Why is my horse coughing?

Caring for our horses’ health and ensuring their overall wellbeing is hot topic of conversation amongst our Horse Insurance team here at SEIB. As horse owners, we are always vigilant about spotting when our equine friends aren’t feeling at their best. Spotting anything amiss quickly with our horses can ensure ailments are managed effectively and that our horses are back to peak health and wellbeing quickly.

As with humans, an equine developing a cough can indicate a number of potential illnesses and ailments. There are a number of reasons why a horse or pony could begin coughing:

Environmental – our horses’ environments are constantly changing – the weather, pollen levels, stable ventilation and dry hay are all things that could affect our horses’ respiratory system and result in a cough.

• We can manage some variables in our equines’ environments such as soaking or steaming dry hay and adapting stabling to improve ventilation through putting back windows into stables to improve airflow.
• Routine can play a key part in contending with bad weather and varying pollen levels. Some horses can benefit from being stabled at different times of the day depending on the season or pollen levels.

Infections – Horses can develop a cough due to either viral or bacterial infections.

• Indications of a Viral infection can include a cough, a fever, nasal discharge and lethargy. Viral infections can include equine influenza – one of the most common, and contagious, respiratory diseases in horses.
• Bacterial infections in equines are often serious; they can include thick nasal discharge, swollen glands, or difficulty breathing. Bacterial infections include diseases such as strangles or pneumonia.
• Symptoms of an equine respiratory infection require immediate veterinary attention.

Chronic Conditions – Similarly to humans, horses can also develop chronic respiriatory conditions including equine asthma and COPD which often include a cough. These illnesses usually develop over time and require veterinary attention and careful management.

• Horses with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Equine Asthma often have a chronic cough. These diseases can be triggered by dust and mould and stabled horses are more likely to develop these conditions.
• Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD) can also cause a cough during exercise.

Other Causes – There are several other causes of coughing in horses, some of which can become serious if left untreated.

• Horses and ponies can suffer from Choke where the esophagus becomes blocked by food. Signs of Choke can include coughing and nasal discharge. Choke can become an emergency and require immediate veterinary attention.
• Allergies to dust in bedding, feed or arena surfaces can cause a cough. Proactive and careful management can resolve this.
• Parasites including lungworm or roundworms can also cause horses to develop a cough.

As Horse Insurance experts we would always advise horse owners to contact a veterinary professional immediately if they have any concerns about their horse or pony’s health.

About SEIB

SEIB Insurance Brokers have been providing insurance for Horses for over 60 years. We provide a flexible range of policies to suit your needs. Our experienced team of horse owners can help provide you with advice on what cover you might need.