Soaking hay and still coughing

SuperCoblet

SuperCoblet

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Coblets had a cough for a bit now, since it froze and we were unable to soak the hay, then he started a cough, weather got better so soaking hay again and he's still coughing!

He will do it walking in from the field and while he's tied up waiting to go to bed, also when walking, he will a little in trot but soon stops. It's not like a chest infection though, he's not constantly coughing, just every now and then.
He has a fairy wet feed with sugar beet in too.

Any ideas? Hay is being soaked for about 5 minutes
 
May need soaking for longer. My id who's on hay began coughing despite it being soaked for an hour, so he has his hay steamed (kettle and bin) and no more coughing! The tb coughs on hay no matter what I do so he has haylage, which isn't a problem for him weight wise.
 
If hay is soaked, if only for a few seconds. there's no way it will give off dust so the soaking time is irrelevant. I would let him live out 24/7 if you can; it's much better for a general health point of view and gets them away from bedding and airborne dust. Then again you can't rule out Hazel and willow pollen (air pollinators) at this time of the year; so could be a slight pollen allergy lets hope not.
 
I found with my boy that it was the hay that was the problem so he has haylage. Can't you feed the hi fi haylage? It could be more than an allergy to the dry hay. If it was mine I would get the vet to check him over.
 
I always thought you needed to soak for 20 mins to 1hr for the spores to swell up and be swallowed rather than inhaled....I have no idea where this came from though, I may have just made it up???? :-)
 
Lazybee, he's sort of out 24/7 as he jumps stable doors! He's out in the day and has the whole yard and his stable which he does use, just freaks with the door closed.
How much is hi fi haylage? I can't see me being able to afford it :(
 
I think small bales like Horsehage are about £7.00 for 20kgs but you can get hifi mixtures in large bales. It could be that it was the dry hay at first and it caused am irritation and it has developed into an infection. We had a horse at the yard with a similar cough and he was put on antibiotic and he is fine now on soaked hay.
 
Is he on dust free bedding? Also if horses nearby are bedded on straw or fed dry hay the spores can still affect them. Agree that 24/7 turnout is the ideal option.
 
Maybe it isnt the hay thats making him cough. Mine was the same last winter, turned out he had a bacterial infection that only cleared with antibiotics. He'd only cough when his heart rate was up, no signs of nasal discharge or anything either.

Personally, I'd get the vet out.
 
I have one that if he accidently (steals another ponies!) Gets dry hay he will start coughing and it goes on for weeks...I've found the NAF liquid respirator boost clears it up overnight.
 
iamSanta said:
Coblets had a cough for a bit now, since it froze and we were unable to soak the hay, then he started a cough, weather got better so soaking hay again and he's still coughing!

He will do it walking in from the field and while he's tied up waiting to go to bed, also when walking, he will a little in trot but soon stops. It's not like a chest infection though, he's not constantly coughing, just every now and then.
He has a fairy wet feed with sugar beet in too.

Any ideas? Hay is being soaked for about 5 minutes
Click to expand...


mine had a cough only occasionly, when trotting or eating, but vet came out and said infection by listening with stephascope.

From what i've read if you dont treat it, permanent damage to the lungs can be caused. May need a 4 day course of antibiotics.

I wouldnt risk leaving any longer to clear up on its own
 
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He went to the vets 2 weeks ago for a different problem, suspected heart/lung problem. She gave him the all clear, he coughed then and she said soak him hay. So I doubt it is a chest infection as she would have picked it up.

We've just bought some NAF Kof-eze, will see what he's like on that ;)
 
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