Pony coughs when eating

[laura_nash]

The past couple of weeks I've noticed my daughter's pony often has a cough when eating her bucket feed. She's only on a pelleted balancer, no dust in the feed. She's currently living out 24/7 on a windy hillside with just rough grazing / browse and not getting any other feed and no hay (she's a bit plump and I'd like it off before spring). She's out with my cob who has severe ROA (cannot be stabled more than a couple of hours without ventipulmin) and his breathing is completely clear. She seems fine in herself and went for a good canter and a buck around the field a couple of days ago without coughing once. Her nostrils are clear, no snot.

Any idea why she might be having this cough when she eats, could it be her teeth? If not, should I be worried about something more serious like lung worm (there is a donkey in the field next door)? Seems a bit extreme to get the vet out for the odd cough (which vet will probably not be able to witness anyway), especially in the current lockdown situation, but I don't want to miss something serious brewing.

Background: She's a 6 year old 13.2 piebald cob, not the best conformation but a lovely temperament. Bought from a closing down riding school during lockdown (August). She's only been in very light work (walk on the lead rein) and is now roughed off for the winter, in full winter coat and unrugged. Only health problems so far quite bad mallenders when she arrived and some feather mite, both now cleared up. She hasn't yet had her teeth done as I was planning to get them done when my cob's are due.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

Is this only recently? I had similar with my pony a couple of months ago- I added a handful of chaff to slow her down, and then dampened it all down really quite wet, and it seems to have done the trick.

 

[laura_nash]

Yes, this is only recently. You think she might be bolting her food too fast? That would make sense as they are both loosing weight (intentionally) so she will be hungrier. I have some Top Chop Zero which I sometimes feed, will try adding some and dampening it. Thanks.

 

[Carrottom]

I think you're probably right, eating too fast is causing the cough, like a slight form of choke. Adding a couple of handfuls of chaff and damping it should help.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Add water to her feed. Let us know how you get on. What bedding is she on?

 

[Abby-Lou]

I had same issue with my shetland changed to happy hoof and was much better

 

[exracehorse]

I had that with a new mare. Had vet out and he checked teeth. She had bits of twigs in her gums from munching on the hedges.

 

[laura_nash]

Thanks everyone, added the dampened chaff today and she was fine so looks like that's it ? If she does it with the chaff I'll get her teeth checked as she is eating hedges etc.

 

[laura_nash]

What bedding is she on?

No bedding most of the time as she lives out. When she is 'in' she is on a gravel yard area and shares an open front barn with my cob which is bedded with straw pellets.