Here I am again asking for advice.
Molly has a cough. When she first came to me she started coughing and was checked out by the Vet. He said her airways were clear and all other things were ok. So, that was that.
Molly and Bluebell are usually turned out 24/7 and given hay. However, in all this very cold weather I have been bringing them in. Molly is coughing very badly.
I thought it might be the dust from the stables so turned them out 24/7 again. Molly has still been coughing in the field and I am wondering now if it is also the hay, as it's very dusty. I soaked last night's hay but when she was checked later in the stable she was coughing and wheezing. You can see her breathing is laboured by the way her tummy moves.
I am very concerned about her and when I go to see her this morning I am expecting to have to call the Vet out.
I have done research and think she may have COPD but have no idea how to manage a horse with this.
I read that she may not even be able to have hay, and one site said that haylage is also not good because of botulism. This site suggested pellet feeds and alph alpha.
Does anyone have experience of managing a pony with COPD?
Obviously, I will take the advice from the Vet but any tips/advice will be greatly appreciated.

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I would suggest leaving her out 24/7 if at all possible, as a stable environment can irritate any existing cough. Soak her hay really well while she's out - you could also try giving her grass nuts instead of hay.

I don't know if you can still buy old-fashioned cough electuary (a paste you can smear onto the backs of their tongues), but if you can, get some. Most coughers find it very soothing and soon learn to love the taste.

Thank you SeaSpirit.
I know nothing about grass nuts! Would I have to give them gradually or would it be ok to change her over to them straight away?

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Best bet is to introduce them gradually over the course of a week or so. Don't worry about her being out in the cold - ponies tolerate extreme frost far better than they tolerate wet weather.

I went down with Farmer's Lung (human version of hay-dust allergy) about 25 years ago; in humans it's treated with steroids, which is something your vet might do for Molly once he's ruled out the possibility of any infection. If it's an allergy couch, the steroids will work very quickly for her. They'll also make her feel very full of herself and up for anything - so expect a change in behaviour if the vet goes this route!

I have a pony (20yrs old) with COPD and has had it since a very young age from what i gather it all depends on what they are given hay wise from 3 - 5yrs old (could have gotten that wrong but memory is not that good at moment to cold)

at present she is out rugged well 24/7 with access to Devon haylage and buckets of Dengie Hi Fi as a hay replacer if she has to come in then the buckets of Hi-Fi get up to the max she is allowed about 5kg but you have to read the back of the bag.

if she is near anyone that is having hay i put her on a combination of Garlic powder,Fenugreek powder and Aniseed Powder in her feed and put hot water on it and give to her so that the smells go straight up her nasal passages this works well. if not the i give her about 20ml twice a day of non drowsy cough (human) medicine that really works.

I have always tried not to put her on steriods as once told once they start on them you never get them off!

I have an old chap who is a chronic COPD suffer, after having him checked by the vet and being perscribed two courses of VENTAPULMIN (very expensive powder bronchodilator) I commenced him on Easibreath herbs (NAF) one scoop morning and evening changed him to hayledge... and avoid keeping him in as much as possible I can honestly say he has improved considerably i have not had to use a bronchodilator for over 2 years now.....
Is your pony producing anything when it coughs Muchous frothy yuck or anything like that could be a sign of something more serious,

Hope Molly improves soon...

My understanding is that haylage/botulism is only likely (not very likely at that) if the bale of haylage has been open, like a bird pecking it. That's why you often see patches on big bale haylage. So long as you rejected any haylage that had been open to the air for an uncertain period, it is quite unlikely to be a problem. Devon haylage is lovely stuff, I used to feed it to Cavalier who used to cough when he was kept in and soaked hay didn't stop him coughing, DH did.

This is why haylage needs to be used up within a certain time, before it goes "off".

If it is COPD, and you need to bring her in, then you just need to keep everything as dust free as possible, haylage/soaked hay, ultra low dust bedding, rubber mats, and regular cleaning/dusting of the stable.

We used to have a COPD pony on our yard, he coped very well living out 24/7 with Devon Haylage to eat and "normal" feeds. It really isn't the end of the world if she has it.

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Cutting the grass too short to the ground can also introduce botulism into the haylage - that is why most farmers cut closer for hay and leave more behind when doing haylage as there are a lot more nasties closer to the ground which is not a problem with hay making but IS with haylage production!

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i worked for a lady who's horse coughed like that it turned out to be athsma he had to have a inhaler twice a day for a week now as long as he has haylage and not hay he is fine but if he has just one section of hay regardless of whether it is soaked within 24 hours he is coughing again and farting at the same time so another puff is needed

The vet came to see Molly today. She is very wheezy and is having a scope on Wednesday to try and ascertain whether she has an allergy or a chest infection. The Vet also gave her some powder to give with her feed to open her airways.
Apart from the coughing, Molly seems very bright eyed and is having lots of love! I can't ride her until she's better though. Poor Molly.

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Molly had the Scope done today. Some samples of the rubbish on her chest are to be sent to the lab to see what's causing her cough. She was as good as gold, bless.

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Fingers crossed it's nothing serious and Molly makes a full recovery.

how's molly doing now in the cold weather?
have you had any results back?
we hav a 26 yo poy with COPD at our yard and he seems to be thriving in thw winter he's fed horse hage and is actually bright as a button in this cold snow!!


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Molly was improving after four weeks of anti-biotics and Ventapulmin. She has been in for two nights on shavings. I soak her hay. She is now coughing again. Her nose is still occasionally snotty and she doesn't seem herself. I can't put my finger on it but I can sense she's not her usual self.
The results came back and I felt they were a bit vague. It seems she may have an allergy but she could've had an infection. The vet is coming back out to check on her.
I am not sure what to do for the best for her. Do I change her to haylage?
I don't know where the vet will suggest we go from here either.

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Keep her out all the time,with a rug on and feed haylage,soaked sugarbeet and mix.Add garlick powder to her food.This has kept my old boy in good health for years,he is 31yrs old now.

Carole, Thank you for your reply.
Sorry to sound thick but I know nothing about sugar beet and mix?? I have only ever had to feed my cobs Hi-Fi lite, carrots and apples, garlic granules and oil. Obviously, I want to do the best for Molly. How do you introduce haylage? What quantity should she have each day? What is sugar beet for? What's mix? Will any of this make her fizzy?
All your advice is very gratefully received and taken on board.

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Brumbie, I have to be careful with my 19yo pony cob's breathing. He is in at night on Aubiose and has haylage instead of hay. Have you tried steaming Molly's head? It's a really old fashioned remedy but after 3 months of Caspar on various antibiotics and Ventipulmin I was ready to try anything: You need a bucket, Friars Balsam, boiling water and a towel. Pour the boiling water into the bucket with Friars Balsam in the bottom. Making sure you are not going to scald the horse, hold the bucket up to her nose and wrap the towel under her eyes around her head so that the steam doesn't escape. Whether it's allergy or bugs causing her discomfort the steam should help clear her airways even if it only gives temporary relief.

Thanks for that advice. I'll certainly try it.

Can anyone help with the sugar beet/mix question?

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Sugar beet is sold at norris`s in cube form,you soak it overnight in plenty of water and then feed with course mix. Horsehage is not the same as haylage,I always use horsehage. Steaming hay is the next best,simply put the hay in a large sack, pour on a kettle of boiling water,seal the top, and leave for at least two hours.

hi i have a five yr old newforest mare who last yr came down with coughing grunting, and white mucus streaming from her nose. vet came out she was put on venapulmin ,and antibiotics she didnt improve much she lost alot off weight and looked very unhappy, anyways like you i was willing to try anything, so whenever shes looking or sounding coughy or wheesy, i take her down the road for a gd fast trot then when she stops she lowers her head and all the crap from her lungs come streaming out her nose and she feels better , strange i know but it works for her. shes on hayledge, and sugerbeet mixed flakes garlic carrots and tlc supliment which i have to order from robinsons, i buy little bottles of eucaliptus (sp) oil and sprinkle on her bedding and walls evry other day. to help her breath. all seem to be working for her at the mo im dreading the warmer weather when im sure my efforts will be tested. hope some of this helps you .

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