At 08:56:34 on 03.10.09, HorseVet wrote:
I'm not sure I go with the teeth theory! It is far more likely that if the ground is dusty it is simply the close proximity of the nose to the ground when eating that will increase dust going into the system and cause a cough. Unless your horse is struggling to breathe I would stop the ventipulmin. It opens up the airways in the lungs and allows the dust to go further in .... I don't see the benefit of that. Has your horse been recently vaccinated? That can result in respiratory symptoms too. It will also depend on the amount of coughing as to whether I would be concerned. If it's an odd cough here and there then I wouldn't think it is abnormal in dusty conditions. If your horse is continually coughing and off colour then there's a problem. Global Herbs do a variety of products to help with lungs according to symptoms. Best wishes HorseVet
http://www.naturalhealingsolutions.co.uk

At 18:22:10 on 24.10.09, Angelalain wrote:
JUst to update. Chester was scoped last week, with no obvious problems. His lungs still sound a little crackly as he breathes in, but not as he breathes out. All the vet concluded was he has very low grade copd. He is definitely coughing less now we've had some rain. I rode him today for the first time in about a month and he didn't cough once (only walked and trotted) I've decobwebbed and dusted, always soak everything, and we'll see how we go!

At 17:26:53 on 30.10.09, Angelalain wrote:
Further update. After the scoped samples went to the lab they decided he has a bacterial infection! Whoopee! At least its something we can treat! He's now on Baytril, but he's been so much better since it rained anyhow!

At 19:53:47 on 02.11.09, Angelalain wrote:
The vet phoned me today. Apparently the infection he has is something like those that people get in hospital, and can be very hard to treat! Oh I am Impressed!!! They want to continue his baytril for a longer period, which is a real drag, because its liquid and they want me to syringe it down him. He's 15.2 and I'm 5ft! Not simple, unfortunately my daughter is on holiday for a week cos she'd have less trouble than me!! He does seem alot better, and I've ridden him 4 times last week and he never coughed at all.

At 15:39:00 on 15.02.10, Angelalain wrote:
Whatever the old boy had, its gone! So its not copd, it must have been some sort of infection, he had two lots of antibiotics and was still coughing a bit, then it snowed and we did nothing for 6 weeks. It occurred to me after the first 3 weeks that I hadn't heard him cough. We've now started riding again and he's still not coughed, brill! Hopefully he'll be back competing thei Spring.