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  Discussion on Acute allergy/coughing symtoms
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Member:
Nadia

Posted on Sunday, Feb 6, 2005 - 11:58 am:

My horse has acute allergic symptoms on and off during the year. I am in the upper midwest and we had a very cold and snowy January. We have had a warmup this week (mid 50s for 2 days), but cold and snow is expected to return this week. Within the last week, I noticed my horse coughing when I started to lunge him. The indoor arena is like a cold refrigerator (you can see your breath), rather chilly. The coughing doesn't seem to get any better after a half hour. The coughs sound wet and crackly, at times.

Before lunging, I am not aware he has a cough; after, he coughs up mucous or it is coming out of his nose (I am never sure - I never see it come out, it just seems to be there when I turn around.) The other night, I was putting stuff away - he was in his stall and I thought I heard him blowing his nose only - when I got back to his stall, there was a bunch on the ground. But his nose didn't have any gunk coming out.


1 - Should I stop exercising him or do I keep it up when this happens?
2 - Is the cold, damp air making the situation worse?
3- A vet gave me some cyproheptadine last year. I think it helped him during the spring growing season. How long would my horse need to take the cyproheptadine for it to have effect on him? I think it helped after a few days-his symptoms were reduced, but not entirely gone. I can't figure out if the pollen left the air after a few weeks or if the medication actually helped him.

Thank you.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Feb 6, 2005 - 2:52 pm:

The most likely cause of allergic respiratory disease Nadia is the mold spores in your horses environment. For explanation of causes, managment, and treatment suggestions see Equine Diseases » Respiratory System » Heaves & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. There are much more effective antihistimines than cyproheptadine available and that are more effective treatments than antihistimines, all of this is outlined in the article.
DrO
Member:
Cmitch

Posted on Monday, Feb 14, 2005 - 7:10 pm:

I am the certified expert on horse coughs, so maybe this will help. My horse has always had a cough, since I bought him 5 years ago. One particularly dry summer, he ended up in the horse hospital for 7 days, b/c he was only getting like 20% oxygen and had a terrible infection in his lungs (not pneumonia but real bad) I took him to a respiratory specialist for 1 year tryoing to figure out the problem. The horse hospital simply said, it's COPD and just turn him out 24X7, and it will clear up. Problem is, he is allergic to something out in the fields, so field baord actually made it worse, You can have a test called a BAL on your horse that can identify what types of cells are present in his lungs, which can help vets figure out what is causing irritation. Is your horse a roarer? Mine is, therefore, if there is an irritant in the air, rather than a simple snort to get it out, b/c his throat is more closed up, he needs to cough. Also, I ride dressage, and can not keep him very collected, or he has trouble getting air as well. Additionally, i notice that he snorts a LOT in the SPring summer, when on rich pasture, moreso than other horses. Try to see when your's is most irritated, Does he cough less after being in, when you work him or more? You can ask your vet about ventipulan---my horse did well with this. Bottom line, is he is allergic to something---it is either dusty/mold in the barn, or some plant or spores out in the field. Also, my horse coughs MUCH less in the winter and on crisp cold days. If you have ANY more questions (too much to write all here), let me know. Respiratory problems can be just as inhibiting as lameness. My horse has been on EVERY inhaler and cough suppressent out there, so please ask. I would definitely call a vet out and look into it, if it is uncomfortable to ride Actually, I eventually got another horse for hard work, b/c my *Cougher* can not be worked hard certain months.
Member:
Cmitch

Posted on Monday, Feb 14, 2005 - 7:26 pm:

also, it is important to call a vet out b/c mine always coughed, and when he got the infection I didn't notice b/c he always coughed a lot(because mucous/bacteria is sitting around more b/c of the allergy, so these guys are more likely to get lung infections that can be pretty serious). I think if you continue to work him with a conistent cough, you can run into the same problem I did. Stressing compromised lungs and possible lung infections.
Member:
Nadia

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005 - 9:01 am:

He did have a lung infection 3 years ago (yellow mucous came up). He was treated with Azium and it cleared up. I would say he has the cough when:
1 - there is a change in hay (I'm not a hay expert, but seem to notice when it is more grassy than alfalfa). Hay can be given indoors or out.
2 - in cold weather, when I am working him in a damp and cold arena
3 - first few weeks in early spring

It is off and on at other times, but doesn't usually last more than a day or so. I'm not sure what roaring is - I've heard the term, but don't know if that is what he is doing when he coughs. Sometimes when he coughs, he DrOps his head down low and tries to cough deeply. It sounds sort of painful or at least really trying to cough hard.

I haven't seen any mucous nor has he coughed much (only a few times) since my earlier post. I suspect it is hay or plant allergans.

If the cough didn't go away so fast, I would call out the vet. I know he'll get his spring allergies soon. The vet will be out for spring shots then, so I'll mention it then.

Thanks for your information!
Member:
Cmitch

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005 - 1:10 pm:

Hummm, I wonder why they gave you Azium to clear up an infection. I thought Azium was a steroid, that would help with inflammation, but if it was in fact an infection, he would have needed antibiotics? If, in fact, he did have an infection that was never taken care of, he coud also have something called "Reactive Airway Disease". I would tell the vet about his cough, and have her listen to his lungs at rest and while working. A "roarer" is when a flap of skin does not contract in their throat somewhere, and when under heavy excercise, they make a noise, or sound like they are breathing really heavy (which is what mine does). If your guy is allergic to hay, you can get Grass Fourage from Southern States, which does not have the irritation that normal hay has, and you just put it in a bucket. it is really good for them, and if that is the problem, it should clear right up. When they are allergic to stuff outside, like mine, it is much tougher. I never did the whole allergy testing, b/c just wasn't sure how effective it was..... Good Luck, and let me know if you have any ?'s

Cindy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005 - 6:13 pm:

Cindy has hit the nail on the head here with the history of improvment following the use of Azium: this was not an infection but an allergy and she has accurately id the most common cause. The article I reference above explains all this in detail.
DrO
Member:
Nadia

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005 - 6:22 pm:

Sorry, I should have went into more detail. He was given SMZ at that time - I think for 10 days. Then the Azium was started to keep the allergy symptoms down. Of course, he is a picky eater and hates that powder. I ran out of Azium awhile back. I probably should try to keep some on hand, just hate calling out a vet for his infrequent bouts.

Thanks.
Member:
Cmitch

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005 - 7:33 pm:

Well, good luck, anyway. I just always kicked myself for "ignoring" the cough, and chalking it up to allergies, yet didn't make any changes (like eliminating hay etc etc) and continuing work as normal. I think by making him work hard, while he was doing all that coughing during one of his seasonal "bouts", I did a lot more harm than good. After they get a serious lung infection (if yours in fact completely cleared up from 1 week of SMZ, it was probably not that bad and you caught it early enough), it is *really* hard to clear it out--It really took 6-9 months of HEAVY antibiotics and inhalers using an Aeormask. One of the theories that was run by me about my horse was that he had a mild infection that was never fully taken care of and lay dormat but irritating to him--she called it "Reactive Airway Disease", so all my advice is to be careful, listen to your horse, and if it seems like he is struggling, don't push him throuhg it. Stay in touch! Try the grass fourage!!
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