Why is he coughing!?!?

[lottiepony]

Feeling a bit depressed about the fact the pony coughed numerous times this morning need ideas as to why - could it have just been the fact it was cold this morning??

Bit of back ground - pony is 12.2 welsh x gelding had him for years but was previously on loan to a friend who ran a riding school. When he came back from the riding school it quickly became apparent that something was up with his breathing as was extremely sensitive to dry hay as in no matter how good a quality it is he coughs.

So this winter he's living out (and has turned into a woolly mammoth) so no dusty bedding issues and is currently having his hay soaked for a minimum of 8 hours, has around 3 sections over 24hrs. He's also getting Dodson & Horrel Breathe Free supplement in a token breakfast feed. Hes carrying plenty of weight and hasn't had a rug on yet. Work wise he does nothing apart from an occasionally walk/trot session in the school if my brother wants to ride.

I honestly thought we'd cracked the coughing problem as hadn't heard anything till this morning, any ideas what else I could try/do??

Virtual cream donuts to whoever has managed to read this far!

 

[Pinkvboots]

My Arab is very dust sensitive and sometimes gets the odd cough mostly in summer when its dry, despite soaking hay and having dust free bedding it sometimes happens, I bought some Lincoln cough syrup for horses and gave him this for about a week and it cleared up, you could try some its fairly cheap and if its something not serious it will go, if it does continue or get worse I would get the vet out.

Just to add if his not doing much work he could be getting a build up of mucus which could make him cough, even a quick lunge everyday may help him clear it and in return will stop the coughing if that is all it is.

 

[lottiepony]

My Arab is very dust sensitive and sometimes gets the odd cough mostly in summer when its dry, despite soaking hay and having dust free bedding it sometimes happens, I bought some Lincoln cough syrup for horses and gave him this for about a week and it cleared up, you could try some its fairly cheap and if its something not serious it will go, if it does continue or get worse I would get the vet out.

Just to add if his not doing much work he could be getting a build up of mucus which could make him cough, even a quick lunge everyday may help him clear it and in return will stop the coughing if that is all it is.

I did wonder about getting him doing more exercise, the problem is we're not allowed to lunge in the school, only in the lunge paddock which isn't lit so that's not an option during the week due to spending any daylight hours at work! I guess I could long rein him then save lunging for the weekends - or make my brother ride more lol! May well get some of the Lincoln stuff I'm hoping it doesn't get worse as was being very careful trying to do everything right!

 

[NellRosk]

Could try ventipulmin from the vets? My boy had a tub after he was coughing occasionally from a virus.

 

[Shadow the Reindeer]

Is he coughing at rest? Could be something that a simple course of ventipulmin could sort out. (My lad had an infection a couple of months ago it cleared up and he's been fine ever since). I wouldn't sit around too long wondering what ifs, coughs need nipping in the bud as soon as they start.