Several horses started to cough - Ideas

[Alimac19]

Hi there, I keep my horse on a largeish yard and at the moment he is still living out with about 15 other geldings. My friend rode hers out lets week and says he was coughing all the way on the hack and he generally never coughs. Then the girl in the stable next to mine brought hers in a few days later and he was coughing. Mine has now started coughing when I bring him in to feed him. It can't be a stable problem as they are all still living out. It can't be a haylage problems as even though it is availbale when thay are in the stable, the grass is still good and they don't generally eat very much. Also some of the other horses are in and eating the same hay with no ill effects. All horses are jabbed against Equine Influenza. Does anyone have any ideas? I haven't excercised my horse last week as we had a particularly stressfull competition the weekend before and also been very busy with work so both had a week off. If it carries on or I can't excersise him properly I will call the vet but just thought I'd ask for suggestions.

 

[Shay]

The best thing to do is ask the vet. It sounds like it might be an infectious cough and that can be any number of things from the completely benign to the very serious. Only a vet can really make that decision. On the vague off chance that it is something nasty it would be responsible to get the vet sooner rather than later. For example strangles can start with a cough...

 

[Alimac19]

Blimey. I think I wil phone the vet for some advise. There has been in increase in horses recently due to a nearby yard closing. We've gained about 12 horses although most are in the next field they still communicate over the fence. I've asked the owner of all the new horses (yes one owner - prof rider!!) and she hasn't noticed coughing in any of hers.