HORSE COUGHING AND DROOLING

[Jade Raleigh]

My horse had ulcers about a month ago, I’ve noticed him drooling quite a bit generally when he comes in from the field. His teeth were done at the end of January. He has also started coughing in the last two weeks. I’ve only noticed him doing it once or twice a day ( he doesn’t seem to do it when he is ridden ). But this morning he has me worried because he coughed up some white foamy saliva. He was put on alfalfa oil about 3 weeks ago he didn’t seem to have any reaction to it. He also started head shaking when we moved yards three months ago. I have my vet on his toes about other problems with my horse having colic, ulcers and anemia so I will ring him again when Monday comes but I have already told him about the drooling and he said it could be something he is eating.

Any thoughts?

 

[Goldenstar]

I think it’s likely to be linked to the issues you are having .
Get a video to show the vet if you can.
Drooling can indicate very serious things but it’s impossible to guess .
does anything come down his nose?

 

[Jade Raleigh]

I think it’s likely to be linked to the issues you are having .
Get a video to show the vet if you can.
Drooling can indicate very serious things but it’s impossible to guess .
does anything come down his nose?

No he doesn’t have any nasal discharge. He snorts quite a bit, then some mucus might come out but that is about it.

 

[Goldenstar]

If he starts with stuff coming down the nose call the vet at once
Is the grass very short ?

 

[Jade Raleigh]

If he starts with stuff coming down the nose call the vet at once
Is the grass very short ?

Yeah the paddock he is in now has quite short grass, he will be moved onto his summer paddock over the next couple of weeks. He has me so worried all the time ?. I'm driving my mother up the wall !

 

[Goldenstar]

Very short grass can mean the horse produces more salvia than it need that can cause drooling ( Fatty does this when he’s on a bare paddock ) .
If it’s that it’s probably nothing to worry about but it’s not a good thing for a horse that had ulcers to be doing .

 

[Goldenstar]

Try not to worry .
Keep a close eye on him try to get that video and speak to the vet again on Tuesday .
If he changes and starts to struggle to swallow Bring him in and call the vet at once .
Does he come in with grass glands ( swollen on his cheeks ) .

 

[Jade Raleigh]

Very short grass can mean the horse produces more salvia than it need that can cause drooling ( Fatty does this when he’s on a bare paddock ) .
If it’s that it’s probably nothing to worry about but it’s not a good thing for a horse that had ulcers to be doing .

Would it still indicate that he has ulcers?

 

[Jade Raleigh]

Try not to worry .
Keep a close eye on him try to get that video and speak to the vet again on Tuesday .
If he changes and starts to struggle to swallow Bring him in and call the vet at once .
Does he come in with grass glands ( swollen on his cheeks ) .

No he doesn't come in with swollen cheeks.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Possibly a bit far fetched but have you checked his mouth to see I'd anything is stuck, like a small twig or something.

 

[Jade Raleigh]

Possibly a bit far fetched but have you checked his mouth to see I'd anything is stuck, like a small twig or something.

No I haven’t, we have to wrestle him to get near his mouth, he always thinks we are coming with a wormer, but I will get on that.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Sounds like it could be choke I think if it doesn't improve I would get a vet today, it could be an obstruction as mentioned above or a build up of food, you can feel if it's a food build up as they get a bulge at the top of the underside of the neck.

 

[Jade Raleigh]

Sounds like it could be choke I think if it doesn't improve I would get a vet today, it could be an obstruction as mentioned above or a build up of food, you can feel if it's a food build up as they get a bulge at the top of the underside of the neck.

Okay perfect thank you, I will check straight away and give the vet a ring, can episodes of choke happen over two weeks as that’s how long he has been coughing for ??

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Not normally no a mild choke will often clear itself in a mater of minutes, whatever is wrong doesn't sound right though.

 

[Jade Raleigh]

Not normally no a mild choke will often clear itself in a mater of minutes, whatever is wrong doesn't sound right though.

Okay thank you

 

[Goldenstar]

Would it still indicate that he has ulcers?

Not sure .

 

[Melody Grey]

Possibly a bit far fetched but have you checked his mouth to see I'd anything is stuck, like a small twig or something.

Not far fetched- I once had to have a vet out to what looked like above- turned out to be a foot long twig complete with thorns lodged in her throat. She was salivating lots and looked a bit colicky/ choke ish but not.
Personally, I’d have the vet out today.

 

[Melody Grey]

Okay perfect thank you, I will check straight away and give the vet a ring, can episodes of choke happen over two weeks as that’s how long he has been coughing for ??

Could be a partial obstruction that he’s trying to dislodge?

 

[Fruitcake]

Drooling is quite common in horses with gastric ulcers as saliva provides a natural buffer to stomach acid. Is the horse still on Gastroguard / Peptizole or has the treatment finished? I remember when my horse was being diagnosed with ulcers, he would actually produce big bubbles of saliva.

Can’t comment on the coughing though. It’s probably worth chatting to the vet to see if the two are linked.

 

[spotty_pony]

Possibly a tooth issue with the drooling and the head shaking may be being linked to it. When did he last have his teeth done?

 

[Darbs]

Ours had these symptoms, it was a 2 foot long bramble stuck in his throat.