Would you worry?

Kat

Kat

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Hi,

Just looking for a bit of advice. I have currently got a horse on a months trial, with a view to buy and all has been going well. She will have been with us two weeks on Sunday.

I have just had a call from the livery yard saying that they are concerned that she has got a snotty nose. They seem to be in a bit of a panic about it.

We were warned by her owner that she often gets a bit snotty when stressed and they expected that she might be a bit snotty after being moved. The owner is currently on holiday so I have sent her a text but haven't heard back from her.

The yard were warned by the owner that she gets snotty when moved, they were also reassured by the owner that there were no bugs on the yard where she had come from.

The yard staff have agreed to take her temperature and get back to me, so I'm waiting to hear.

What do people think, what would you do in my position? Feeling a bit panicky.....

Thanks for your help.

K
 
One of my old ponies easily gets a snotty nose. Its always white or clear though and its never been a problem.

Generally, i'd say if its thin, clear snot, don't panic. If its yellow or smelly, its not right.
 
Thanks, sadly I'm not there so can't see it.

She was a bit snotty the other day after riding, she'd been working and snorting as they do and she had a bit of white snot, seemed happy in herself though.

My feeling is nothing to worry about, but I would hate to do nothing and then find that she has brought something awful onto the yard.
 
Have you had her vetted?

If not, why don't you get the vet out and get them to do a thorough MOT - maybe including bloods and swabs just to put your mind at rest?

You sound like you want her anyway so it would be money well spent IMO...

ets... snotty noses can be caused by anything... inc dusty hay, 'stuffy' stable, dusty bedding, being stabled more than normal...
 
My last horse always got snotty throughout the winter months, but was otherwise absolutely fine with it. His looked as though he had conditioner coming out of his nose, vets were never worried about it so I never did.

Obviously if she turns out to have a temp then that changes things a bit but if she has no other symptoms and the snot isn't green/yellow or smelly then I wouldn't worry. Mine raised a few worried eyebrows on the yard but everyone soon stopped caring once they realised it was just 'him'.
 
We had the vet to do a vetting but they only did the first stage up to the flexions, not the full vetting. No bloods or swabs were taken but the vet hadn't found anything wrong by that point. The vet had checked eyes, nose, ears, teeth etc. There was then a two week delay while we considered the vets opinion and while she was shod and had her teeth done before we took delivery.

It is difficult to say not being there to see her, but what you say makes sense if the yard think that she needs the vet.
 
Until her temperature has been taken, then I just wait, if she appears to be normal in her self, eating well then it wouldn't give me any reason for concern as yet, but if she has high temperature or even just a little over, then I'd probably bring her in, keep her away from the others and call the vet.

Hope everything is ok.
 
She's in most of the time anyway because she hasn't been introduced to the herd yet, while she's on trial she is just getting solo turnout in the school for a few hours a day. So hopefully if it is anything she won't have had much opportunity to pass it on.

I'm hoping the fact that I haven't heard any more from them since they called an hour ago is a good sign.
 
Was she kept in isolation when moved into the yard? I'd ask for her to be isolated again until you are sure. Bit of a horse, door, bolt situation but better than nowt I'd feel?

ETA - cross posted with you!!
 
She's turned out solo, but the stables are all in indoor blocks so no real isolation, although she is in the smallest block and her stable has walls rather than a grill between her and her neighbour.
 
Unless you have reason to think the owner may be hiding something then I would not worry a bit of a snotty nose is to be expected from ANY horse suddenly kept indoors, not too mention one that you have been told gets one when stressed.

As she is fine in herself Personally I wouldn't worry at all!! certainly would not be paying for a vet for no reason

Some people seem to think that every new horse is going to bring a serious disease and kill or the other horses :mad:
 
From what you say, I'd say the move and change in routine is responsible... just getting a couple of hours turnout means that shes in in a relatively dusty environment (regardless of bedding etc) for 22 hours a day... just the lack of movement alone will encourage a build up of snot which would otherwise be snorted out un-noticed while mooching about the field.

If her temp is normal I really wouldn't worry... just ideally try and get her a little more turnout and maybe one of the horselyx respiratory licks - I think they're great at helping to keep airways free!
 
Thanks folks that is both helpful and reassuring. I'm feeling pretty sure it is just normal snot, she wasn't ridden yesterday so perhaps has a bit of a build up. I wondered about dust too, as she is in quite a bit. She is normally in a fair bit but is used to a traditional loose box rather than indoor stabling so it could be more dusty than she is used to.

Once we have decided for sure that we are having her she will be turned out all day with the other girls, but while she is on trial the yard didn't want to take the risk of introducing her to the others. So she is going in the school for a few hours instead until we can do introductions properly without worrying about breaking someone else's horse and ruining the trial!

I haven't heard back from the yard so I can only assume that they haven't found anything nasty, I'll call them back if I haven't heard by 12noon and check.
 
UPDATE

The yard have confirmed her temperature is normal and she isn't coughing so they are happy for us to keep a close eye on her over the next few days and don't need us to get the vet today. They have suggested getting the vet if she is still snotty next week.
 
It wouldn't hurt to have vet check her breathing before you decide whether to keep her especially as it is coming up to spring and pollen will increase the last thing you want is a horse with COPD (RAO)

It is something that once they have is a pain and can indeed ruin a horse, not too mention it often gets worse as they get older.

Keep an eye on her ridden work make sure you do as much with her as you are going to want to do in the future and make sure she is breathing ok and she doesn't seem tired or lethargic

I have been there and would not want a horse with it again!!
 
If her temp is normal then I'd keep and eye on her for a day or two and keep an eye on her when ridden.

Altho you do know she gets a snotty nose when stressed so its more likely to be that. My last horse used to get a snotty nose when stressed. We got the vet out to check the first time and it was fine so when he moved yards again he got it again. Was just stress of moving.

hope it all goes fine for you.
 
its a snotty nose, it happens at this time of year, horses get over it and those that dont get some antibiotics when it gets green or they are coughing with runny eyes and raised lymph glands and not eating and are generally poor, is the horse uptodate with it flu vac, i think your yard is being a bit over the top and personally i wouldnt have anyone taking my horses temperature without me being there or the vet.
 
Yes I think the yard are being a bit over cautious, but they are a riding school as well as a livery yard and apparently last year an infection was brought onto the yard which caused them to lose a lot of business so I can see why they would be wary. I'm glad they are being vigilent with her to be honest.

I gave them permission to take her temperature as I couldn't have got there myself and didn't want to needlessly incur the cost of the vet being called out. The yard is managed by a qualified instructor so I'm sure she is every bit as capable of taking a horse's temperature as I am, in fact almost certainly more capable!

I'm sure she will be fine but she will be checked carefully tonight by me, and over the weekend. I'm planning to ride her tonight, and will be vigilent, but she hasn't coughed at all while she has been with us, or shown any breathing issues, although we haven't worked her hard because she is quite young and unfit at the moment.
 
Sorry but your YM sounds a bit inexperienced and is panicking you for no reason. A horse with a white or clear discharge probably has a dust allergy. First thing you do is check the temperature and if it's normal, it's fairly certain it's a dust allergy. Coupled with the fact that she has been stabled 22 hours it doesn't take much to know what caused the problem.

Antibiotics will do nothing for dust allergies, you need to manage her environment. If you do decide to buy her change her to dust free bedding, wet hay or haylage and as much turn out as possible. Some horses with dust allergies may also have pollen allergies which can make it difficult to know whether to keep them in or out, but many horses have only mild versions of the allergies nowhere near full blown COPD and can be managed with minor management changes.

Hope it works out with her, just be careful she doesn't get super energetic with no turn out!
 
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