Shortness of breath + puffing pony!

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horselover114

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Hello all, I’ve recently grown somewhat concerned for my 14.2 lightweight cob. I have never had a problem about this before but this is what’s going on:
He is incredibly short of breath pretty much all the time, the moment I bring him into the school he is puffing and breathing generally quite heavily. This has started recently and he is also stretching his neck out often, his nose reaching out to the floor as if he is well and truly tired out. He is generally quite fit and is looking quite good at the moment, with bright eyes, shiny coat, etc. This heavy breathing does not prevent him from giving everything a go though and he still jumps as usual.i also don’t know if this is due to the strange weather we are getting at the moment- unusually warm at this time of the year? He is fully clipped so I doubt he’s too hot. I don’t know whether I am just being over cautious because I have been doing a bit more with him recently. What does everyone think? Should I be concerned or is he just getting a bit fitter?

(He lives out mostly on hayledge)
Thank you
 
Hi,

If you are concerned at all, especially with something as vital as breathing, the vet should be your first port of call. What has the vet said?

And if you are concerned about his breathing, maybe jumping him should be put on hold until you get the vet's opinion. A fit horse does not breath heavily the minute they go in the school. It could be anything and nothing. Sorry.
 
HeresHoping said:
Hi,

If you are concerned at all, especially with something as vital as breathing, the vet should be your first port of call. What has the vet said?

And if you are concerned about his breathing, maybe jumping him should be put on hold until you get the vet's opinion. A fit horse does not breath heavily the minute they go in the school. It could be anything and nothing. Sorry.
Click to expand...

It could be a seasonal allergic reaction to mould spores - there are a lot of them around at this time of the year.
We have a mare who has allergic breathing problems which we manage with Ventipulmin and steroids.
I agree with HH, ring the vet 1st thing tomorrow morning and don't ride, let alone jump, until the vet says it's ok to do so.
 
Mine has had breathing problems - sounds a bit like yours. He's on steroid inhalers at the moment which seem to help. He is his normal self in every respect other than breathing a bit harder. Inhalers have made a difference. And there are a couple of other local horses who are breathing oddly too at the moment so there is something about. Both mine and one of theirs have been scoped and nothing came up that would indicate a virus or infection so we are thinking its something environmental.
 
Mine has a very rare and severe breathing problem where her whole trachea has collapsed inwards and as a result of her extra exertion during work, her pharynx then closes aswell.

However, my mare has had problems for the whole time I've had her and clearly previously aswell, although it only became really apparent when she was asked to do more work. If this has only just happened, I would imagine it to be a more seasonal thing.

I would definitely be getting the vet out.
 
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