Coughing

S

Sophieandbella

New Member
Jan 11, 2022
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Interested to get peoples thoughts...my mare has developed a cough this week. Seemed fine monday, didnt ride tues/ weds so only saw her briefly to bring in. Rode thurs and she was coughing quite a lot even just at walk so I cut our ride short. Been soaking her hay nets for 20 mins the past few days and done my best to remove as much dust as I can from her stable. Ive not ridden in that time but spent some time with her in the field this afternoon and she was coughing then. Seems bright and happy enough in herself, no runny nose, haven't taken her temperature as couldn't find my thermometer so going to pick one up tomorrow.

But, would you be concerned enough to call the vet? Or any other suggestions that I could try? I did think about getting some haylage. It will only be a few more weeks until they are out 24/7.

For background, she is stabled overnight approx 6pm til 8am, open sided stable with turnout pen attached (rubber crumb surface). They dont have bedding in the stable as lay down outside in the turnout. Moved to this yard at beginning of Feb and she was fine then, albeit on different hay. The hay we have now isnt the greatest, its a bit rough and a little dusty but not terrible. I've been using this hay for 2 weeks now, was originally just hosing it off before I fed it to her but as I say since thurs I have been soaking it for 20 mins or so.

Thanks
 
I would have her outside for as long as you can. I have a Shetland who coughs if he is inside. Outside, and the cough stops.

Has your mare met any other horses/ponies recently? Coughs travel around quickly. I would wait a week, make a few changes like bedding, soaking hay, etc. and see if things calm down, and then if you are still worried, call the vet.
 
I'd see what her temperature is tomorrow and then decide whether or not I needed a vet. As well as soaking her hay I'd shake it up well too, and I'd soak for a couple of hours rather than 20 min. Are you allowed to feed the hay in the turnout pen rather than the stable? If you can that might help as any remaining dust will be blown away plus she's out in the fresh air.
 
I would definitely soak your hay for at least an hour if it’s dusty. It can definitely take several days for things to settle down once they start coughing, so I would probably monitor for a few more days before calling the vet unless it escalates.

I’ve had some success with Lincoln cough syrup or corvonia chesty cough syrup (recommended by my vet) for my mare who has asthma, in addition to soaking hay etc.
 
Watch her breathing and see how prominent her belly/flanks move in and out. Coughing can be related to equine asthma (formerly known as COPD). When I had my vet out for my mare with a cough, she told me that you can barely see the breathing physically in a healthy horse.
 
How is she doing now?

I bought a Haygain steamer for Chloe a few years ago but the cost of running it is quite high. Thankfully none of ours cough now as we are mainly on haylege. Even the hay I buy doesn't set them off. Chloe had mild copd though as she got older - despite free ranging more or less 24/7.
 
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