Kind of cough?

[raymond]

Hello all, I wonder if anyone has any ideas. Raymond is coughing. well he has been for a while, but it isn't every day, and only a couple of coughs. Not at all at rest, but when you first ride and do anything with a bit of effort he does a few coughs, then is fine.

It sounds as though he is clearing his throat and seems not to be from his chest if that makes sense. I had the vet out over winter and he had a listen to chest and there was a little rustle but nothing really. He thought it was dust allergy. He gave me some ventapumin which did seem to help. Ray is on easibed and soaked hay.

After a few coughs he is fine. He is out most of the time now though and still has a little cough sometimes when exercised so it seems strange if it is a dust allergy. Not every time I ride though. He has still done it when come in off grass and spent no time in stable. I wonder whether this may be some allergy at this time of year. Any ideas? Anything to worry about do you think?

[maximum]

doesnt sound very serious but if you are at all worried contact your vet.

It may be raymond has a low grade infection and just needs to clear it up. Is there any discharge from his nostrils?

[fimacg]

Figaro used to honk like a goose then finished with a couple of coughs once during every ride, we never found out why he did this, as it seemed to happen randomly except that he did it just the once on every ride and during every lesson, but it never effected him. We came to the conclusion it was just him.

My best friends daughter used to say he was singing.

I have also never ever met another horse who made the same kind of noise he did...

[joandlad]

I don't know who told me this or how medically correct it is (so nobody sue me if it's wrong ;-)but, I've always worked along the lines of, if they cough and then blow their nose/snort within a few seconds then they are just clearing their airways. If it is a cough on its own then it's something that needs a bit more investigation. May just be some sort of old wives tale but it seems to have been correct over the years.

[raymond]

no he doesn't have any discharge. On maybe one or two occasions last winter he had white discharge, but that seems to have gone away.

I think I am concluding it is just him as well. Once he has a good clear out he seems fine, no heaving or breathing difficulty or anything. I think I might just keep a diary or something so I can monitor it more effectively.

thanks

[popsicle]

Don't think you need to worry. Poppy was coughing for 2 weeks during rest and excersize, no other symptoms, no reduction in performance, no discharge and eating ok etc. I gave her Airways plus as someone on this site suggested and it seems to have cleared up. Have read a similar problem on another forum and I seems to be an allergy to pollen at this time of year. A white discharge generally means an allergy, but if it turns green or yellow, get the vet as it has turned nasty.

[raymond]

Thanks popsicle - I think I will get some airways plus. I think there is a liquid one that you can give for a bit of a boost. Had a real long trot last night - and he coughed at first and then after a few coughs he trotted along with no coughing at all. I have been keeping a diary. No had a cough free day yet - but fingers crossed !

[raymond]

Rays cough has got a lot worse... went for lesson yesterday and we had to stop. instructor took his resps and the rate was high after very little work and quite shallow breaths. At rest he is fine. Vet coming out next week so we will see what he says

[raymond]

Well , just to up date you all. We had vet out last week. Thinks it is allergy to something currently unknown. He put him on ventapulmin. Plan was to see how it goes.

On saturday he had a really bad wheezing attack. I had ridden him down to my lesson and it got so bad, we got there, I got off and walked him home in hand. I felt so bad for him.

He is on rest now - no work for Raymond. Going to have to chat with vet and see where we can go from here. I am thinking inhaled and steriods may be way to go. I don't want injected steriods cos of risk of lami. I think this may be a long road.

[flash7]

Sorry to hear that raymond, give him a hug from me poor boy. At least you have got the vet involved now and he is on medication. Keep us posted ang *hugs* for you too!!

[Becca]

oh deary poor ray
are they going to test to see what his allergy is too?

[popsicle]

Hi Raymond. My Old horse Milly used to get like this around this time of the year, she couldn't be ridden in anything except walk, because of her breathing. The vet gave her ventapulmin, which helped a bit, but as soon as the pollen was gone, she was back to normal. Hope this is the case with your boy. xx

[raymond]

Thanks, Flash7 & Becca. I am not sure whether they will test for allergy or not. I am to speak to vet again today.

Popsicle - that gives me hope. I can't wait till he is better x

[raymond]

Hi all, spoke to vet again and they have suggested piriton? I did not know you could give it to horses - but there you go.
Anyone had any experiences with it?

I have to try that for a couple of days - if no improvement then the next step is inhaled steriods. Less side effects than injected steroids.

I think we will try it - if the piriton has no effect as ray is getting fatter and fatter with not getting any real exercise. He is only on grass, but it seems to be growing so quick this year! strip grazing is next step me thinks.