Pony coughing after turnout.

[alwaysfallingof]

Pony is doing something very strange...

Max has slight COPD, which causes nothing more than a slight cough once or twice at the beginning of excercise, and has been in 24/7 all winter with no ill effects.

A week and a half ago, I moved him to a yard with night turnout, and about a week ago he went out at night for the first time. (This was first time for about 2 years, because he only ever used to be out during the day)

He was brought in the next morning, and when I went to see him he had quite a chesty, mucousy cough that occured when I was grooming him, and seemed a bit down. I thought he could just be feeling tired and bloated from all the grass, so gave him a day off and kept him in the next night. In the morning, he was fine again with no signs of a cough.

Next night, out again, came in with a cough
Kept in for 2 days off work, immediately fine
Turned out, came in coughing
Kept in, fine

He's really got me baffled, I can't for the life of me think what could be causing it. If he's still coughing today I'm going to get the vet out, but can anyone shed *any* light on it? The whole yard is at a loss!
:rolleyes: strange pony :rolleyes:

[Jessey]

When kept in do you feed him at ground level or is his hay in a net or feed in a manger?
It could be (if normally fed from chest height) that where he has had his head down eating grass it has restarted the natural process of draining his lungs/airways and until this is in full swing he may cough a little to help things along.
Horses aren't very good at clearing their lungs just by coughing which is why its best to feed at ground level as it allows the natural process of draining to take place.
I hope its nothing to bad and you get it sorted soon.

J

[alwaysfallingof]

Oops, yes forgot to mention.
He's always been fed haylage or very well soaked hay at ground level.

Another thing I noticed is that he's been very itchy lately. I'd assumed that it was just because of him losing his winter coat, but he's been itching his head, and sometimes turning around and biting at his sides. Could he be inhaling hair (either his own, or from grooming other moulting ponies in the field) and this is making him cough?? :(

[Jessey]

turning around and biting at his sides. Could he be inhaling hair (either his own, or from grooming other moulting ponies in the field) and this is making him cough??

Don't see why it couldn't be this :rolleyes: I know how much it make me cough just to groom them and thats not with my teeth :D Have you checked him for lice? it probably is just where hes moulting but lice seem to be rampant this year :(

J

[alwaysfallingof]

Would having lice make him cough? How can I check for them?

[Jessey]

The lice wouldn't make him cough but they would make him itchy, hence nibbling his itchy bits and getting hair in his mouth/nose possibly to make him cough.

J

[alwaysfallingof]

Gotcha :cool:
Thanks for the help, I think I'm just going to keep him out, and see what happens. The people at the yard have all just told me to ignore it!

[Jessey]

Personnaly, I probably would just ignor it aswell, if he's been stuck in for a while it could take a few weeks to get used to all the spores and pollens in the grass, I would just keep an eye on him and see how you go, keep an eye out for any odd coloured mucas or anything etc.

J

[alwaysfallingof]

Cheers Jessey :)

[notpoodle]

is there someone at the yard using the same vet as you? maybe you could find out when someone else has the vet out anyway anfd ask vet to have a look at max?

julia
x

[alwaysfallingof]

I don't really know what vets people use at the new yard, but it's a great idea - I'll ask around and see if anyone's getting him up. :)