unexplained coughing

[littlewhittle]

Hi there i'd be really grateful if someone can help me?

My 17 yr old for the past 2 days has had a dry cough, he has no discharge or temperature, he is on haylage and shavings bed. I really don't know what is causing it?

Does anyone have any ideas? He is usually a very fit and healthy boy.

any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Hi LW. My veteran had an episode like this late last summer and I have a sneaking feeling it was linked to me leaving uneaten haylage nets in his stable for far too long. He used to come in for an hour or 2 a few times a week to be ridden or to stand out of the sun, and I foolishly left his uneaten haylage net there for weeks and weeks thinking he might like a nibble while he was standing in. Of course, he never touched it as it was dry and yukky and horrible by then but I didn't think it through properly. It's my experience that about this time of year horses often go on a sort of low level hunger strike coz they know there's new grass out there somewhere so why bother eating haylage? Could he have nets that are a few days old? The good news is that I got the vet out to my boy and he had no discharge or temperature, like your ned, and although we talked about endoscoping him, this would really have been only a last ditch solution. We held back from doing anything at all and it disappeared after a few more weeks, though it did come and go for a bit. I did buy Lincoln cough mixture for him - no idea if it helped at all but it let me think I was at least TRYING to do something! Initially, it was worse after exercise had started but sometimes he would have a good old cough just standing in the field! But, as I say, it disappeared with no veterinary input and, touch wood, he's been fine ever since. I guess I'd keep a careful eye on your ned and if at any time you think there's been a change, get the vet out for reassurance. Hope he's OK! x

 

[littlewhittle]

Hiya thanks for the reassurance, i have a suspicion it may be his haylage as although he has fresh every night, the batch I had this week was not as good quality as usual, so will change it and see what happens!

Fingers crossed!

Thanks again for your help

 

[Chumsmum]

About this time for the last couple of years my boy had a dry cough but no other symptons - vet told me that pollen starts to come out about now and can cause this. He is on either haylege or soaked hay.

Since Xmas I started using NAF Respirator and touch wood I haven't heard him cough once.

 

[carthorse]

Ours has had a bit of a cough this week and have vet coming.He is on paper and soaked ,excellent hay .We competed at Onley and Morton Morrell over the past couple of weeks so if it is a virus we picked it up there .He is due do the BD champs ,so we need the vet to check him out.