 as i think her allergy would be worse if stabled and she is happiest living out. X

 

[vannersrus]

If you are going on to haylage next week that should sort it . If it doesn’t you may need to call the vet out . Is he insured ??? Copd can get very expensive!
My boy who has mild copd originally showed symptoms such as yours whilst living out and having good quality hay from a hay hutch. When we swapped to haylage he improved drastically. He can have hay as long as it’s on the floor but that would be difficult for you in the situation u you oh have . ?haylage sorts it !

 

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Thankyou. I sent the vet a video of her breathing as you can see from her flank area she was working really hard. And I she told me to try her on some ventipulmin I had left over from an episode she had when I first got her. I only had a tiny bit left so I have gave her that and got a prescription for some more which should be here in a couple of days. I have also ordered her a supplement called ventalin? But will both take a couple of days ! I dont think it helps she is so over weight either and greedy with the hay ! What symptoms did your boy show ? She is insured but had a breathing episode and mild colic when she arrived So is down as having maybe ashma now so might be invalid ! I didnt claim the first time as only had her 2 days ! X

 

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Her breathing is much better yesterday and today. Forgot to add that when her breathing was bad she was also sensitive to touch underneath her flanks on her belly. She would lift her leg when I touched her there. This was also much better today but she was still slightly reactive. Could the hay have maybe give her mild colic too ? Or could this be linked to her allergy ? She was very gassy today Thankyou x