cough

Question
QUESTION: Hi, my 25 yr. gelding QH has developed a cough this winter.  Sometimes occurs a few times at start of riding (cold and snowy here in Canada) and sometimes in morning he coughs out couple gobs of white phlegm.  He's good weight and health overall.  Outdoors all day with round bale of hay and indoors at night with hay flakes and grain - no water.  Water available only outside all day.  I considered watering his hay and grain but concerned that it will freeze by the time he gets to it at night - unheated barn -   I am boarding at someone's farm so she will not change any feeding regimes...but I'm just hoping this cough isn't anything to worry about?  Is walking and bit of trotting good for him...I stop when he needs to cough.  Thanks for your advice.

ANSWER: Dear Lori,

If this cough is new then I think you are right to be worried and to try and figure out the cause. Does your horse blow his nose after he coughs and what type of cough is it wet or dry?  I used to have an older horse who also would cough at the start of rides and I was informed that as long as he blew his nose afterwards it was likely just him clearing his pipes so to speak.  It sounds as though your horse is otherwise bright and healthy but he may be getting a cold and I would advice tasking his temperature and watching him to make sure it doesn't develop into something else.  You should have your vet look him over if it progresses or you continue to be concerned.  I think walking and trotting are good if he is sound and able to do the work.  Does he wheeze when he trots cough and then sound better or is he fine and then just has a quick cough and carries on?  Also do you ride him in the morning after he has been inside all night without water or later in the day once he's been outside?  Another thing to consider is ammonia in his environment.  Does his barn smell of ammonia (urine)? If so this can negatively impact respiratory health and you should find a way to reduce the ammonia and increase ventilation in the barn.

I am very worried about the fact that you horse has no access to water all night.  Horses MUST have access to clean water at all times.  You are severally increasing his risk of an impaction colic especially in cold weather when their overall water intake tens to be lower anyway.  In addition he will not have as much body fluid to create saliva which buffers stomach acid so you may also increase his risk of gastric ulcers.  It sounds like the issue indoors is that the water will freeze?  You can buy bucket heaters that will prevent this but if you have no electricity then put a tennis ball in the bucket so that the water keeps moving so it won't freeze.  Place shavings or straw under and around the bucket to help insulate and use a rubber bucket.

Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Best wishes,

Clair Thunes, PhD.
Independent Equine Nutritionist,
Equilibrate Equine Consulting,
info@equilibrateequine.com
www.equilibrateequine.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your speedy reply and tomorrow morning I am heading out to the farm to set up a water pail with a tennis ball for his overnight stay in the barn...that's a great idea to stop freezing!  I never thought of that before.   In answer to your questions, his cough is dry and only once I saw a gob of white phlegm fly out his mouth during a cough.  I don't remember if he blows his nose after a cough.  There is no mucus from his nose.  He doesn't wheeze at all.  He has a couple of good dry coughs, like something is in his throat with a little toss of his head, and then that's it.  In the morning I send him outside for water and hay / grain while I clean stall then we ride.  I try to get all the pee out of stall to keep it smelling fresh.  So does this still sound okay?  Is it just a winter cold or is it heaves / colic??
Thanks for your advice!

ANSWER: Lori,

Let me know if the tennis ball works for you!  If he had heaves it would be like having asthma which isn't what you are describing, and colic is like stomach ache. He may have a mild cold or upper respiratory tract infection but it sounds like your gut instincts are good.  Keep your eyes on him use good judgment and let him tell you what he is capable of doing.  If in doubt take his temperature and make sure it is normal.  You may want to feed him a good all around supplement to help make sure his immune system is in good order, especially as older horses do not digest things as well as younger horses.  Something like Select II, Grand Meadows Grand Vite or Accel would do the trick.

Let me know how it goes,
Clair

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, no, the tennis ball in water pail froze rock solid overnight in his stall, so that won't work - we're at minus 20 - 30 in winter here...and the owner won't set up water heaters for every single horse stall...so I'm watering his hay and grain instead.  The grain tends to freeze too. I feed him extra bran / vitamins / senior grain ration and oats, so he's very healthy...we rode over an hour yesterday in the snow and he coughed and blew his nose sometimes but seemed better the more we rode - so I'm not quite so worried.  thanks!

Answer
Lori,

Too had about the tennis ball.  You might wantt o feed him some flax.  Flax has a substance called mucilage in it which creates a slime when it is wet.  It will help lubricate his intestines and will help to prevent compaction colic.  You might also want to add table salt to his grain (a couple of table spoons) as this will stimulate him to drink.  If he gets grain in the morning that would be best as then he will drink more during the day.  Be sure to check him for dehydration by taking a pinch worth of skin on his neck and timing how quickly it returns to flat.  It it takes longer than I think its 30 seconds he is dehydrated and you need to call your vet who will give him IV fluids.  This is not to be messed around with because again dehydration can increase the risk of compaction colic.  By the time they show positive to this test they are quite dehydrated already.

Try to stay as warm as possible in that freezing weather!

Clair