things to alleviate cough?

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MrVelvet

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Mr V has a virus :( its gone round the whole yard. It starts with a cough and then gets snotty and run down - they've been swabbed for strangles and its negative. He's got some bute for if it worsens but he's only at the coughing stage - what can I do to help his cough?
 
Poor boy:( thats the last thing he needs after all he has gone through.
Keep him out in the fresh air as much as you can that will be the most beneficial thing you can do, soaked hay or haylage will help as any dust will trigger coughing.
I have used a supplement to boost the immune system and found it really helps them fight a virus, echinachea is also good. For the coughing some cough medicines will help soothe his airways but generally the virus needs to run its course, if he gets really poorly the vet should probably put him on ventipulmin to help keep his airways open.
 
He lives out as he's happier out so I'm just going to put a heavier rug on him and keep an eye on him. I just wondered if there was something I could give him to ease his throat, his larynx is inflammed so it must be uncomfortable. Thanks guys :-)
 
I've used 'honey & garlic' from Equiform nutrition before for my girl who had a tickle. Really seemed to help her.
 
A friend of mine used to swear by benelin- my boy had a bad cough one winter and it really helped him! I just put a little splash in each of his feeds, he went from coughing every time he took a step to only the odd cough, and as soon as his bug cleared up I stopped giving it to him and he was right as rain. This was kept in at night on a straw bed. They do make horsey cough mixtures too but I've never tried them.
 
I give mine cheap cough linctus (it's clear but blackcurranty flavour) and glycerin BP, mixed, via syringe and they love it. Not sure what good it does, though. I have tried it (obv ;) ) and it does give the throat a nice feeling! It's as much as you can do, on top of your ideal regime of turnout with cosy rug.
 
I fed mine on enechia or however you spell it! not sure if it did help though:S,
I just made sure they was rugged up warm, hay was hosed for any dust and given from the floor and changed there bedding to large chip dust free shavings.
Vet also told us to take them on small walks to help move the mucus
 
Thanks guys, he's out 24/7 in a medium weight. Thankfully his luck seems to have changed and this virus hasn't taken a big hold like some of the other horses. I got him one of those respiratory lix but I couldn't say if it was that that helped or not.
 
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