Help; coughing/respiratory problems

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vicksey

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Sorry for the long post;

In short; my horse had been coughing for a few weeks on and off (and did develop gunky eyes and some snot after a lesson but only lasted 2 days) so got the vet out anyway who recommended a Bronchoscopy (booked in for this week). I started him on Winergy Ventilate 7 days ago and on the vets advise I wetting/soaking all hay. There was a lot of talk about COPD, Ventipulmin and inhalers from the vets.

So following the visit from the vet……I was told my horse coughed a few times really early in the morning before his feed on 1 occasion about 7 days ago, I haven’t heard him cough at all. I have increased his workload anyway in preparation for the summer and he has been worked 6 days a week for the last few weeks, hacking, jumping and schooling. I have purposefully cantered him a lot in the school to see if he coughs, but he hasn’t.

Twice last week he galloped flat out on the beach for a 1 mile and yesterday we had a 2 hour hack and cantered (quite fast) for about a 1.5 miles along the beach and galloped flat out for about half a mile with no signs of coughing, snot or heavy breathing or wanting to stop in fact!!!!!

Should I still go ahead with the Bronchoscopy, I definitly still want the vet to come back out out check him again, but confused as he seems so well now. Anyone advice would be great. Thanks!
 
If soaking your forage has pretty much fixed it, and a possible infection has passed then if it were me then I would prob not go ahead with the broncoscopy. I would ensure that your management continues to avoid dust for your horse and def continue soaking hay. Should the symptoms flare up again then you can always go back to the vet.
 
I'd be inclined to cancel. Carry on with what you're doing as it sounds as though its working. If it flares up again then re consider.
 
Thanks everyone, I cant turn out 24/7 just yet but I can over summer and he will be going out a little earlier from this week anyway now the weather is better. My gut is telling me not to be over dramatic and it does seem wetting the hay has done the trick.
 
Agree with others. I'm not implying your stable is smelly, but it will help to make sure that there's no trace's of ammonia either, eg allowing floor to dry & regular hosing on/ under mats etc. Like I say I don't think you have a nasty bed usually but being more ott about it than you would normally helps ime.
 
haha no its fine no offense taken :))

Thanks for the replies.

The vets actually commented on how clean the stable and bed was, I am obsessive when it comes to my bed! It was the soaking of hay they recommended, so I think its been the hay, it is really dusty and even makes me cough when filling hay nets. Horse cant have haylege for fatty reasons. The coughing was both in the stable and when ridden, neither was more prominent.
 
Me too. Only commented cos years ago a horse on a yard I worked on had severe copd. Had liquid rubber matting that was hosed every day. During a deep freeze we couldn't for a fortnight & the difference was huge even tho the drainage was great & the bedding etc was the same. I don't think that sort of level is necessary usually to qualify as clean, should have explained better, but sounds like you have it sorted now anyway.
 
No its good, thank you. I was concerned as he is on dust extracted shavings and I have to add, it is immaculate (I get the mick taken out of me at the yard for my bed :) hehe), but I thought straw would be better but the vets said straw is worse and more dusty. But thanks for replying, it has made me feel better and perhaps he is not as poorly as I though initially. I was really panicking when the vets were talking COPD and inhalers etc.
 
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