| Coughs in horses are usually due to allergic reactions | | | | allergens include mould spores, pollen and mites. It is the |
| to stable dust, mites, mould and pollen. Horses with | | | | smaller dust particles that are the most dangerous as |
| allergic coughs run out of breath, lose appetite and | | | | they are easily inhaled into the respiratory tract and |
| condition in the same way as a horse with a viral | | | | affect the lower airways. |
| infection. It is often difficult to treat a long-term irritable | | | | Much advice is given on damping down bedding to |
| cough; antibiotics have little effect because the viruses | | | | stop dust and to the wetting or soaking of hay, but |
| and micro-organisms causing the problem are not very | | | | that in itself can cause mould problems. Wet hay left |
| sensitive to these drugs. | | | | to putrefy can cause an even greater problem than |
| One of the best ways of tackling coughing horses is | | | | feeding dry hay. Some horses need their hay wet as |
| to assess stable management, not just the hay you | | | | they cough as soon as the hay is fed dry. If the hay is |
| are feeding which should be of good quality, but also | | | | to be soaked it is very important to let it drain off |
| the bedding. Sometimes it is not possible to allow the | | | | before importing it into the stable. It is also important to |
| horse to live outside although this often helps to | | | | dispose of any leftover hay on a daily basis and |
| alleviate the symptoms. The allergic root cause needs | | | | remove any damp hay that has dropped into the |
| to be overcome and a thorough examination of the | | | | bedding. I have witnessed stables with a distinctive |
| horses surroundings addressed. | | | | musty smell around the hay net area and a confused |
| Choose dust and mould-free bedding with good depth | | | | owner wondering why the horse is coughing when the |
| for comfort and support. Bedding needs to be cleaned | | | | hay is so meticulously wet each day! The importance |
| daily, should be absorbent and easy to dispose of. | | | | of providing good quality hay needs to be stressed. |
| Though cost and availability may play a part, the | | | | Inferior, dusty hay will have little or no nutritional value |
| serious health problems associated with poor bedding | | | | and if you cannot obtain good hay, substitute with a |
| may prove to be even more expensive than paying | | | | dust free alternative. |
| for good quality bedding. Good stable ventilation and | | | | Cleaning your horses stable thoroughly, including |
| effective drainage are of equal importance as is | | | | removing all wet bedding and replacing with fresh |
| choosing a good quality horse bedding. Your horse | | | | bedding, should be done at least once a day. While you |
| depends on his lungs and so do you; give yourselves | | | | are cleaning out, it is much better to remove the horse |
| the clean air you deserve. | | | | from the stable so that it is not subjected to the |
| Horses kept out at grass have a lower risk of | | | | activity where dust and spores become airborne. |
| respiratory problems than the stabled horse. Field fungi | | | | Ammonia from the horses urine and faeces is |
| spores from crops grown in the open are normally | | | | released into the air by the action of bacteria |
| large and do not usually affect the lower airways of | | | | degrading organic matter. It inhibits the ability of the |
| the horse. The mould spores that are more dangerous | | | | defence mechanisms in the airways to remove |
| are small and the highest exposure to them is in the | | | | particles from the lungs and increases the production |
| stable. The high moisture from the horses excrement | | | | of mucus. This is another good reason to skip out |
| reacts with fungi in the bedding and causes heat. | | | | regularly and remove all wet areas daily. Good quality, |
| These moulds thrive and multiply in the high moisture | | | | absorbent bedding will help to eliminate the ammonia |
| combined with the warmth. Because the spores from | | | | and will create less dust. If you need to damp the |
| the moulds are very small they are easily inhaled into | | | | bedding, use only a quick fine spray. |
| the lungs causing respiratory problems such as | | | | Caring for your horse will enhance it's well-being, quality |
| coughing, wheezing and long-term allergic reactions. | | | | of life and performance. If a case of coughing persists |
| Dust may also be an irritant to the horse and cause | | | | in the horse seek veterinary advice. |
| respiratory problems and allergies; other sources of | | | | |