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Discussion on Management dilemma
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Member:
Imogen
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 - 6:44 am:
I have 8 horses together in a pasture including 2 foals. One of the mares has, since getting her annual flu vaccination 10 days ago, for the last 5 days had a cough producing small amounts of clear material but no fever and no runny nose.
Do I leave it and hope for the best? There has been no outside contact for these horses apart from this mare going to get her vaccination recently, or do I separate and stable this mare and her large, about to be weaned foal, and get the vet?
Any advice much appreciated.
Imogen
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Member:
Imogen
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 - 9:33 am:
I forgot to say none of the others are showing any symptoms at all, including this mare's foal. If it were an infection I would expect to be hearing some of the others coughing by now. The grass is good at the moment, it's not too dusty, and I can't find a good explanation why the mare is coughing.
Thanks, Imogen
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 - 9:37 am:
Where did she go to get her vaccine Imogen? I agree, with the cough already present for several days, everyone has probably been exposed.
DrO
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 - 9:45 am:
Is she coughing more after running around? Is the cough sound like it's coming from deep down, chesty, like she wants to cough up flem in her lungs? Or just a dry hacky kind of cough?
Usually, if the drainage from her nose is clear, there isn't an infection, going from my experience at least. IMO, if there was anything communicable the other horses have already been exposed, and shutting the mare up might worsen her cough. However, I'm obviously no vet so wait and see what Dr. O has to say.
btw, Imogen, how are you feeling these days? I hope no lingering problems from your illness?
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Member:
Imogen
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 - 6:02 pm:
Hi Sara and Dr O
It's single, dry-sounding coughs about every ten minutes, small amounts of clear liquid spray from the mouth but no nasal discharge and nothing infected looking apparently from the mouth. However she manages some serious wind-breaking in concert with some of the coughs! I don't think she has any secondary infection yet, temp is normal.
I took the mare and foal up to the vet's which is a trailer ride of about 45 minutes on two successive Fridays (not my plan!) because the first Friday they were too busy to do all the routine jobs so they just checked the foal's mysterious flip-up foot and did the mare's vaccination because it was about to expire (Duvaxyn flu and tetanus only).
The following week they microchipped and marked the foal for her passport. I was going to get her teeth done too but the vet who specialises in teeth had done his back in, poor man, so that one got postponed too, probably a good thing in hindsight.
No horses in the vets' yard were coughing that I heard. My two were in their trailer, then being examined for 10-15 minutes in the exam room, then back to the trailer, no direct contact with any other horse there.
My main concern apart from infection (probably too late) is that this mare is the boss horse and does a lot of bossing of the other seven in the field and protecting of her foal, which means she is not getting rest to recover. She is not getting worse but no improvement either. Her foal seems fine, it was playing away tonight and presumably it would be likely to be the first to catch it if it is an infection.
Thanks for asking about my health too, Sara - it's a year since I was in the hospital paralysed from the waist down. I am 95% better but unfortunately still have muscle wastage in the side of one hip and one calf which means if something goes wrong pushing me to the left then I'm lying on the ground looking up at the horse in suprise before you know it! Pleasant Sunday afternoon riding is no problem, but I don't know if I'll ever be out hunting again...
Best wishes
Imogen
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Aug 12, 2005 - 9:44 am:
She may have picked up a bug at the hospital. Coughs like this may go on for 3 or 4 weeks Imogen, I would just be patient and watch for any worsening of symptoms.
DrO
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Member:
Imogen
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Posted on Friday, Aug 12, 2005 - 2:56 pm:
Thanks for the advice!
Imogen
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Friday, Aug 12, 2005 - 4:58 pm:
Well, Imogen, I won't comment on people that dash madly over hill, dale and fences! Somethng I have no inclination to do tho' I've been told it's lots of fun. I'm gad you've recovered enough to at least be able to enjoy light riding again. If I recall right, you were concerned you'd never ride again. Hopefully in the future you'll regain your strength in your side. Are you doing any therapy for it?
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