Horse coughing

[lauraxxx]

So this is not my horse but the owner only gives it very very basic care (currently the horse hasn’t had her fly rug off in 6weeks and no idea when her feet were last picked out) and even though she has been told of this issue, she won’t do anything. I am basically asking for advice and also if it will affect my own horses - yes I know it sounds selfish but I try and give my girls the very best care possible.

Background on this horse is a Welsh sec D mare, around 27, has cushings and had lami multiple times with rotated pedal bones.

The mare gets a deep cough that sounds like she’s trying to clear something from her throat and she does this before she has hay (I’m first on the yard in a morning when she hasn’t been fed from 5pm the previous night and normally finished this about 6.30) and also while eating the hay.

However, she only does this for about a week or two then has around 4-5week gap before she starts again.

The hay is the same as my own have (5,8 and 32 year olds) and it’s good quality and very low dust. The horse hasn’t always done this, more so the last 6-8 months and because there is always the gap between when she coughs, I doubt it is dust related.
Bedding is chopped straw for all 4 horses, again low dust but this horse does eat it, along with her own poo.

She is a stressy horse and does weave constantly (owner will not put a grill up) to the point she makes a bald patch which does cut open on her neck as she leans her weight against the door. She also half rears and throws herself against the door if one of my horses moves from their stable (even within sight but that’s a whole other issue) so is again putting all her weight on her neck, so could this be causing an issue internally as well?
And then the secondary issue that causes her to have the gap between coughing episodes?

It’s just the 4 horses on the yard with 3 being mine. The yard owner does livery weekdays for this horses and does do her best for the horse (she’s 75!) but the owner doesn’t listen or do much for this horse unless we all get together and tell her what is wrong or at least an idea so she’ll ring the vet, so I’m trying to see if we can get to the point.
Yes I fully agree she should be seen by a vet to rule things out

Thanks for reading this essay!

 

[meleeka]

One thing I have learnt with coughs, is that if you don't treat them quickly, it turns into a full blown COPD and then it makes life more difficult forever. By not acting quickly, this person is going to end up soaking hay/feeding haylage and it's a lot more effort than just taking veterinary advice now.

 

[Exasperated]

So this is not my horse but the owner only gives it very very basic care (currently the horse hasn’t had her fly rug off in 6weeks and no idea when her feet were last picked out) and even though she has been told of this issue, she won’t do anything. I am basically asking for advice and also if it will affect my own horses - yes I know it sounds selfish but I try and give my girls the very best care possible.

Background on this horse is a Welsh sec D mare, around 27, has cushings and had lami multiple times with rotated pedal bones.

The mare gets a deep cough that sounds like she’s trying to clear something from her throat and she does this before she has hay (I’m first on the yard in a morning when she hasn’t been fed from 5pm the previous night and normally finished this about 6.30) and also while eating the hay.

However, she only does this for about a week or two then has around 4-5week gap before she starts again.

The hay is the same as my own have (5,8 and 32 year olds) and it’s good quality and very low dust. The horse hasn’t always done this, more so the last 6-8 months and because there is always the gap between when she coughs, I doubt it is dust related.
Bedding is chopped straw for all 4 horses, again low dust but this horse does eat it, along with her own poo.

She is a stressy horse and does weave constantly (owner will not put a grill up) to the point she makes a bald patch which does cut open on her neck as she leans her weight against the door. She also half rears and throws herself against the door if one of my horses moves from their stable (even within sight but that’s a whole other issue) so is again putting all her weight on her neck, so could this be causing an issue internally as well?
And then the secondary issue that causes her to have the gap between coughing episodes?

It’s just the 4 horses on the yard with 3 being mine. The yard owner does livery weekdays for this horses and does do her best for the horse (she’s 75!) but the owner doesn’t listen or do much for this horse unless we all get together and tell her what is wrong or at least an idea so she’ll ring the vet, so I’m trying to see if we can get to the point.
Yes I fully agree she should be seen by a vet to rule things out

Thanks for reading this essay!

Sorry, but this horse is not receiving basic care, but is experiencing a thoroughly miserable old age.
The best advice to such an owner would be put this mare to sleep, don’t make the poor thing endure another winter with all these issues and neglect.

 

[lauraxxx]

One thing I have learnt with coughs, is that if you don't treat them quickly, it turns into a full blown COPD and then it makes life more difficult forever. By not acting quickly, this person is going to end up soaking hay/feeding haylage and it's a lot more effort than just taking veterinary advice now.

I completely agree and if it were my own horse, the vet would have been out months ago! I’ve tried to tell her what it could turn into but it unfortunately falls on deaf ears. I’m just wondering if anyone else has any idea why the cough that follows a pattern with the gap of weeks between

 

[lauraxxx]

Sorry, but this horse is not receiving basic care, but is experiencing a thoroughly miserable old age.
The best advice to such an owner would be put this mare to sleep, don’t make the poor thing endure another winter with all these issues and neglect.

I 100% agree sometimes you have to be to be cruel to be kind. Unfortunately the owner of this horse is doing the same thing with her 2 dogs which are both in very ill health. While I hate seeing this, it is not my choice I - a little bit selfishly - don’t want my own horses to get this cough if it is something that can be caught especially as my older mate is 32

 

[meleeka]

Could it be related to a different bale of hay? My livery had a similar cough. The hay didn't look dusty and mine were on it too and were fine. The owner wouldn't soak it properly, so the cough rumbled on. I eventually insisted she switched to haylage and the coughs went within a week. He's now, after 6 months, back on dry (new) hay and so far is ok, but I'm expecting him to end up back on haylage as the winter progresses.

Eta - i'm pretty sure it's not contagious as they usually get steadily worse or resolve completely on their own. Is the poor thing even wormed?

 

[lauraxxx]

Could it be related to a different bale of hay? My livery had a similar cough. The hay didn't look dusty and mine were on it too and were fine. The owner wouldn't soak it properly, so the cough rumbled on. I eventually insisted she switched to haylage and the coughs went within a week. He's now, after 6 months, back on dry (new) hay and so far is ok, but I'm expecting him to end up back on haylage as the winter progresses.

Eta - i'm pretty sure it's not contagious as they usually get steadily worse or resolve completely on their own. Is the poor thing even wormed?

The hay is a different batch each time and she goes through a bale in about 3 weeks so timing wise, I really doubt it’s the hay. Also, one of mine is sensible to hay dust so very occasionally hers is wet but again, this other horse coughs at a different time to mine!

And we do do worm counts as a yard yet she hasn’t done any this year for this horse. Mine have all come back 0-low so not needed worming. This horse and 2 of mine are turned out together

 

[Peglo]

I got a bale of very fine hay but there was no dust in. My mare has a dust allergy and she started coughing on it so I tried steaming it even though it wasn’t dusty and she still coughed. I think it was just how fine it was that set her off coughing so had to stop feeding it to her.

Another thought is the stables aren’t deep littered are they? Could it be a build up of the bedding?

 

[lauraxxx]

I got a bale of very fine hay but there was no dust in. My mare has a dust allergy and she started coughing on it so I tried steaming it even though it wasn’t dusty and she still coughed. I think it was just how fine it was that set her off coughing so had to stop feeding it to her.

Another thought is the stables aren’t deep littered are they? Could it be a build up of the bedding?

We’ve had both fine hay and longer hay and it’s not with one or other, it’s both types but the horses coughs even before she’s fed
My stables are completely mucked out every day (this horse is stabled next to one of mine) but this horses stable is only skipped out in the week with wet taken out at weekends. The bedding isn’t thick enough to be class as deep littered with it wet all on the top so it is disgusting and likely doesn’t help - there has been times where white mould has grown on the banks and the base of the banks is so black it’s literally like soil!
My horse is stables next to this mess and on the same hay and doesn’t cough

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

It’s very hard being in your position, watching basic neglect happen but unless the yard owner takes a tough line and moves the livery on/gives financial consequences there is nothing you can do. We currently have similar at the very nice yard I’m on and despite a contract saying horses must be seen daily etc etc the yard managers warnings to owner are falling on deaf ears and there are no sanctions so I am witness to the neglect but have no power to change it. Harden your heart and continue to care for own.

 

[meleeka]

My stables are completely mucked out every day (this horse is stabled next to one of mine) but this horses stable is only skipped out in the week with wet taken out at weekends. The bedding isn’t thick enough to be class as deep littered with it wet all on the top so it is disgusting and likely doesn’t help - there has been times where white mould has grown on the banks and the base of the banks is so black it’s literally like soil!
My horse is stables next to this mess and on the same hay and doesn’t cough

I suspect this is the issue. The horses lungs are overloaded by irritants, which may come and go depending on lots of things (think asthmatic person!). They have a sensitivity now that your horses don't have, because the damage has already been done. Your horses aren't directly breathing in the ammonia or the mould. My livery is the same and I sent the owner this screenshot, posted on FB by SV. They no longer deep litter and are much more careful to muck out properly.

 

[lauraxxx]

It’s very hard being in your position, watching basic neglect happen but unless the yard owner takes a tough line and moves the livery on/gives financial consequences there is nothing you can do. We currently have similar at the very nice yard I’m on and despite a contract saying horses must be seen daily etc etc the yard managers warnings to owner are falling on deaf ears and there are no sanctions so I am witness to the neglect but have no power to change it. Harden your heart and continue to care for own.

In a way, it’s nice to know I’m not the only one in this position as horrible as it is. Unfortunately this horse/owner has been there for a number of years and the yard owner feels sorry for the horse (which I completely understand) yet doesn’t do anything to help or actually tell the owner!

 

[lauraxxx]

I suspect this is the issue. The horses lungs are overloaded by irritants, which may come and go depending on lots of things (think asthmatic person!). They have a sensitivity now that your horses don't have, because the damage has already been done. Your horses aren't directly breathing in the ammonia or the mould. My livery is the same and I sent the owner this screenshot, posted on FB by SV. They no longer deep litter and are much more careful to muck out properly.

Thank you this is so interesting to read and definitely would make sense as to why the cough comes and goes! Also , why my horses aren’t affected as the wet it taken out daily, new bedding put down when needed and floor disinfected especially the wet area once a month at least.
When the wet is taken out if this horses stable, the smell is unbearable and the bedding is literally dripping and unfortunately the owner doesn’t seem to care enough to make sure all the wet is taken out so that is certainly not going to help! I’ll take this to my yard owner and see what she says