Endoscopy/Tracheal Wash - What to expect (also in NL)

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Gorgeous George

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George has been suffering with an intermittant cough and the vet is pretty sure that it is the early signs of RAO/COPD :( he has just finished a course of anti b's (just in case it was an infection) and ventipulmin, the ventipulmin really helped but when he finished it at the weekend he started coughing again :( so on Friday the vet is coming to the yard to do an endoscopy and tracheal wash and I don't really know what to expect, I feel a bit sorry for George as I'm sure it won't be pleasant.

So any information, experiences would be greatly appreciated :)
 
My chap had one last year for the same reasons. A tube was inserted through his nose and a solution passed down. The solution was then sucked back up with any gunk. The first wash was pretty unpleasant as his tubes were really irritated and sore so the procedure made him cough quite a lot :-( It was a 3 person job, I held my horse, yo fed the tube down & vet operated the camera & syringe.

It did mean the right ab's could be given to target the bugs that were present - it turned out he had a bacterial infection.
 
My horse had an endoscopy and lung wash on Monday - the process was really quick and straightforward, the vet twitched him (i thought he'd have to be sedated, but no) and I held the twitch whilst vet did the scope. He looked a bit uncomfortable when the tube first went up his nostril, but then he settled and was fine. The vet showed me the camera at various stages which was really interesting. The scope showed inflammation in the lungs and the lung wash brought some cloudy looking fluid back up - at which point I was told that it was probably either an allergy or respiratory disease/infection. Will know more today once the lab results are through.

Really do not worry about the scope process - it was really quick and did not bring on any distress. Obviously all vets are different and the process may differ slightly but I am sure that if our experience is anything to go by your George will be fine with it.

Just in terms of our symptoms, my boy has had an intermittent cough - not always at rest, mostly exercise induced (when first trotted - then clear for the remainder of the hack or schooling session). We tried a course of ventapulmin which worked for about 2-3 days at the end of a 10 day course, then the cough returned.

Try not to worry - I had three sleepless nights once the scope was booked, but it was over so quickly and was so straightforward. Good luck
 
Raggle - thank you as well for the information, doesn't sound like it will be too scary for me or George! I just hope it gives us some sort of answer. I would be interested to hear what the vet finds with your horse's results, if you have a moment.

All the best.
 
Hi
results are back, lung wash tests show very small chance it could be allergy or infection, but most likely early RAO/COPD. Vet is coming out on Friday to show me how to set up inhalers to start administering medication which will be given alongside ventapulmin to try to shift the cough.
My boy is in at night (although on haylage and shavings) but in a barn where one other horse (not in an adjacent stable) has hay, but all others on shavings. Vet has recommended 24/7 turnout from now on anyhow, are you 24/7 turnout, or could you be?
I have heard lots of people cope with COPD once you work out what is best for the individual horse. I am worried about what this means for us, he is only 7 and I have had him for about 15 months now....with absolutely no problems until a few months ago, but he is my absolute world, and my best friend, so whatever he needs I will do everything in my power to provide.
Hope all goes well Friday. Feel free to PM me if you want.
 
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