Should I call a vet?

[BFFNOVARI]

My horse is a 15 year old Halflinger mare. She has a slight cough, her throat latch is swollen just behind her jawbone, and her stomach seems a bit bloated. She isn’t running a temperature and acts perfectly fine, but I am worried about her. I don’t know if this is something I should call a vet about or if I am worrying about nothing. She runs and bucks in her pasture so I’m pretty sure she isn’t in any pain. Also, should I be riding her in this condition? She loves the exercise and is typically very high-strung if she doesn’t get her normal daily ride. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

[Red-1]

Yes, I would call the vet and isolate until the vet has been.

 

[BFFNOVARI]

Should I not ride her until the vet is able to make it out? It may be a while.

 

[Pinkvboots]

It could just be a coincidence with the cough and swelling behind the jaw, it could just be that your grass is coming through which can cause little dwellings in that area and the bloating again could be the richer grass, have you tried soaking hay for the cough it could just be dry hay doing that?

I think just to be on the safe side as there have been flu outbreaks I would speak to your vet about her and take there advice.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Should I not ride her until the vet is able to make it out? It may be a while.

If they can't come out speak to one on the phone

 

[BFFNOVARI]

Thanks for the replies. I have been soaking her hay and giving her a cough syrup before each ride.

 

[ycbm]

Why will it be a while for a vet to attend? Your horse is showing potential strangles symptoms, they should come quickly. How long has this been going on?

.

 

[BFFNOVARI]

Our normal vet is very busy. I will call our second vet. The cough has been going on for a few weeks. The other symptoms just showed up a few days ago.

 

[paddy555]

Our normal vet is very busy. I will call our second vet. The cough has been going on for a few weeks. The other symptoms just showed up a few days ago.

busy or not I would expect a vet to come out the same day with your symptoms. I most definitely would not be riding until I had the vet's clearance.

 

[BFFNOVARI]

Ok, thanks to everyone for all the advice.

 

[NOISYGIRL2]

It could be number of things, but I would rule out something like strangles asap for obvious reasons. It could be something not to worry about so much like something growing in the field now starting to come through something that wasn't there over winter, mine used to get enlarged glands due to this but since moving yards he hasn't had it. When he got it I used to give him NAF D-Tox through the spring/summer.

 

[BFFNOVARI]

Her cough has now disappeared. And after moving pastures (thanks NOISYGIRL2) her glands and bloat have gone down. Thanks to all who replied and offered advice!

 

[NOISYGIRL2]

Her cough has now disappeared. And after moving pastures (thanks NOISYGIRL2) her glands and bloat have gone down. Thanks to all who replied and offered advice!

Oh that's great news