'wheezing' 4 yr old dartmoor

[woodhurst1]

Hi just after any advice / opinions - my 4 yr old dartmoor mare has been wheezing for the last two days, only seen her cough a few times and today some clearish snot came out. She's eating her hay and looks ok in the field. She shares a big box at night with another dartmoor and he is fine. I've soaked her hay last two nights not that it appears dusty and is the same as always. She was kept in for a month when I got her (she was totally unhandled) and never showed any wheezing before, wondering if it could just be a cold virus and when you would call the vet, she's a quiet mare so hard to tell if she's off colour but looks ok in that she's eating etc. She's unbacked so not doing anything strenuous

 

[YasandCrystal]

Do be careful with respiratory conditions long term due to the strain they place on the heart. It could well just be a cold and may clear up with maybe some respiratory herbs/supplement. Best to ring your vet and discuss - tell them about the clearish snot and see if they do a respiratory supplement. My mare was blowing hard after short bursts of trot or canter - the vet listened to her lungs and found cracklimng in one and suggested an acute respiratory supplement to see if it cleared, which it did after 3 weeks.

 

[lelly]

I still think it might be the hay, even though you have soaked it now. It can take a while to get off their chests. Keep soaking it and see if it clears up. If it was anything horrible the runny nose would be worse and coloured. If the problem gets worse on soaked hay I would call the vet. I had this problem myself with a shetland mare, she got better but it took weeks. She has improved that much over the summer that she can eat dry hay this winter but it has to be top quality. Good luck.

 

[woodhurst1]

Thanks for the replies, I will keep soaking the hay and keep an eye on her, vet out next week for another one so can get them to check her out if she's still wheezing, do you think it's worth trying haylage?