Unexplained Coughing still

S

somethingillremember

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 July 2011
Messages
314
Visit site
Vet came out last Wed and gave 2 jabs as my horses breathing was showing signs of being laboured ( if only I could read his writing I could tell you what he gave her! ) and her breathing improved , no coughing that I heard at all ( my horses are at home so I can hear them easily day and night in stable or field) Wed afternoon or Thurs.He left me a tub of Ventipulmin on Th which I started Th pm . Friday evening back to laboured breathing . He came again Sat am and 2 jabs again .No temperature and no gunk being produced , altho I can hear a slight bubbling if I put my ear to the nearside nostril . Now am I being too keen to expect the Ventipulmin to be working in 2-3days ? Horse is out in field and only in am for feed and Ventipulmin and the same pm so in a stable for afew hours each day . My stables are nice big airy stables and dust is kept to a min. Hay is soaked/steamed . I have had a look around and cannot see any rape fields . We moved to this new house 2 months ago so there could be a pollen that the horse is having a problem with that we didnt have around the old place . Horse is also just started on Feedmark Clarity as well .
 
I was told by my vet quite categorically (she is a respiratory expert) that Ventimpulmin should never be used unless it is given at the same time as a course of steroids….. the Ventimpulmin acts to enlarge the tubes in the lungs but in cases of RAO and respiratory problems then these same vessels are usually inflamed- the ventipulmin does nothing to reduce the inflammation- the steroids are needed for this…… causing dilation of the tubes but dilation of inflamed tubes- thus NOT helping solve the problem just masking the symptoms

Her words to me were- its bad clinical practice!!!!!!

I have been prescribed ventipulmin on its own many times over the years but her explanation made perfect sense when she explained it and she has very successfully helped my boy with his severe RAO- using ventipulmin, oral steroids and 2 lots of inhalers….. he is now on 1 inhaler daily and is symptom free.

Maybe the injections your vet gave were steroids???? but i would speak to him asap about using the ventipulmin on its own…x
 
I used to have a mare who coughed for no apparent reason. She had several vet visits and prescriptions for ventipulmin over the years. We eventually stopped the cough when we stopped feeding her on cereals and sugar.
 
I have taken the horse almost completely off the pasture mix ( its only a "garnish " to encourage to lick the bowl clean !) and the cough has def improved over the last 2days , ie only 6 coughs ! So not sure if its the meds working , removal of the pasture mix or the damp weather !
 
Ventipulmin ...according to Boehringer Ingelheim Limited ( who make the stuff) it doesnt HAVE to be used with steroids ( I spoke to their Equine Vet who works there). Not all cases need the steroids , it is totally dependant on why the Vet has prescribed the Ventipulmin . So I think it will be wait and see how things are after the 2 weeks on Ventipulmin. If the horse isnt coughing then any inflammation should go down and by the time we come off it all should be better .
 
Sounds odd, but has the Vet checked the heart and any bloods? Only because I know with my old mare that a persistent cough meant her heart was struggling (normally heat induced for her)
 
Heart checked and all fine ( I have a heart problem so I know how it effects my lungs). Not done bloods. But , last night I didnt dampen/steam hay and 0500 this morning ...cough cough cough cough ! So I think its the hay , even though its excellent hay and hasnt been a problem before now ... oh well ...forums wouldnt exist if it wasnt for horses keeping us on our toes !!! LOL !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top