My horse is coughing

[swalker]

My horse is coughing any suggestions what it could be?

[Flyer Fighter]

it could be dust, his shavings or it could be something else all together

[MistyFawn666]

How old is the horse? It could be heaves. Heaves happens to older horses when you put too much presure on them, like riding up steep hills, or galloping them. Heaves can be remedied by supplements and a lighter work load. Dusty hay can also be the cause of heaves. You do not and should not need to retire the horse completely, but don't run the crumbs out of it either. My Misty had heaves, but she went really good until about 2 years before she died and she was over twenty.

[Cavalier]

Horses can cough for many different reasons.

Is the horse coughing when you are riding him or just out in the pasture?

Is it dry and dusty where you are, or do you ride in a sand arena that was very dry? Dust will cause horses to cough.

Has there been a cold snap in the weather recently? Does the horse have a runny nose or cold like symptoms?

The horse could have a virus. If he is coughing when you are riding him and it isn't at all dusty, then cease riding immediately and get a vet out. Bacteria causing virus can invade the lungs during work. Horses inhale so much air into their lungs when worked and if a virus is present, the lungs are exposed to large amounts of bacteria and dust particles.

Different sounding coughs mean different things and i've come to know that. I have cough syrup in my 1st aid kit which I give to the horses if they have a slight cough caused by dust or a minor cold...though anything serious and I would get a vet out.

[AutumnAttic]

There is a cold that goes around my barn every once in a while. If it doesnt get any worse, then wait about a week or 2, and if it doesnt go away then call a vet. Wetting down its hay can help too.

[Ceilidh]

More information would be helpful. Coughs have many causes. Could be something you need to worry about, could be nothing more than a simple cough.

My vet usually prescribes sputolosin (sp) and that clears it up nicely. You should have your vet out especially if there are other symptoms - lethargy, lack of appetite, fever, dullness of attitude etc.