Respiratory issues, what do I do now?

[Vintage]

Hi all, will try to make this as short as possible.

15 years ago horse got the tail end of EI thanks to some new horses on the yard and my horse hadn't yet begun his vaccs as I'd only just got him. Left him with some scarring but recovered well and left with a fractional cough that only appeared once in a while or so when first under saddle - managed with supplements, soaked hay, dust free bedding etc and lived very well and very clear.

Up to this past winter where my family had to look after the neds and fed them some very poor quality hay that was supposed to be for burning. New shavings were also not dust extracted. Cue coming home to find 2 out of 3 coughing horses. Ventipulmin and antibiotics cleared it up for one, but this boy in question still had a cough that has gradually got worse.
Spoken to vets multiple times about it to be told "just keep on with the management you're already doing" i.e soaked quality hay, as much turn out as possible, winergy ventilate, hoovered stables and dust free bedding"
And have also had him back on trimediazine and ventipulmin which only seemed to half stop it, asked for sputulosin but told don't need it.

So few weeks ago I had him scoped and trach washed - very thick down there, same vet said probably do antibiotics, steroids and sputulosin and keep on with management, will need this for the rest of his life.
Results come back that there is "some bacteria in there" so will put him on timediazine, ventipulmin and sputulosin. Won't need steroids and we will just "manage it more closely this time of year" as it seems to be bronchitis.

Safe to say, this hasn't stopped his cough. I am stressed and fed up and want something to work. It feels like if it had been taken more seriously sooner, this now wouldn't be a chronic condition. But still my vet just says "oh i'll drop some more ventipulmin off if you want". I have to do it via insurance so I can't keep claiming for "ahh give this a bash!"

What do I try now?

 

[twiggy2]

if you ae not happy get a second opinion or ask for a referral

 

[niagaraduval]

My boy has severe COPD.

These things take time, what you have said is exactly how I manage my boy and there are some rough days when he's not breathing so good.

I would carry on as you are, you sound like you are doing everything right.

When in a critical life threatening state my boy took over a year to get over it, and obviously still hasn't 8 years on as he still coughs from time to time even though I manage him in the best way I can.

 

[loz9]

So sorry your having an awful time with your boy

I personally would ask for a referral to a large equine specific vet if your not already using one. My mare was initially diagnosed by the local vets as a headshaker, but after asking for a referral she was found to have a grass pollen allergy (summer copd) & a displaced soft palate!! Since her diagnosis I have used a Flexineb nebuliser (same makers as the Haygain hay steamer) with steroids, ventipulmin & antibiotics to manage her allergies as this works much better than the oral ventiplumin, etc, as it gets it directly to where it is needed. You can also use several other medications, including a variation of sputulosin.
Sadly the Flexineb is very expensive, approx. £700, but I did manage to get mine bought on insurance (NFU) so might be worth a try, & the medications are also significantly cheaper once you get a prescription from your vet. A 50ml bottle of ventipulmin at a cost of approx. £50, will last me 30-40days.

My experience may be of no use to you, but thought I'd share just in case! Hope you can get your boy sorted!!