Poor horsey has a really bad cough, idea's please!

B

BigBird146

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 January 2008
Messages
558
Location
Oop north
Visit site
My horse started with a really nasty cough 2 weeks ago, quite persistant but definatley one cough at a time. Got the vet out the day after it started who said temp Ok & chest clear, gave 1 weks course of anti-b's as viral infection suspected. No difference. So sent some Ventipulmin, which he started on Weds night last week. Didn't seem to make any diff from the outset but now he seems worse, having real coughing fits today where he gets quite distressed, almost choking and kicked at his tummy even (doh, caught foot in surcingle
blush.gif
!).
Managment-wise, he is in at night, out all day. 16 years old but fit and well. He had a real green snotty discharge at the start of it but that is a bit better although still a bit of white/clear snot. I've had to bed them on Bliss since early october due the shavings shortage but I've removed all that and put shavings down in his stable today (always been fine on those) and he is on good quality haylage.
Any other ideas?
What good immune boosting supplements can you buy 'over the counter' in case it is just a case of his immune system needing a boost?
really worried now as he was quite distressed earlier, so probs going to get the vet back tomorrow if not better for the bedding change, but any other ideas would be good thanks.
 
My mare had a similar thing quite a few years ago, she had to have 2 lots of Ventipaulim and her haylage on the floor until all the gunk had cleared from her lungs.

Now although she is still classed as having COPD, she has her haylage in a haynet, she is on woodchips but my two boys one either side of her are on straw, she is absolutely fine. when she first comes in for the winter she has a runny nose for a couple of weeks, but that soon goes of its own accord.

It can take quite a while for the gunk to clear off the lungs, 2 lots of Ventipaulim is normally enough.

If my mare coughs for more than 2 days now, and I will probably get shot down for this she has 30ml of Dry Chesty Cough Benylin for 5 days and this stops her coughing.

Suggest you to speak to your vets again and see if they have any cough mixture.

Back in the old days before Venipaulim we used to rub camphorated oil on horses chest, unfortunately they don't make this anymore. This used to clear the gunk out in record time. The same way it used to work for humans.
 
No, have seen the thing about Benylin (when you Google horse cough's it comes up on quite a few forums!!) Will check with vet about that tomorrow.
When you say 2 'lots' of Ventapulmin do you mean 2 doses or 2 tubs? He's having 2.5 scoops 2x a day, and it's done nothing... I was under the impression it would work pretty quickly, which is why I'm wondering if it's an allergy rather than just a cold. he hasn't had COPD before and the bedding's the only thing I can think of that's new/ different but Bliss is supposed to be v good for COPD?!!
Thanks, will check out the Global Herbs stuff also, I think he will need an immune boost whatever as it's quite a debilatating cough.
 
Ventipulmin will work for an allergy, but not much for a cold or virus. I would really get the vet as he is getting worse.

We have used 'human' cough medicine on our cob too
smirk.gif
 
Global herbs "airway plus" seams to work for our cob with COPD. It smells quite strong so you could add mint in feed to disguise a bit. I am convinced it helps as he developed a cough again when we ran out for a few days and once he was back on it improved within a day or two.
 
As the chest is clear and the temperature is normal I would suspect a foreign body at the very back of the throat or the top of the airways. It may be worth asking your vet to use a dental gag and get a hand up there to check for anything that is stuck and also to see if the swallow reflex is particularly sensitive. As you got snot but dont have lung congestion it maybe that this is something draining from the sinus in the head into the throat rather than someting tryin to come up from the lungs.
 
Had the vet back yesterday who did an endoscopy, he has very congested lungs now so she took a sample to send for testing.
He's quite a poorly boy so thanks for the advice and lots of healing vibes please....
frown.gif
 
FINGERS CROSSED for your boy >>>>>>>>>>healing vibes from the west country>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top