Shortness of Breath / Puffing

[mickey]

I wonder if anyone might be able to help me?

My horse has been doing an hr - an hr and a half's hacking 4 times a week, over the last month or so, having done little. I do expect him to walk out properly, and I school much of the way around with good stretches on a long rein too.

During the last week her has looked like he does not want to go out, lacking in enthusiasm. He is normally a bold horse who is inquisitive and appears to love going out. The last three times (last week and this week) he has been stretching his neck to the floor, between his front legs, as if tired - When all I ever do is walk with the occasional trot/canter off road.

Today I noticed a noise that sounded like puffing. Having established that it was not something rubbing against me somewhere, I decided to dismount and walk home. His breathing is not 'laboured' as such, but there is a definite noise that is not usually there.

There is no nasal discharge or coughing. His eye has been a bit watery but I thought that could have been due to flies.

He is bedded on straw.
He goes out every day (in the winter too), for 5-8 hrs. I have never noticed this before and I have had him 11 years.

He has really good quality hay which is not dusty, and alfalfa/feed balancer/sugar beet which is always wet.

He looks well in himself (very good actually) and his overall demenour is bright with alert ears/eyes and a shiny coat.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[Ludi-doodi]

Sorry, this is a long one, you might want to get a cup-o-tea first!

My horse had a similar problem last year, generally just getting more and more 'tired' and I had to really him push on, I then began to realise that he was breathing/blowing really hard for the level of work he'd done. Last time he'd been like about 3 years previously he was diagnosed with a slight anemia so I thought it was the same again.

Took him off to the vet who thought it was breathing and not blood. He was scoped (really interesting to see the inside of the horse on the monitor!) and had a tracheal (sp) wash and sample sent off to the lab. He was on corticosteriods, anti-b's and inhalers - he was diagnosed with a recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). In fact he had 3 tracheal washes over about a 8 week period. but that was down to the lab/vet losing one set of samples! Anyhoo, very long story short, he's fine now.

I actually think he had a bit of an infection because he improved after about 2-3 weeks when he started the drugs, but then suddenly ovrnight he went right back. The previous day he'd been belting around the gallop fields have a whale of time with me, next day in a lesson, was huffing and puffing in walk. Another horse on the yard on exactly the same day went down overnight with the same symptoms. The 2nd scope and wash was done and it looked as bad as the first. The vet/lab lost this set so I never knew the results, but the third set of samples to be taken (2nd tested) showed a huge improvement and no problems. Even I could see the difference just looking at it in the sample bottles. The first two sets were really thicky and mucus-y and last set was clear and much more watery. The vet said just to continue with the inhaler before exercise.

Because of all the snow in December he wasn't ridden for amount a month and when I did get back on board, I kept forgetting to give him his inhaler 20 mins before riding. He was fine and quite willing to go so I haven't bothered since. However, since the first diagnoses back in August, I have steamed his hay, he is on shavings anyway, and I now also give him a 1/2 dose of Respirator Boost liquid every day. I do think his breathing has been a little damaged as he does 'blow' quite easily now, but he recovers well, doesn't sweat up and is willing to go forward. He's 18 next month, so age will no doubt play a part.

Sorry, for that very long reply. Best advice is to have a chat with your vet!

 

[Mike007]

I wonder if anyone might be able to help me?

My horse has been doing an hr - an hr and a half's hacking 4 times a week, over the last month or so, having done little. I do expect him to walk out properly, and I school much of the way around with good stretches on a long rein too.

During the last week her has looked like he does not want to go out, lacking in enthusiasm. He is normally a bold horse who is inquisitive and appears to love going out. The last three times (last week and this week) he has been stretching his neck to the floor, between his front legs, as if tired - When all I ever do is walk with the occasional trot/canter off road.

Today I noticed a noise that sounded like puffing. Having established that it was not something rubbing against me somewhere, I decided to dismount and walk home. His breathing is not 'laboured' as such, but there is a definite noise that is not usually there.

There is no nasal discharge or coughing. His eye has been a bit watery but I thought that could have been due to flies.

He is bedded on straw.
He goes out every day (in the winter too), for 5-8 hrs. I have never noticed this before and I have had him 11 years.

He has really good quality hay which is not dusty, and alfalfa/feed balancer/sugar beet which is always wet.

He looks well in himself (very good actually) and his overall demenour is bright with alert ears/eyes and a shiny coat.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

The first thing that strikes me about your post is that you have already answered my initial questions ,in your very thorough explanation.You are therefore a very observant ,thoughtfull owner and your concerns should be taken seriously.I would have a good chat with a vet who listens(sadly some can only talk)and a blood test may help. Go with your instinct,that there is somthing wrong. Probably just a virus. But rest him ,dont over tax him.

 

[mickey]

Thank you both for your messages. Much appreciated.
Just to say that I also took his temperature which was 37.6, so perfectly normal.
I'm giving him time off until Monday, when I will attempt a 15 minute walk out to see how it goes. If he is still not right on Monday I will call the vet. I hope that this is a suitable course of action...............

 

[ScarlettLady]

Mine had an infection of his bronchioles at the end of last summer, similar symptoms. I'd soak/ steam his hay and get the vet for a look. (my experience was all very similar to Ludi-doodi's by the sound of it)

 

[Chumsmum]

Another thing to think of (because of the time of year) is maybe a pollen allergy?

I've just started using Globel Herbs Pollen X on my old boy and could see a difference virtually straightaway.