When to worry about a runny nose

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

I've only had my little Dartmoor mare for 6 weeks, so I'm still very panicky. Walked her out this morning for about 30 mins. Seemed fine, but I did notice she was flaring her nostrils a bit, but I thought she was just stressing about sheep hiding in the hedge. Anyway, we only walked, but it's a steep hill, and she didn't cough at all or anything.

BUT then when I was brushing her down I noticed that she was still flaring her nostrils every breath. And she's got a small amount of clear runny discharge from both nostrils. And now she's coughed a couple of times (like literally twice in 3 hrs). Eating and drinking absolutely fine, seems "well in herself".

Is this something I just let run for a couple of days? She does seem to be a bit allergy prone- I've had to use steroid eye gel for persistently gunky eyes already.

I misjudged the weather a few days ago and found her soaked to the skin and shivering violently in the morning. I then stuck a rug on and thatched underneath, and she seemed to dry out and warm up quickly. Can horses "catch a chill"?

So do I call the vet right now, or keep a close eye on her and give it a couple of days?

 

[Shay]

If the discharge is clear and water like - leave it a day or so at least. If it is green / yellow, "snotty" or profuse then I would call on Monday. Not worth a weekend call out unless things change drammatically. Many horses - like humans - get a wet nose breathing hard in cool air or when thier eyes run. The only thing that bothers me is the steriod eye gel - was that from the vet?

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

If the discharge is clear and water like - leave it a day or so at least. If it is green / yellow, "snotty" or profuse then I would call on Monday. Not worth a weekend call out unless things change drammatically. Many horses - like humans - get a wet nose breathing hard in cool air or when thier eyes run. The only thing that bothers me is the steriod eye gel - was that from the vet?

Thanks for the reply- she seems completely fine this morning! Yes, the eye gel was from the vet. She checked her eye really carefully using that green dye, and it's not scratched or infected, so she said the gunkiness is probably just a reaction to something. A couple of days of the gel cleared it right up.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

If the discharge is clear and water like - leave it a day or so at least. If it is green / yellow, "snotty" or profuse then I would call on Monday. Not worth a weekend call out unless things change drammatically. Many horses - like humans - get a wet nose breathing hard in cool air or when thier eyes run. The only thing that bothers me is the steriod eye gel - was that from the vet?

Thanks for the reply- she seems completely fine this morning! Yes, the eye gel was from the vet. She checked her eye really carefully using that green dye, and it's not scratched or infected, so she said the gunkiness is probably just a reaction to something. A couple of days of the gel cleared it right up.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I misjudged the weather a few days ago and found her soaked to the skin and shivering violently in the morning.

This happened with a little mare I had. Got soaked and very cold then a few days later started having problems with her breathing. Flared nostrils and in her case making a real effort to breathe. It was an allergy to something. Steroids got her back on track. No obvious discharge and no real cough.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

This happened with a little mare I had. Got soaked and very cold then a few days later started having problems with her breathing. Flared nostrils and in her case making a real effort to breathe. It was an allergy to something. Steroids got her back on track. No obvious discharge and no real cough.

Interesting. She's not moved field, and I'm still using the same bale of hay, but maybe the spring pollen's starting to come out? Like I said, she does seem to have had some sort of eye allergic reaction as well. So, a pony with hay fever then?! Luckily she seems totally fine this morning.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

A clear discharge is often a sign of an allergic reaction, so if it persists, especially with a breathing difficulty, I would call the vet. Tree pollens are quite prevalent now.

 

[poiuytrewq]

As you’ve only had her 6 weeks I wondered if it could be a change in management, if her old owners had her on shavings for example and you use straw?
I have one that gets like this from time to time. It’s always due to something I’ve done. A bedding change or not soaked his hay.