still coughing

[fimacg]

Brave still coughing and the vetapulin isn't making a great deal of difference.

Dont get me wrong he is a lot better than he was his snotty nose has cleared up but he is still coughing even at rest on a bad day, on a good day we can go at a spanking trot without coughing at all.

I spoke to the vets today about the fact that he hasn't improved as much as I would have liked and that the cough is still there, even at rest.

She told me they have never had a year as bad as this for persistent coughs that just dont respond to standard treatment.

Since Brave has an exclusion on all things respiratory we are not insured for this, so next step is inhaled steroids to try to clear the inflammation in the lung/respiratory tract, without putting him at risk of laminitus... this is going to be fun I have to hold a mask designed for babies with asthma over one nostril, close off the other and squirt an inhaler up his nose.... I can see me getting flattened!!!

If that makes no difference its an endoscopy and sample to try to get specific drugs to treat the exact bacterium causing the problem.

I can see me having to go back to work full time to pay for this little lot!

[haffyfan]

Oh no that doesn't sound good!

So it's an 'infection' causing it and not a reaction to dust spores? Have you already eliminated trying him being out 24/7 etc to see if it helps...then again if it is an infection this wouldn't help really anyway would it? Did they say it should clear totally? When Murph had Flu (well vets wouldn't say flu- virus of the upper respiratory tract was their response) they said he would always be susceptible in future to his environment and he does occasionally cough.

[fimacg]

Haffy he hasn't been out 24/7 but over the long weekend he would go out at about 5pm and be brought in at about 10am, so only in for max 7 hours with all doors and windows open to allow clear circulation of air, and my stables are very airy.

None of them are getting any hay during the day, they do get their buckets at lunch time to break up the day but believe me they have PLENTY of grass and spend most of the day snoozing and they are on wood pellets and rubber mats so no dust there either.

Even after being out for 16 odd hours his breathing was still audible, not exactly laboured but it sounds like the normal noise they make when they lie down, except he is standing, and would occasionally cough as I brought him in.

[fimacg]

amazingly Brave not phased by the inhaler in the slightest

[haffyfan]

well thats good news. Hows he doing...is it showing any signs of improvement or is it too soon yet?

[brigadier]

I think I would try some good old fashioned deep steam inhalation to help clear the tubes, sometimes the old tricks do seem to help! olbas oil sprinkled on hay in a sack then boiling water, then hold the sack around nose so steam is inhaled. Only trouble would be what type of sack to use as we used to use old bran sacks but they dont exist anymore. Maybe a cloth lifelong shopping bag that some supermarkets sell, they would be suitable. Dont use plastic as it may give off chemicals with the hat and undo the benefits.

[fimacg]

I've got plenty of muslin squares - could try one of them

[brigadier]

They would be perfect.