Swallow nest causing cough?

[Sven]

So I have been trying to resolve my horses cough all summer, under veterinary supervision. We have been using a nebuliser with some success but really thought I had found a cure when using the NAF respirator boost. But it’s back and so is a new crop of fledgling swallow in the stables, coincidence? this is the third batch of babies and it does seem to get worse around fledgling time. This lot are particularly messy! Any thoughts.

 

[criso]

When i had a horse tested for allergies aome years back, geese, duck and chicken feathers came up as allegens so i guess it's possible.

 

[PeterNatt]

One issue may be Micro-Dust which remains suspended in the air for long periods of time. Best practice would be to regularly vacuum out all the dust and cobwebs in your stable and the surrouding stable and try to keep it as dust free as possible.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Sohhh...... has your vet given you any idea of what is causing the problem??

My little coblet mare had been coughing off and on since last Christmas. Had ventilpulmin from the vet but made no difference. Damped hay, not any real improvement.

In the end we had to scope her and vet diagnosed Equine Asthma. Not wanting to go the "medications" route in the first instance I'm trying salt therapy with her, seems to be helping.

Think you need a firm diagnosis TBH OP.

 

[QueenT]

We have lots of swallows and no horses coughing, but with a specific allergy it could be possible. I’d go after cobwebs etc first

 

[Sven]

Thanks for the replies, no the vet hasn't given a firm diagnosis. It comes and goes, it is moderate at the moment. Heart and lungs all good. So it will be one of life’s mysteries. I live on a small island with limited vet resources. Salt therapy not available. Endoscope is possible, but if tests have to go off island then by the time they get there it is almost pointless. he is not in distress (I am) so we will stop glaring at the swallows and look for another source ?.

 

[Ratface]

Old Horse is out at grass with his herd mates, during daylight hours. He is stabled next to his girlfriend (three years older than him) at night. She has a mild respiratory disorder, managed by veterinary supervision and medication. In hot, airless weather, she occasionally coughs. Old Horse immediately follows with a much louder cough. She stops. He stops.
They are both managed immaculately well by YO. Old Horse is an attention-seeking, lovable wretch . . .

 

[tristar]

what he like when out 24 7?

 

[Ratface]

what he like when out 24 7?

I don't know. The YO doesn't provide this facility. He's in a small herd (5) been there for the last 5 years. When I'm not in his sight, he stops.
Apparently, he only does it when I'm there. He doesn't do it when being worked, or being led in or out.
He has no nasal discharge. He's regularly weigh-taped, is, in my opinion, in excellent health. I don't think that it warrants further investigation at present.

 

[Ratface]

According to YO and her staff, Old Horse doesn't cough when he out in the daytime. I see no reason for her to lie to me.

 

[tristar]

i was asking the O P about her horse, not ratface ! whose horse does not appear to have a problem at all

 

[Nasicus]

I had a mare that was allergic to bird dander and bird mites, something similar perhaps?

 

[PurBee]

Recently ive had to try to rehab back to health 2 pigeons my male cat mauled. Local wildlife organisations give ‘advice’ but dont rehab, so i dug into some literature on avians, to attempt to save them.

Birds produce ‘dust’ - a fine powder, much like we have skin cells shedding, horses have grease emitting from their skin to keep their skin/hair hydrated and waterproof, birds produce a dust -presumably to keep their feathers from sticking together.

One of the rescued pigeons had been flapping at the entrance of my dog cage it was in, and the amount of dust on the mat i had in there for it, was shocking. I had read they produce dust but didnt realise how much. Im not a bird person so dont really know much, but i think the dust they produce should be factored in when a horse nearby birds develops a cough.

It’s feasible this avian dust in a stable could affect a cough-sensitive horse. A nest is a busy area and the parents coming and going to feed the young, flap around the nest, all day long, would be wafting the avian dust about.

I had the same thought as you, as my mare developed a slight cough this summer, and swallows for the first time built a nest in their (open 24/7) stable. The nest fell down after the birds had left (the nest was very muddy and dusty, again a source of constant dust in the stable with baby birds wriggling in it for weeks on end)
The nest was built right above where both horses stand too.
Mine are mostly out grazing and just snooze in their open stable for a few winks, it was always after coming out of the stable my mare would cough. Rest of the time be ok. Now the birds have gone, she’s not coughing.

im wondering how on earth im going to stop swallows nesting in the open barn/stable next year? Im closing off my tool barn to them as everything is covered in bird dust and poop. I have to clean absolutely everything- there were 3 pairs in there this year. I may put up some swallow boxes in sheltered areas. There are new roof overhangs they used this year for the first time, so hopefully i can tempt to relocate them, and maybe shut the stable up when the horses are out grazing so the swallows know its not a full time open building.
Its tricky to find solutions so we can all harmoniously co-exist! We seem to get more and more each year too ? i love them but do think their dust is a potential allergy if living close to them.