Allykat
Well-Known Member
Hi all. I am looking for any ideas of what to do next. Sorry it may be long....
A brief history - Horse in question is a 26 year old Irish gelding. Around 3-4 years ago he started making wind noises at faster paces. It didn't bother him or stop him doing anything so we just left it and monitored for any changes in sound, coughing etc. It was a little apparent that it was seemingly selective. Much less noisy when out jumping, which is a much preferred activity. Local dressage became embarrassing much to everyone's amusement!!
Towards March last year the noise became louder and more constant so we had him scoped. Straight away it was clear he had a left lanrygeal hemiplegia. Vet was happy all tissues looked healthy, there was no mucus but no real explanation as to why he may have developed this at 23. We continued his work (mostly hacking) as he seemed happy enough until the end of October last year when he started coughing and pulling himself up out of work, completely out of breath. A second scope by the senior vet showed the swollen larynx to look the same though a little irritated (presumed due to the cough). He then scoped beyond the larynx to reveal a sea of pure white thick mucus. It was decided that it was unlikely to be infected as there was so much and horse was seemingly so well. A ventipulmin solution was given by IV injection and we were sent on our way with a tub of ventipulmin, a tub of sputolysin and advised as much turnout as poss. We did this as well as switch to soaked hay and damp feed, dust free stable etc. A slight improvement was noted at the end of the tubs of powders but vet thought he should be producing the mucus so prescribed a second tub of sputolysin. Again slight improvements were noted in his breathing rate but still no mucus. Another tub of ventipulmin given.
Vet came out at the end of Jan this year and said his lungs sounded clearer and he could start light work as he (horse) sees fit. We did and all seemed to be going reasonably well. Noise was still there but much less harsh, breathing rates reasonable for an unfit old guy, no coughing and a horse that is raring to go.
Moving on through this summer he has had periods of good alongside some almost like asthma attacks. We discovered he was better in than out so assumed a pollen issue. Vet came out again and agreed it was pollen related and prescribed another tub of ventipulmin to give as we felt the need. Bloods were also done and all clear including for cushings. We asked about inhalers but vet kind of brushed off the idea that we didn't need them and they were expensive! We gave the ventipulmin for a week and kept him in more than out and things seemed to improve. He had his jabs done back in September by a different vet who was very happy with how his chest sounded. That week he went on the longest hack he had been on in years and was completely fine all the way round and came home puff free.
Moving on to now, with no change to his management, he is wheezing after walking a single circuit of the school. A small hack along the road (20 mins in walk) on Friday left him wheezing and breathless for a good 5 mins afterwards though all the time he is trying to call for dinner, his ears are pricked and he's the least distressed out of all of us on the yard! Our back up ventipulmin has been deployed again but he is no better tonight.
So completely happy in himself - where do we go from here? We are feeding respirator which I had thought was making a difference but after this weekend I'm not so sure. Baring in mind he is 26, what can we do next? Can it be pollen related at this time of year? Should we seek a second opinion?
I feel we should be doing more but I am at a loss as to what. WWYD?
Thanks to all who are still with me
A brief history - Horse in question is a 26 year old Irish gelding. Around 3-4 years ago he started making wind noises at faster paces. It didn't bother him or stop him doing anything so we just left it and monitored for any changes in sound, coughing etc. It was a little apparent that it was seemingly selective. Much less noisy when out jumping, which is a much preferred activity. Local dressage became embarrassing much to everyone's amusement!!
Towards March last year the noise became louder and more constant so we had him scoped. Straight away it was clear he had a left lanrygeal hemiplegia. Vet was happy all tissues looked healthy, there was no mucus but no real explanation as to why he may have developed this at 23. We continued his work (mostly hacking) as he seemed happy enough until the end of October last year when he started coughing and pulling himself up out of work, completely out of breath. A second scope by the senior vet showed the swollen larynx to look the same though a little irritated (presumed due to the cough). He then scoped beyond the larynx to reveal a sea of pure white thick mucus. It was decided that it was unlikely to be infected as there was so much and horse was seemingly so well. A ventipulmin solution was given by IV injection and we were sent on our way with a tub of ventipulmin, a tub of sputolysin and advised as much turnout as poss. We did this as well as switch to soaked hay and damp feed, dust free stable etc. A slight improvement was noted at the end of the tubs of powders but vet thought he should be producing the mucus so prescribed a second tub of sputolysin. Again slight improvements were noted in his breathing rate but still no mucus. Another tub of ventipulmin given.
Vet came out at the end of Jan this year and said his lungs sounded clearer and he could start light work as he (horse) sees fit. We did and all seemed to be going reasonably well. Noise was still there but much less harsh, breathing rates reasonable for an unfit old guy, no coughing and a horse that is raring to go.
Moving on through this summer he has had periods of good alongside some almost like asthma attacks. We discovered he was better in than out so assumed a pollen issue. Vet came out again and agreed it was pollen related and prescribed another tub of ventipulmin to give as we felt the need. Bloods were also done and all clear including for cushings. We asked about inhalers but vet kind of brushed off the idea that we didn't need them and they were expensive! We gave the ventipulmin for a week and kept him in more than out and things seemed to improve. He had his jabs done back in September by a different vet who was very happy with how his chest sounded. That week he went on the longest hack he had been on in years and was completely fine all the way round and came home puff free.
Moving on to now, with no change to his management, he is wheezing after walking a single circuit of the school. A small hack along the road (20 mins in walk) on Friday left him wheezing and breathless for a good 5 mins afterwards though all the time he is trying to call for dinner, his ears are pricked and he's the least distressed out of all of us on the yard! Our back up ventipulmin has been deployed again but he is no better tonight.
So completely happy in himself - where do we go from here? We are feeding respirator which I had thought was making a difference but after this weekend I'm not so sure. Baring in mind he is 26, what can we do next? Can it be pollen related at this time of year? Should we seek a second opinion?
I feel we should be doing more but I am at a loss as to what. WWYD?
Thanks to all who are still with me
