Help... Foxys coughing

[colouredcrazy]

Hi there,

Foxys developed a really dry, raspy cough. We're going to get the vet out on Monday (its the soonest they can come out), but is there anything we can do in the meantime? We're damping his feeds, we're soaking his hay, and he's already on shavings, allthough we're going to wash out his stable tomorrow to get rid of excess dust. Please, please, is there anything else I can do? I'm really worried about him :(. I'm terrified that there's going to be something seriously wrong with him :(.

Ellie

[nutkin]

Firstly if he is coughing does he seem ill or lethargic in any way? secondly does he have any discharge from his nose. If he has a clear or white discharge this would most likely be an allergy whereas if the discharge is green or yellow this would point towards infection. If it is an allergy then he may be better off living out. My horse suffers with mild copd and lives out 24/7. He has haylage rather than hay as this tends to be more moist anyway and ours is dust free. If he has to come in over winter I use dust extracted shavings rather than normal shavings which can be more dusty than straw. Another option would be to put in rubber matting which would reduce significantly the amount of bedding you would need. If you soak his hay then ideally it needs soaking at least overnight to remove any harmful dust or mould spores.