All of us Horse lovers, sooner or later, wonder what is the cause of their cough and whether we need to worry about it.
It is time to shed light, once and for all, on this phenomenon, unfortunately, underestimated by many.
Why does your Horse cough? How can you really help him?
We asked Stephanie Davis, Veterinarian, Horse lover and Molecular Biology specialist.
Let’s start by saying that a healthy Horse rarely coughs.
Which means that if your Horse is constantly coughing, it is a good idea to consult your trusted Veterinarian.
What are main causes?
In the vast majority of cases, the cough is caused by:
- Respiratory tract infections;
- Pharyngitis;
- Respiratory diseases of allergic character;
- Pneumonia.
What pointers do you need to give your veterinarian to help with the diagnosis?
Take note of the times or situations when your Horse coughs most frequently (for example, during exercise or after eating).
From this simple, yet important, information, your Veterinarian will be able to get an initial idea of the possible cause and conduct the rest of the diagnostic work more quickly.
What can you do to prevent and relieve cough?
If your Horse has no fever or nasal discharge and the cough persists even in the absence of physical exertion, it is very likely, as in the vast majority of cases, that he is suffering from an allergic respiratory disease.
In this case, the main clues are dust and/or mold spores present in the environment in which your Horse lives and, most likely, in the hay on which he feeds.
The most effective method of eliminating and preventing the onset of cough is, therefore, steaming the hay in order to purify it of any allergens.
Only in this way can you be sure that your Horse’s feeding does not adversely affect his airway.
Some recommend purifying hay with the soaking technique but, not only is this technique not 100% effective but:
- It makes hay unappealing and reduces its nutritional values;
- It does not eliminate spores; in fact, it helps to create an environment in the hay that lends itself precisely to their development;
- It increases the bacterial content;
- Produces a toxic post-amnesty fluid;
- It requires the use of a large amount of water and long and laborious processes.
If your Horse suffers from a frequent cough or if you want to avoid this unpleasant situation, always purify his hay with steam-it is a simple solution to an unfortunately common problem and your horse will thank you for it.
