Equine hayfever

[Allykat]

This should really be in Veterinary but I thought more people would look here.

Has anyone, or anyone currently, had any experience of horses that are sensitive to pollen in any way? What were the symptoms? and treatments?

My TB has developed a congested cough. He has had a blood test to show a mild underlying virus, but we suspect he has had that for a while and that isn't causing the cough. The vet diagnosed him as having "hayfever" and has given an inhaler to open up the airways. He is showing signs of imrpovement. I have to monitor his temp incase the virus starts to develop but he is as normal as could possible be and is simply not sick in anyway except for a hacking cough

Now I would be a bit sceptical but one horse at my yard had a "probable pollen related asthma attack" and another who always gets a slight cough this time of year was prescribed an inhaler. He is now a lot better but still coughing slightly.

So any ideas

?

 

[YorksG]

My mare appears to have a pollen allergy, Shillisdair also has one with the same problem and she recomends beconase. I haven't tried it yet but am going to. Our old Appy used to get swollen glands which we thought were in response to hawthorne flowers, but no cough.

 

[embonaught]

I have the same problem with my App X. Had her for four years and she's always been a mild shaker around May/June time but this year's been terrible. Started with a cough that wouldn't shift then about 6 weeks ago, difficulties breathing and holding her breath during exercise.
Had two weeks of ventipulmin but no change so had her scoped for peace of mind. Nothing untoward showed up but high levels of something in her mucous (can't remember the name) that showed it was allergy related. Another week of ventipulmin and her breathing started to improve but still a little dry cough at beginning of exercise.

Looking at different hayfever research, it seems that humans with hayfever often take a magnesium or Vit C supplement. It may be a coincidence but in around March time I took her off Naf Magic (she's been on it since Jan 07) and that's when the symptoms started. When I found out about the human hayfever/magnesium link, I put her back on it (about three weeks ago) and she's improved no end. I've also been giving her Bryonia (a homeopathic thing for dry coughs, hey I'll try anything) and she's almost back to normal.
I'll keep her on the magic now - although I guess I won't really know whether it helps until the rape pollen starts again next year. Oh joy!
Sorry it's long but hope that it helps
E

 

[mintaka04]

That's interesting. I've got a seasonal headshaker that really sets off when the hawthorn trees are in full bloom.
I think I may try the magnesium thing too.
Thanks.

 

[pnap]

Jack's had a milky discharge from his nostrils for a few weeks now which I've had swabbed and checked by the vets and there's nothing bacterial. They've put it down to pollen though I'm not convinced as it's worse out of his left nostril and is worse when he's stabled rather than in the field where all the pollen is. Going to get vets back out me thinks. He's not off his food or anything with it though and it doesn't appear to be affecting him in any way other than it looks horrible.

 

[Allykat]

QR Thank you for replying.

I knew about vit C but must admit I had no idea about a magnesium supplement. I might look into that a bit more. The cough has now become more of a dry cough and the nasal discharge more watery and clearer.

It just seems to becoming more common in horses as it is now in humans.