Dust causing breathing issues

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Sugar Plum

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My horse is having dust induced coughing issues, sometimes 'dry' other times producing very thick phlegm. This has been diagnosed by a vet. He has dampened hay and is out the stable a lot. Does anyone know of scientific articles on bedding dust analysis? I know everyone will have a different opinion on what the best bedding is, it is in our nature but was wondering if there are any non-product aligned studies out there?
 
I know that shavings from hardwoods can produce the symptoms you are seeing, but softwoods are much kinder. Have a look through your shavings and check it is all the same pale colour. Also tannelised wood shavings can be irritant. If yours are coming from a woodyard, that may be an issue. You could also buy a bag of haylage, and see what happens if you swap the hay for haylage. My old cob cannot tolerate hay in any shape or form, and has an isolation stable and pen at the top of the yard away from the hay stores.
 
Try feeding vitamin E it can help with coughing and respiratory issues, I've fed respriaid in the past to Louis and he is literally better after a few days.

Mine mainly live out but being in more definitely affects him and they are on Hunter shavings which I find are ok for him.
 
Mine has an allergy to something, probably dust and it makes him cough. He has aubiose dust-free bedding on rubber mats and is fed Country haylage which is more like wrapped hay than haylage. I use this because it is never dusty and very rarely mouldy. THe proper "wet" haylage often has white mould on it. I also have a haygain steamer and if his cough gets bad, I steam the haylage. I don't feed anything specifically for his cough - I've tried quite a few things, but nothing seems to help. He has been scoped so I know it is an allergic response but don't know what he is allergic too. He also has an inhaler but I only use it if his cough gets bad. At the moment, he is good and is not coughing. This time last year, he caught a virus and then coughed from October to Feb.
 
We use Country haylage for our asthmatic pony too, they do a Timothy blend. It’s been better than soaked or steamed hay.

I’m sure Dr David Marlin did a bedding study and I think big dust extracted flakes came out best. I also use a stall guard instead of a door and dust regularly, DH is meant to be adding an extra window for air flow but hasn’t yet!
 
HopOnTrot said:
We use Country haylage for our asthmatic pony too, they do a Timothy blend. It’s been better than soaked or steamed hay.

I’m sure Dr David Marlin did a bedding study and I think big dust extracted flakes came out best. I also use a stall guard instead of a door and dust regularly, DH is meant to be adding an extra window for air flow but hasn’t yet!
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I was going to say that I think Dr David Marlin had done a fairly comprehensive study in the past, but then I can't see over his paywall... 😂
 
HopOnTrot said:
We use Country haylage for our asthmatic pony too, they do a Timothy blend. It’s been better than soaked or steamed hay.

I’m sure Dr David Marlin did a bedding study and I think big dust extracted flakes came out best. I also use a stall guard instead of a door and dust regularly, DH is meant to be adding an extra window for air flow but hasn’t yet!
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We obviously think alike! I have a long feather duster for dusting his stable once a week! I look quite mad (I am told). Put an extra window in this summer - makes a difference when it's hot and it was easy to do.
 
My horse really struggles with dust while in at night during the winter, she is on steamed hay or haylage everyday as she also can't have dry hay at all and I use concord bedding on rubber mats as long as I keep it clean and topped up she is doing so much better. She also used to struggle with snotty noses every morning now it is a lot less or non at all.
 
HopOnTrot said:
I have thought about this a lot! Which vacuum do you use? When I first left home I had a Sainsbury’s own brand that was epic, now I have a Miele and don’t think husband would speak to me if I used it in the stables!
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Einhell Power X-Change 10L... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07V5J4QBG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

This one - it's actually the second one I've bought specifically for the stables!!! 😂

The first was heavy, bulky and cabled and was a faff to get out of the shed, meaning I hardly used it, but this one is light, cordless, super simple to empty and clean, so it's easy to grab and use. I love it!

I also have that brand of leaf blower, so I have two batteries which I can switch if/when needed.
 
This is not scientific and only my opinion but I moved mine from straw, to shavings to Aubios, then back to straw. Both the shavings and Aubiose I could see dust when moving the bed and changing the bed made no difference other than I think worse on shavings. We both preferred straw so we’re back on that.

Hay needs steamed for the whole hour. Shortening the time even for 10/15 minutes will cause the cough to return for mine. My steamer was expensive but it is a great bit of kit.
 
feed haylage only, plus use Unibed (this is only combo I will stable my asthamatic boy on at away shows) living out helps hugely too if you are not feeding hay!
 
Thanks everyone, very interesting ideas. I have tried a hay steamer which was great except when my horse stopped eating it:rolleyes:. Interesting about straw, that might be worth considering. I will certainly be looking at vacuuming, a lot of dust certainly is a concern and it is amazing how quickly it builds up. An extractor fan is looking good around about now:cool:
 
Peglo said:
This is not scientific and only my opinion but I moved mine from straw, to shavings to Aubios, then back to straw. Both the shavings and Aubiose I could see dust when moving the bed and changing the bed made no difference other than I think worse on shavings. We both preferred straw so we’re back on that.

Hay needs steamed for the whole hour. Shortening the time even for 10/15 minutes will cause the cough to return for mine. My steamer was expensive but it is a great bit of kit.
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Had similar ‘journey’ with two of ours, over the years.
both horses and I prefer quality straw on rubber mats, and despite vets advising shavings/ aubiose/ pellets /alternatives - there’s ALWAYS a furry layer of dust when you bed down with these, plus I could feel it in my own nose and throat.
Chopped newspaper on rubber mats is much better in that respect, but we do all like straw!
Horses love steamed their hay, especially when it’s cold, and I like the aroma.....
 
having dealt with as asthmatic horse, who also has allergies part of each year:

Feed haylage not hay (not even soaked hay)
Out 24/7 or you are wasting your money
If you have to stable in emergency, from experience, Unibed or Bedmax has worked for us
Flexineb expensive but hugely helpful using saline in the hardest months
Feed off the (clean) floor only, no haybars or trough type things

Vet once told me on a visit you need to think about the 2 inch circumference round their muzzle/nostril area and how you can avoid irritants and dust.....

And if on livery yard etc, what your neighbours bed with will affect your horse, dont throw away money on dust free bedding if your neighbours don't!

Happy to say we are pretty good these days.
 
Sugar Plum said:
My horse is having dust induced coughing issues, sometimes 'dry' other times producing very thick phlegm. This has been diagnosed by a vet. He has dampened hay and is out the stable a lot. Does anyone know of scientific articles on bedding dust analysis? I know everyone will have a different opinion on what the best bedding is, it is in our nature but was wondering if there are any non-product aligned studies out there?
Click to expand...
I switched my mare from straw onto cardboard and noticed a significant improvement. I put her neighbour onto Aubiose as they have a big open grill between them - even it is quite dusty when compared to the cardboard!
 
My go to with horses like this is bedmax .
But allergies are funny things and you need to experiment a bit .
What ever you use you need to housekeep your stable brush down the walls etc as often as possible of course you must do this when the horse is out .
Even bedding should be put down when the horse is out and it’s need time for the dust to settle .
Is the horse is senestive to dust or spores that important to work our
If it’s spores straw and rape bedding don’t work
Haylege will be needed over hay .
If it’s dust then you have more options but pellet type bedding usually makes them worse but good straw might be fine .
It is trial and error to find the best way .
 
Goldenstar said:
My go to with horses like this is bedmax .
But allergies are funny things and you need to experiment a bit .
What ever you use you need to housekeep your stable brush down the walls etc as often as possible of course you must do this when the horse is out .
Even bedding should be put down when the horse is out and it’s need time for the dust to settle .
Is the horse is senestive to dust or spores that important to work our
If it’s spores straw and rape bedding don’t work
Haylege will be needed over hay .
If it’s dust then you have more options but pellet type bedding usually makes them worse but good straw might be fine .
It is trial and error to find the best way .
Click to expand...
Agreed you have to up your management game! We regularly jet wash out my mares stable and keep bedding rotated so as it’s not sitting collecting dust/spores (especially in summer when living out most of the time)
 
Old Dobbin has been on antihistamines since turn out, which have kept him stable. He has started to show signs of breathing issues, which have coincided with a new arrival being introduced into the herd (plenty of running around), and the arrival of horseflies. Eliminating the triggers is a minefield.
 
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