Summer Cough?

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Highstep

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My three year old gelding has developed a cough and is quite snotty. He coughs intermitently. He has been shown this year so has been coming in at night but has been out on hot nights and rugged.

The snot is clear or white like thick cream. I rang the vets last week they said nothing to worry about and only to worry if snot went green etc but to leave him out as much as possible he was out last night so had been out over 24 hours and I went to un rug him this morning and he was coughing as he got up.

I cant see it is a dust problem as he is coughing after being out 24/7 when he does come in he is fed adlib haylage from a big tub trug on the floor and is on rubber matting is in an internal box in a big airy barn with plenty of ventilation and he was in more over the winter and didnt suffer a cough. The stable and mats are well drained and swept through whilst he is out every day and beds put up and then down without him being in. His bed is mostly the mats with a little snowflake shavings so good quality and not dusty-he isnt really fed at the moment perhpas a handful of mix if that as I have loads of good grass so he just has a mineral block in the field and he is in show condition.

The only thing I can think is he has picked up something when he has been stabled at shows? He is up to date with flu and tet but I will have the vet look at him tomorrow to be on the safe side.

Just wondered if anyone else has this sort of coughing and whether it could be seasonal with the warm cold wet weather interchange or an allergy? He is really bright in himself and charging round the field and creating the normal 3 year old mayhem.

Any ideas?

Thanks
 
Henry had a cough and a cold a few weeks ago. He just wasn't himself, really looking down and dull. Called the vet, she gave me 5 days worth of a LOT of antibiotics and he's back to normal again now.

Hope yours gets better soon xx
 
I'd defo get the vet in the first instance Highstep even though they feel it's nothing major. My veteran has developed a cough spring/early summer for the last 2 years and it looks as though it might be sort of horsey hay fever linked to the hawthorn blossom. His was a dry hacking cough that wasn't linked to anything in that he would cough when exercising or standing still, in the field or the stable. He had a mild, clear-ish nasal discharge but was otherwise fine, ie no temp, eating fine, etc etc. Vets gave him 5 days antibiotics just in case but I don't think they helped much - the cough has vanished now. He's never had this before but we changed yards 2 years ago and the yard he was at before was very high up and no hedgerows and strong winds all the time. Where he is now is much lower and glorious hedgerows in full bloom with tons and tons of hawthorn blossom. The hawthorn has finished flowering and the cough has gone. Same as last year. Could be coincidence but I really do think its an allergy to tree blossom.
 
Please do (and check his temp) White, thick, snot doesn't always develop into the yellow stuff but it means vet at least telephoned, if not called out. Ours had this - no raised temp and coughing as the tree pollen went mad. She didn't get worse and is fine now. Lasted about four days. Any protracted coughing isn't good
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Hi,
My mare gets a pollen allergy, It started 6 years ago, after the burghley sponsored ride, i thought it was choke with all the coughing, but the vet said just a cough, however she had it for the following 3 years always at the same time, between june and late august, early sept. she is turned out 24/7 and isnt onany hayat that time, she is on dry hay all winter with no problems , but is turned out all winter too.There was an article once in the horse and hound about it being a seasonal allergy or something or other, anyway she didnt get it last year and touch wood no signs yet for this year, as there has been no rape seed around us for a couple of years so that could have been the reason, anyway she had a course of ventipullman each time she got the cough and that works fine. I hope this helps.
Carol
 
[ QUOTE ]
My veteran has developed a cough spring/early summer for the last 2 years and it looks as though it might be sort of horsey hay fever linked to the hawthorn blossom. His was a dry hacking cough that wasn't linked to anything in that he would cough when exercising or standing still, in the field or the stable. He had a mild, clear-ish nasal discharge but was otherwise fine, ie no temp, eating fine, etc etc

[/ QUOTE ]

My experience was exactly the same on my 24/7 turned out mare, we got her some Airway plus and she is fine now.
 
hi, highstep
My mare wouldnt eat the ventipullmin at first in her food so for first few days syringed it in mixed in a little warm water to a paste, like you do a wormer, and it seemed to relieve symptons much quicker, she did then accept it in her food so i finished the course that way, p.s.
your vet probably told you, but you do have to finish it all even if the cough goes, I just wish it wasnt so expensive., if the cough returns i just phone my vet and if it is the same he just leaves it out for me so i don't get charged a call out. just in case you need it again.
 
My TB has never suffered with any form of summer cough in the 4 years I've had him until last week. I found him in his stable making strange noises like he had fluid in his throat. I paniced thinking choke then he coughed really hard and snorted and what came out what thick and yellow. I called my vet who said she felt it was "hayfever" he had no indication of any illness. All his vitals were normal. She gave him a ventolin inhaler and a back up supply of antibiotics should we need it and she took bloods just to be sure. She rang me the next day to confirm that the bloods did show a very mild viral infection. She said it was not really significant enough to worry about but not to work him and keep an eye on him and monitor his temperature daily. He can start the antibiotics if his temp spikes over 38.5. His temperature has been nothing other than normal and he is clearly not a "sick" horse......as he gallops off across the field with not so much as a glance back!!

The snot is now much more watery and white and he now has a dry cough which isn't nearly as bad as it was.

Its bizarre because I pooh poohed the hayfever and was almost pleased to hear he had a virus but he is making a huge improvement and probably wont need the antibiotics.....so hayfever it is I guess
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Hope your horse gets better soon. I just hope this isn't a sign of things to come every summer
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Luckily he is eating the ventapulin no probs. Will finish it all but pleased to report on day 3 of ventapulin no more coughing or snot so finger crossed this might sort it. Thanks for all helpful replies.
 
Thats good to hear
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I rode my TB today for the first time in over a week and he only coughed a couple of times just in trot. We stopped trotting after that and just stuck to walk, but he has been snot free now for the last 3 days
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MY FRIENDS horse sounds like this as well she called the vet out they said it could be hay fever or copd. they put her horse on ventopulim and gave him an inhaler she gives him respirator from naf and a respitiary lick he was better in days. even if the vets come out and dont think it is aything it is better to be safe than sorryif you can catch it early than later he has a better time for recovery!
 
Hi Highstep,
Just to say that glad your horse is much better, when misty was first diagnosed the vet that came out suggested I put a pinch of flat leaf parsley in her feed as it is good for respiration problems, and since then i buy a small fresh pack with my shopping each week, chop it really small and keep it in the fridge cost 79p. not saying it works but never gets a snotty nose now and smells nice in the food.might be a good idea for this time of year.
 
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