Illness?

Question
On Tuesday evening, we brought home an 8 year old mare, along with a 6 year old gelding.  Both horses had been together on the same ranch in south Texas for the past several years.

Both appear to be in outstanding health, hooves, teeth look good, they are plenty heavy, with a very good fat cover on them.

However, On Wednesday morning, when I went out to the barn to check on them, the mare had a little bit of a runny nose.

This morning, though, it's more yellow, and thicker-looking mucos from her nostrile, mostly the right one.

The gelding doesn't appear to have a runny nose.

I have my vet scheduled to come to my house on the 29th, to do Coggins tests on my 2 other mares, and palpate 1 of those mares, as she has recently been exposed.

The horse in questions still has a great appetite, and is drinking plenty of water.

I have kept the 2 new horses somewhat separated from my other 2, but they can still have contact at the fence.

I'm a fairly new horse owner, and don't know if I should "jump the gun", and get my vet here right away or wait until my scheduled 29th visit.

The 2 mares I already had, have been vaccinated for everything under the sun, within the last 6 months.

However, when we picked up the 2 new ones, I asked the guy about vaccinations, and he assured me they had had them, but didn't recall when.

He also has not given me the papers or coggins report, but is due to hand those over this Tuesday.

What should I do about this mare with the "snotty" nose?

Thanks, and sorry I made this so long.

Answer
Pam,

You don't say if you have taken the horse's temp but I would do that.  If there's no temp and horse continues to eat I would just wait until the vet gets there but do try to keep them separate from your other horses.  I wouldn't put them out in a pen where they can contact over the fence.  You don't say where you picked them up from.  If it was an auction the horse probably has picked up a little virus from the grounds.  That's not really important.  Just remember that any time you bring a new horse onto your property that you don't know anything about you want to keep it quarantined and away from all contact with any of your other horses until you are sure it's not carrying anything.  

This just sounds like some little rhino virus, akin to cold viruses in humans.  Not really a big deal, just something they have to get over.  If your other horses have been vaccinated for everything I really don't see where you have a lot to worry about.  Just keep an eye on the new ones.  If the other horse starts exhibiting the same signs temp it too.  Horses can get exposed to something that doesn't bother the other horses who have already build up immunity to it but does bother them until their immune system gets up and running.  If the horse gets worse, stops eating/and or drinking or runs a temp then I would get the vet out before the scheduled date. Otherwise just keep the nose cleaned up as best as possible and let the horse settle in.   

Think of them as kind of like kids going to a new school, or other place where they meet new kids.  Invariably they pick up something.  You shouldn't see anything like this in a stable group because they will have all developed immunity to their enviromental "germs" which don't bother them but will hit new horses.  So, once this is cleared up then you can introduce the newbies to your other horses.  Until then, keep them separate.  

Lyn