Heavier breathing that normal......... any ideas?

[silverstar]

My horse has been out 24/7 and in the last couple of weeks he has been breathing heavier, there is also a slight discharge (cloudy/clear) which has been coming out of his nose. Any ideas what the heavy breathing might be??

 

[LCobby]

Temperture? If rasied, respiratory infection
or if not could be allergy or reaction to pollen, eg oilseed rape
II:d get vet to check.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

As LCobby says: check if his temperature is raised. Check if his pulse rate is raised. Is he coughing? Is his breathing heavier just standing still or is it worse with exercise? Are his glands up round his face/jaw? Is he sweating and groaning along with the changed breathing? Is he rolling? Could be anything. Could be a chest infection or a summer allergy or colic or laminitis. I'd get the vet out. My boy has just developed a cough and clear nasal discharge. He also has a raised gland under his jaw which may or may not be connected. He developed this at exactly the same time last year but NOT the year before. It is worse when hot and dry but improves when cool and wet. I think a summer allergy to tree pollen coz we moved yards last summer and the yard we were at was very high with few hedgerows or hawthorn blossom. The new yard is much lower and surrounded by glorious hedgerows. I had the vet out and she took temp (normal) pulse (normal), listened to chest and breathing (normal). No sweating, rolling, groaning. Working happily. Vet thinks too a summer allergy though she has put him on 7 days antibiotics just in case. If it doesn't clear (she thinks WILL clear but as soon as antibiotics finish, she thinks cough will return) then we will try him on piriton for a while. Don't want to do the tracheal wash as it is too invasive for a golden oldie with just a summer allergy. Good luck with your ned.

 

[gloster_image]

Adding on to that - has he had his flu jab within the last 12weeks? If so could be having a reaction to that. My boy started off as you are describing and got worse til i nearly had to have him PTS (everyone on here will remember). Vets thought it was COPD but after investigation it turned out to be his flu vaccine.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Murph had a reaction like this after his flu vaccination in 2006. At first was just slightly under the weather but turned into a nasty RI which was very difficult to clear. Took several lots of very expensive antibiotics and he was out of work for 3 months. I would definitely get a vet to check your horse.