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This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Respiratory System » Discussions on Respiratory System not covered by the above »
  Discussion on Does my colt have the hiccups??
Author Message
Member:
lds536

Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 5:33 pm:

Hi Everyone and Dr O,
I have a 9 month old colt, who made a weird sound way down in his throat almost to his chest. He has done this a few times and finally friends heard him do it too, so I wanted to see if anyone or Dr O could give me a heads up. It really sounds like a hiccup. He does not do it all the time. He has no discharge. He is his normal feisty self. He is eating normally. He is on grass hay am/pm and one small flake of alfalfa AM. Has anyone ever heard of a horse having a hiccup?? He does it even if he has just been turned out and was quiet during turn out. He does not do it all the time.
Thanks in advance...Linda
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 8:13 am:

There is a condition called "Thumps" which has to do with calcium homeostasis that looks like hiccups but, like hiccups, they are not usually a single event. See Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Muscle & Tendon Diseases » Hypocalcemia, Thumps & Tetany.
DrO
Member:
lds536

Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 1:30 pm:

Thank you Dr O. I did go and read what you suggested and none of this pertains to my colt. I may have misled you. He was never doing this when he had been worked. He was just standing quietly and all of sudden we could hear that strange noise. He doesn't jump or twitch like one does with the hiccups. You can just hear this very pronounced hiccup sound deep down inside his neck; as I said nearly to his chest. I am not worried about it but was more curious than anything. Anyway, thanks for your help and time.

Linda
Member:
dres

Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 3:04 pm:

Linda I posted about something like what you describe with a foal of mine.. It just happened now and again.. but would ''hiccup'' several times then nothing.. I have a mare that from time to time when she stomps her hoof for flies makes the same sound.. Both are healthy , so I have quit worrying about them.. It is tho, a little disconcerting ..

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
Member:
lds536

Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 3:21 pm:

Hi Ann,
Whew! I thought we were all crazy at the barn. Okay, now I won't wonder any more. At least it seems your foal and mare did exactly what my colt did. I say did, because I haven't heard him do it now since I first posted my question.

Thx's Linda
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