Coughing!! Please Help!!!

Question

I have an 8yo paint who is an awesome horse! He's never gotten sick or lame. But today i was riding him and i walked him twice around the arena and cantered him once and started to run barrels. I took him once through (i am training him) and then the second time i took him he started to cough! So i walked him a little and he was fine and as soon as i started to trot he started again! So i took the bridle off because i thot it had something to do with that and he still did it! So i thot the girth was too tight so i lusened it and he still coughed so i rode him bareback and he still would cough! But i noticed that it was only when i would trot/canter. Also he had some snot coming out of his nose so i thot maybe he has a little cold.

Could you tell me what you think and what i should do!?!?!

Answer 1

OMG i have this sammeee problem right now!! well its not really a good thing so yeh. umm..  well my pony has green snot coming out of his nose and he only coughs when we trot/canter. my boss said it was mainly allergies and dont worry about it. but in my case i am calling the vet out no matter what my boss says. so if i were you i would call the vet out. just make sure that your horse isnt running a fever. so i would check his temp. and then when you call the vet i would tell them what the temp. is.. they always want to know what it is!!!! i hope i helped and good luck! i am in the same situation too!! i hope that makes you feel a little better!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

I have had two horses that coughed. One had emphysema and we treated him for months. I eventually had to have him euthanized because there was nothing else they could do for him. I have ahorse now that is 18 years old and he has a cough from COPD. Whenever I advise someone to call their vet, I always give them a good reason to do so. Coughing is a good reason

Answer 3

Having time off wouldn't have started it but perhaps have u been wetting his hay before u feed him, i had similar problems with my horse and it was because he had allergies to the dust in the hay.

Try soaking your hay before you feed him for bout 2 days to see if that helps =)

Answer 4

it cud b a little cold or maybe the dust got to his throat, keep an eye on it and if he still keeps gettin a cough but seems ok in his self then he might have a resperation problem i carnt think of the exact name but it causes a cough when the horse is being ridden. Things like dry hay(try soaking it!) and dry, dusty atmospheres can cause a cough well all sorts of things can cause it! so your best bet is to keep an eye on it dont do too much hard riding and if it gets worse or no better in a week or so i would get the vet to check it out!hopefully its just a little cold or something! goodluck

Answer 5

I would say he has a cold because of the snot that was coming out of his nose.

If it isn't a cold then I would say it could be his shavings or hay. The shavings could be very dusty and the dust could be going into his lungs, or the hay is dry/dusty as well.

Answer 6

you should leave him for a few days  and see how he goes

Answer 7

That happened to my horse..it only lasted one day though. I would considering having a vet come look at him. =]

Answer 8

It could have something to do with his lungs.Maybe he was out winded.I think that is what is is called.Since it only happened when you ran him.

Answer 9

Call the vet he most likely has a cold or flu but in the meantime put some garlic in his food, should help him a bit.

Answer 10

There is a few things it could be.  Could be the flu, maybe a infected tooth or the start of heaves.  First thing is to check his temp, ask somebody at the barn to help you.  Runny nose is not good especially if it is not clear.  Horses can get bacterial infections from alot of things and other horses.  The only way to get rid of it is antibotics.  The longer they are sick the more money it will cost.  I have never seen allergies cause a colored mucus come from there nose, that is usually clear.  Call a vet and have him come and check it out.  I wouldn't ride him till the vet comes out.  Hope he feels better.  

Answer 11

You should probably get a vet to check him out for sure.

Answer 12

It sounds like it could be the beginning of an upper respritory infection.  A horse that is stabled at the barn where I work just came down with something like this about a month ago.  Actually, we sent her to a vet's to get inseminated and she came back sick and not pregnant.  She too seemed to cough a lot and had a runny nose.  Anyway, she's been on antiobiotics for a couple weeks.  Contact your vet and have them come look at your horse, he probably needs medicine.  If he is sick and not treated it could turn to pnemonia or something to that effect.

Answer 13

He could have inflamtion.

Sounds a little worse then a cold.

But it sounds like something the vet needs to give him.

Hope he will be ok, i love paints! and he does sound like an awesome horse.

Answer 14

my hunter jumper had the same problem. whenever we would canter her she would cough so much that she could even canter anymore. we took her to the vet and they gave us powdered iodine. and most likely, just like in hr case, he is alergic to dust. yes it sounds weird but its true. last year at a show my mare stopped breathing cuz she had too much dust around her. so get ot the vet

Answer 15

he is FINE he is just clearing his airways for exersize ALL horses SHOULD do it if warmed up proplery.