Why Do Horses Cough?

Any horse will cough occasionally, particularly if he catches a noseful of dusty air or gets a bit of debris in his airways while he’s eating or drinking. In that context, coughing in horses is just a normal sign of a healthy airway keeping itself clean.

Is it normal for horses to cough?

If your horse coughs occasionally, there is normally nothing to worry about. This is a perfectly natural way of keeping their airways clean from dust or small debris. Some coughs, however, may be an early sign of an inflammatory condition that deserves prompt action.

How do you treat a horse with a cough?

Recovery and Management of Coughing in Horses

1. Wetting down hay to minimize dust intake.
2. Reducing the time your horse stays in the stall (where there is low air flow)
3. Stalling your horse near a door or window to ensure good ventilation and fresh air.
4. Using shavings that are not dusty, or water them down as needed.

When should I worry about my horse’s cough?

Dr Westermann is very clear about when coughing does form a cause for concern: ‘If your horse is not only coughing but also stops eating, is lethargic and/or has a fever, be sure to contact your vet. If a watery discharge comes out when the horse coughs, it will be flu or another viral infection.

Why is my horse suddenly coughing?

The most likely causes of a cough in an adult horse are viral respiratory tract infection, pharyngitis, an allergic respiratory disease (RAO or SPAOPD), pneumonia, IAD, and EIPH. With the threat of all of these illnesses, you should always consult your veterinarian if your horse develops a cough.

What does a dry horse cough mean?

A dry cough, without any mucus production, is usually caused by a virus, such as influenza, or an allergy. This type of cough is generally due to inflammation in the upper airways. Examples include laryngitis or tracheitis. A dry cough may precede a wet cough.

Do horses cough when they have worms?

Because these worms can migrate to the lungs, infected horses may show signs of respiratory disease such as cough or nasal discharge.

How long does a horse cough last?

“The inflammation from an infection, particularly a bad bacterial one, can take weeks or months to resolve,” says Derksen.

What worms make a horse cough?

Lungworm is an infection of the lower respiratory tract in horses, usually resulting in bronchitis or pneumonia, caused by the parasitic roundworm Dictyocaulus arnfieldi. The infection can cause severe coughing in horses and can be difficult to distinguish from other respiratory diseases.

Can dusty hay make a horse cough?

Environmental causes include dust, mould or spores from hay or bedding, which get into the lungs and cause inflammation in the lower airways, leading to coughs or causing irritation that allows infections to set in.

What are the first signs of strangles in horses?

What are the clinical signs of strangles? The incubation period for strangles is 3 to 8 days, at which point clinical signs, including lethargy, anorexia, fever, nasal discharge, and swollen lymph nodes with abscess formation may appear.

Why does my horse cough in the winter?

Winter coughs in horses who are stabled is usually down to dust particles and fungal spores being inhaled into the lungs, triggering an inflammation and increase in mucus production.

What are 3 signs that might indicate to you that a horse might be suffering from illness?

Signs of poor health and horses

• change in appetite or drinking habits.
• change in droppings or signs of diarrhoea.
• change in demeanour or behaviour.
• change in weight (either increase or decrease)
• change in coat/foot condition.

How often should a horse cough?

How frequent is the cough? “If the horse typically coughs two or three times when you start longeing or riding him and then quits, it’s likely not serious,” says Blair. “More concerning would be a cough that is persistent or very deep.”

Can allergies in horses cause coughing?

“Horses pastured near fields where crops are harvested may be exposed to the dust generated by the combine harvesting crops.” Horses affected by these allergies may develop signs like coughing or increased breathing efforts within a few days of exposure to the dust or allergens and may show impaired performance.

What is a heart cough?

It’s a type of coughing or wheezing that occurs with left heart failure. Depending on how severe the symptoms are, this wheezing can be a medical emergency. Heart failure can cause fluid to build up in the lungs (pulmonary edema) and in and around the airways.

What is the root cause of dry cough?

A persistent dry cough can be caused from a upper respiratory infection or bronchitis. Other common causes for a dry throat cough include asthma, smoking, or viral throat infection. Viral pneumonia and COPD are less common causes of dry cough. Read below for more information on causes and how to treat dry cough.

Is a horse cough contagious?

Because coughing horses aerosolize the virus, equine influenza is very contagious.

What are the signs of worms in horses?

Symptoms of worm infections in horses

• Weight loss.
• Colic.
• Diarrhea or constipation.
• Rough hair coat.
• Poor growth in foals.
• Respiratory problems. (nasal discharge, cough)

What parasite causes chronic cough in horses?

Lungworms (Dictyocaulus arnfieldi)
Lungworms prevail in pastures shared with donkeys – the lungworm’s natural host. These worms cause persistent coughing in horses as respiratory problems develop.

How often should you deworm a horse?

Most horses only need to be dewormed once or twice a year. Before deworming in the spring, we recommend having a fecal egg count (FEC) done. This procedure allows us to measure the number of worm eggs a horse is shedding in its feces.