Hi,

I need some advice. I have four horses and they all recently had a cold - UGH! I gave them all penicillin shots and three of the horses recovered beautifully. One of the horses, however, still seemed to be bothered by his cold, so I gave him another round of penicillin. It seemed to help some, however, he is now coughing (mostly in the a.m. and p.m.). After he is done coughing, he sticks his tongue out and is really working it like he has some stuff in there he can't get out. He doesn't seem to have a runny nose or anything - nothing any of the other horses don't have. He coughs before he even eats any hay. I now have him on a granular antihistamine/decongestant to help clear his bronchial tubes should there be leftover stuff from the cold. By the way, he is eating and drinking plenty of water. He looks really good.

Now, I don't think he has heaves. He has never shown any signs of this coughing until after his cold. None of the other horses are coughing and they are all eating the same hay. If my hay is at all dusty, I shake it out and sprinkle water on it. I don't shake it out in their presence. They eat their morning hay outside and after I grain them in the a.m. in the barn, while they are eating, I take the hay outside and shake it all out for them. I don't sprinkle water on it out there, as the wind takes away any dust. Then after I turn them out for the day, I go in and clean stalls and get all the hay and grain, etc. in the stalls for evening. When I shake the hay out in the stalls in the a.m., that is when I spinkle it with water.

Is there something I am missing? Should I be doing something else? Do you think this is left over from the cold or could it be heaves. My hay is no different than it has been any other year. Some bales can be a little dusty; others not at all. Do you think another round of penicillin would do the trick or should I get something else to give him? Is there anything natural that I could do for him?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Tammy

-- Tammy Williams (btawilliams@juno.com), December 14, 1999

Answers

I know you would probably pefer to avoid it, but when it comes to disease, I have always called the vet. The range of possible problems and solutions is too great and many things must be caught early. I call the vet much more often than I go to the doctor, and I have never ben unhappy I did, if only for peace of mind. They will usually save you a visit by telling you over the phone if they are sure of something. I haven't met a vet yet who had even a little free time for unnecessary visits. Let us know how it comes out. Good luck.

Rod Perrino

-- Rod Perrino (redjouster@aol.com), December 15, 1999.

I agree call a vet, horses have so much that can go wrong with them. Sounds like this horse might have a alergy to some thing in its inviroment also it might need its teeth floated you could get every thing done at once and save money. As long as it is not a emergence call but a scheduled vist it shouldnt be to expensive, it gets expensive when they have to drop every thing to get there now.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), December 16, 1999.

My horse exhibited the same symptoms when he developed a absess in his throat caused by a coughing due to allergies. he would yawn alot stick out his tongue strech his neck ect. required different antibiotics from the vet and a vet visit...

-- Betrh Esfandiari (lroanfarm@home.com), September 19, 2000.

I can't tell from your post what area of the country you are in, however, here in Northern Minnesota we can occassionally have problems with lungworm in horses and donkeys causing the sort of respiratory symptoms you are describing. Take a fresh stool sample and put it on ice (ie. grab some doodoo in a baggie and seal it shut and place it in a container containing a freezerpack to keep it cool) and take it to your local vet to be checked for the little buggers. If it is positive for the parasite, make sure the wormer he gives you or the one you purchase elsewhere states specifically that it will eliminate lungworms. Worm your horse, wait two weeks and repeat. Lungworms are picked up off contaminated pastures. You may have to change your horses feeding area for awhile.

-- Sandra Nelson (Magin@starband.net), June 01, 2001.