Would it be worth changing his bedding? (Also in veterinary)

[Gorgeous George]

George seems to suffer with an occasional cough and it seems to occur when the weather gets either colder or warmer and it is pretty much only when he is ridden (obviously I stop exercising if I realise he is coughing). When he coughs it sounds quite dry, otherwise he is fine in himself and isn't showing any signs of breathing problems.

He is turned out every day and is fed soaked hay and feed, but he is bedded on straw. Would it be worth changing his bedding to shavings, bearing in mind that he is stabled between 2 horses on straw in a barn type arrangement. Unfortunately there is no way of moving him to a different stable.

It is worrying me even though it doesn't happen that often and of course I just want what is best for George.

Thanks

 

[spike123]

if it is an open barn type arrangement then changing to shavings probably will not make a difference.Is there any way you could persuade everyone else to swap over as well? If you do go for shavings then make sure they are dust free as otherwise they can be as dusty as straw. If nobody wants to swap over then how about spraying the bedding throughout the stable to help get rid of some of the dust particles.Ideally you should keep him either outside permanently or at least right next to the biggest outside air space within the barn so he at least gets some fresh dust free air.