Noise in yearling

[Lou2006]

For the last few months my yearling (18 months now) has been making an odd noise when he breathes, on and off. Some days he's fine and others it's really loud. It's hard to describe, it's like it is blocked in some way, but there is no whistle it just sounds blocked, and as I said sometimes it is really loud and noticable. He is fine in himself in every other way, and this is in all weathers, rain, sunshine etc whilst living out 24hrs. Vet came, he wasn't making a noise that day and she had a feel of his throat etc and said it was probably something to do with something growing faster than him and flapping, or something like that, I really can't remember what she said it might be and she just said if he's still doing it when he's 4yo then we'll look into it. There is never any discharge except occasionally very clear, runny stuff. And I haven't seem him cough or appear to be in any discomfort. But it was very bad yesterday, very loud etc and I was wondering if anyone had experienced this with a youngster, or whether I should get the vet back out?

I've had a good listen this morning and his breathing sounds just like the other yearlings when he is breathing normally, a little blocked but no real noise, but when he takes a sharp breath in, then the noise comes, I suppose you could describe it as a sort of rattle, but it doesn't sound like it's coming from his chest, it sounds further up, it's really hard to describe. I don't think he makes a noise when he exhales but it was hard to tell. I might have got it completely wrong and he makes a noise when he exhales and not when he inhales. But it was definitely worse yesterday because I brought him in and he was having a good look at everything so he was breathing a lot sharper.

Any thoughts appreciated.
Thanks.
Lou.x

 

[miamibear]

I would wait for a day when the noise appears and call the vet to have a look.

My boy was making this rattling sound whilst coughing but his was an infection and it wasnt whilst breathing.

I would want him scoping if possible to find out the real cause, i doubt its normal

Hope you get something sorted

Mel x

 

[AmyMay]

Can you try and record the noise for your vet to listen to??

Does he do it at any particular time -ie eating?

 

[Lou2006]

No it's just a general thing, it can't be dust etc because he is out 24hrs. The first time I heard it, it had been pouring down and he was soaked through so I assumed he'd got a bit chilled etc. But since then he's had when it's been boiling hot, windy, rainy, all weather conditions, you get the idea.
It puzzles me because he is completely happy in himself, still trotting about in the field etc and doesn't seem bothered by it at all, no coughing or head shaking or anything.

Thanks.
Lou.x

 

[K9Wendy]

Bit of a long shot here, but does he do it after drinking? Like a bit of water up his nose which would rattle at the back of the soft pallate? Some youngsters really slosh around with water and I'm just thinking maybe you catch him after this when he is try to clear the passages.

 

[Lou2006]

Afraid not, yesterday he was doing it all the time whilst walking in from the field, standing for the farrier, eating haylage in his box, going back out to the field etc.
The vet didn't seem at all worried about it and just said if he's still making a noise at 4yo then we'll scope him. But as I said he (typically) wasn't making the noise that day. I'm not sure if it's getting worse or if it's just me noticing it more because I'm worried about it.

Thanks.
Lou.x

 

[glenruby]

We had a very well bred yearling this summer (full brother to Wasseema ) and he scored very badly on a scope prior to the sales. he had most of the summer on box rest due to epiphysitis and on the first day back in work (on the lunge 10 days prior to the sales) his breathing was extremely poor and akin to roaring - though we figured it sounded worse than it should since he was really unfit.

On the back of a poor scope ( likely to have left laryngeal hemiplegia) he failed to make his reserve at the September sales.

 

[Lou2006]

Sorry but that made no sense to me

What's a laryngeal hemiplegia?
Thanks.


Left him in for a few hours tonight, and when I went back down to turn him out, the noise had stopped, breathing still making a little noise but nothing significant, no rattling etc

. Completely confused now, might have just been coincidence or is he allergic to something in the field. That would be odd as he only started making a noise a few months ago and he's been out since April. Will have to see what he's like in the morning. I really don't know what to think

.

Thanks again.
Lou.x

 

[Lou2006]

Ok he's making the noise again this morning, only slightly but it is there. I find it really hard to describe, it's sounds like his nose is constantly blocked, yet there is no discharge apart from very occasionally a small trickle of clear liquid. I was thinking there could be something stuck but then the noise wouldn't come and go, would it

. He's coming in again later and I'll see whether the noise stops when he's in again. If there's no improvement etc by next week I'll get the vet out.

Thanks.
Lou.x

 

[AmyMay]

Could he have teeth errupting that are interferring with his sinuses???

 

[Lou2006]

I'm really not sure, dentist is due out aswell. But if it was his teeth would it come and go?

Thanks.

Lou.x

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
But if it was his teeth would it come and go

[/ QUOTE ]
Just a thought - but erruption can take place over a while, and if there was some kind of infection building up, it could implicate the sinuses.

 

[judymoon]

get him scoped, quick simple answer, if someone asked me what you are asking i would think arytinoid paralasis, basically you have the epiglotis (flappy thing) and the arytinoids at each side, when breathing/ swallowing these abduct. Throat function can vary on the most used scale from 1 (excellent) through 2, 2a, 2b, 3 and 3b which would be paralysed. This can be down to immaturity and may get better with age but never going to be a grade 1. Unless he is a yearling going to auction ( mainly TB auctions, they are harsh on this subject) its not the end of the world, studies have shown that grade 2b and sometimes 3 throats have fine athletic performance. I do know (having assisted with the study) that a paralised throat on a 2yr old sprinter went on to run and win group one races ok he didnt run as a 3yr old but hey!? (sorry for bad spelling!)

 

[Lucy_Ally]

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