Respiritory / cough supplements

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Mic

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23 January 2008
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My horse has had a cough when exercised since September
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He has had steroids and antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection but is now off all the treatment. In the last couple of weeks the cough has stopped but he still seems congested. He is blowing out through his nose a lot when trotting and cantering and sounds like he is trying to clear his throat. My vet has said he doesn't want to put him on any further medication like ventupulin or sputulosin but I'm worried he needs some help to clear the remaining mucus/snot. I'm worried if I don't help him clear it that it will sink back into his lungs and we'll be back to square one. Can anyone recommend anything I could try to help him? My vet isn't being very supportive at the moment and I'm really worried about my lovely boy. Really appreciate any advice.
 
Hmmmm. Sounds suspiciously like COPD. Does he have his hay soaked? Has he got a heave line? What about turnout? Closeness to the muck heap or hay storage? Do you muck out round him or move him well away? You could try soaking his hay or buying him the proprietary bagged haylage that is guaranteed spore free. You could also try feeding him on the ground so his head is as low as possible for as long as possible. If you're really worried I wouldn't hesitate to ask your vet to refer him to a top quality specialist centre for a full work up. You need to know exactly what you're dealing with. Good luck.
 
So sorry to hear about your boy. Box of Frogs has some very good points. I had a similar problem with two horses who contracted equine flu. Should be treated the same as COPD, soaked hay, ventilation etc. I would also make sure that feed is moistened. Your vet doesnt sound too interested (a sure sign that he hasnt a clue) - I would be asking another vet (equine) to have a look if you are concerned. Best of luck.
 
Have you tried ecchinacea to boost the immune system? Daisy picked up a mild respiratory tract infection that was going round the yard. Vet gave her antibiotics which helped but didn't clear it completely. A friend who has done alot of study into homeopathy recommended it and the cough stopped instantly. Could be a coincidence because she was on the upwards slope anyway but I was impressed.
 
NAF have just brought out a new Respiratory supplement called NAF Respirator Boost which claims to work within 48hrs and has echinacea in it
 
I have a mare with COPD which is a result of an infection and illness several years ago. She is completely clear now, on chopped rape straw and rubber mats, fed haylage from the ground, soaked feeds with a Global Herbs additive (it took about 3 months to work fully) - it took me well over a year to sort her out.
 
My horse had a two month course of antiobiotics and ventipulmin for a virus and bacterial infection. After the best part of a year off I put her back in to work but her breathing was more laboured and 'noisey' than before. She was only 8. She had soaked hay or hage, fed on the floor, outside box and loads of turnout so I was sure it wasnt COPD. Anyway, I highly recommend Winergy Ventilate. It is an antioxidant supplement in pellet form. It is brilliant stuff, but expensive. They have done research to show its efficacy as well. I used it for 4 months and then took my horse of off it for quite a while - financial cut backs! She has now gone back on it as she had a bit of a cough and her breathing was a bit heavy again. Two weeks later and she is back to normal. I think vet recommend it so it must be good!
 
Thank you very much everyone. I have invested in some Naf Respirator Boost as a starting point and am going to get a second opinion from a different vet too. Really appreciate all the advice - thanks again.
 
Oops forgot to say - no heave line. He is turned out by day and in at night. Bedding is aubiose and his hay is soaked fully submerged for 30 minutes before feeding, and feed damped down. I tried him on haylage but he didn't like it, so back to the soaked hay!
 
As far as I have heard, the Winergy Ventilate stuff is meant to be by far and away the best for this sort of thing. I'd be very interested to know how you get on with the NAF Respirator Boost stuff though.
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Naf Respirator hasn't helped my boy - it says you should see results within 48 hours and he isn't any better sadly. Am hoping to get second opinion from vet early next week, so will try the Winergy Ventilate after that. Can you just buy it at feed stores?

On a similar note, does anyone know how it will work with my insurance company if I want to use a different vet once I've got a second opinion? Will I need to get the original vet to refer my horse - could be interesting if that is the case....
 
Mic - re: vets, my horse was with one vet to diagnose her lameness, got referred for an MRI scan (classed as second opinion), my vet gave me the official diagnosis, then I changed vets. I just told my old vets that I wasn't going to have my horse registered with them anymore, registered her with my new vet, and that was that. Old vet sent my new vet all Maiden's records, including the report from her MRI scan. Receptionist at old vet's didn't even ask why I was leaving...
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