Elderly horse coughing really badly!

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canteron

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My 25year old horse (she is basically fit and still lightly ridden) is coughing really badly.

I assumed it was because it has been so dry, so have put her on longer (and now wet) grass and got some ventapulin from the Vet.

Its a really really dry cough - no flem or discharge - and isn't improving on the drugs.

So I am clearly going to get the vet out next week, but in the meantime, any thoughts? I won't have her scoped as she is needle and vet phobic, and although we have worked long and hard on that, it would be only a really last chance desperate option. In the meantime, any thoughts. There have been no new horses on the property and the last worm count was clear (though maybe I should redo that?).

Thanks.
 
We’re in the pollen season, so could it be inflammatory reaction from that?

In horses not normally sensitive to pollen, it could be an issue if particularly heavy/seasonal that will pass after summer?

Both mine have had seasonal coughing, particularly when the grass heads are pollinating in the long fields. In winter its normally bedding cause, theyre on haylage mostly now as local hay too dusty.

I increase minerals/vitamins as theyre on low maintenance dose anyway….so increase it when dry coughs appear sporadically.
 
My horse has had a bad cough for 4 weeks, had the vet out at 2 weeks and they took nasal swabs. It turned out to be a Streptococcus zooepidemicus bacteria causing a upper respiratory tract infection. He is on antibiotics and is very slowly getting better. It’s a cough that made its way around the yard before I moved there, think mine was more susceptible due to having ems.
The vet was convinced it was a pollen allergy before the swabs came back though and advised 10-15 antihistamine a day (430kg horse).
 
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