Coughing Due to Dusty Hay

[JackieB]

Hello,

Buster got some dusty hay a week or so ago and he's coughing along with two other horses on the farm. His cough isn't too harsh and his breathing isn't raspy or anything. It's also sort of intermittent, not all the time.

The hay problem is resolved. Will the cough likely clear itself up? I've heard of the risk of something like this becoming more serious if the dust spores (or whatever they are) take hold in his lungs.

Any suggestions? I don't mind calling the vet if that's in order, but he's not a very good patient and it's doesn't seem to be causing him much difficulty at the moment. On the other hand, he's never coughed before in his life that I can recall.

Thanks for any advice.

[3equines]

2 things have worked for me in this situation:

1) AniMed's Ana Hist, which can be ordered from Horse.com, helps clear out the lungs

2) Soaking the hay - I used a fishing net, the kind you would use to scoop up trout from a pond, and a 15-gallon muck bucket full of water. Put hay in net, submerge net and hay in water for about two or three minutes, then pull hay out of water. I inverted the net to get the hay out. I would change the 'rinse water' in the bucket every other day.

Another option, if you can afford it, is to switch to hay cubes, or replace part of the hay ration with a balanced pelleted feed. Varieties are many, anywhere from expensive 'complete' feeds to alfalfa hay cubes or timothy hay pellets, or a combination of alfalfa pellets and soaked beet pulp with a bit of grain thrown in (my favorite, and the cheapest means to an end).

The bottom line is, hay gets dusty, and not all of us can afford to throw out what we've got and buy new hay at premium prices. I've had good results with soaking the hay, even though it takes a little muscle (wet hay is heavy) and time, it can make the feed you've got work for your more sensitive horses.

[natisha]

JackieB, if he continues to cough he needs to be checked out by a vet. That cough can easily turn into heaves which you will not get rid of.
The med 3equines suggested will help with the inflammation if it is mild, vets also have stronger stuff.
I think that because the problem came on quickly, you know why it happened & also acted quickly, that Buster will be fine. I know of some people who knowingly fed moldy hay all last winter & one of their horses had a horrible cough for months but he is OK now.
Please insist they throw out all questionable hay as Buster will be prone to getting a cough again under the same conditions.
I feel bad for you.

[Sundays Man]

JB I hope Buster gets better soon. I just bought hay and I've noticed it is a little dusty. It's really dust and not mold though and I've been keeping an eye on the herd. So far so good, but i like the idea of soaking the hay (thanks for the advice 3E). Thank goodness I only bought 20 bales of this hay. I'm going to stock up with some better hay as soon as I can locate it.

[natisha]

JB I hope Buster gets better soon. I just bought hay and I've noticed it is a little dusty. It's really dust and not mold though and I've been keeping an eye on the herd. So far so good, but i like the idea of soaking the hay (thanks for the advice 3E). Thank goodness I only bought 20 bales of this hay. I'm going to stock up with some better hay as soon as I can locate it. A spray with a hose should suffice if the dust is from dirt.

[Reinmaker]

I wouldn't call the vet out unless it worsens or doesn't go away Jackie. It will most likely clear up.

We soak the hay for one horse in the barn that is prone to getting a cough if not. We just use an old fashioned hose and soak it down though.;):)

[Sundays Man]

A spray with a hose should suffice if the dust is from dirt.


Thanks, that's what I will do.

[Palogal]

Thanks, that's what I will do.


I wet hay all summer to avoid that, since it's pretty dry around her in the summer. If he's coughing and gets a runny nose or a temp or something you have a problem but if you're sure it's due to the hay I wouldn't worry about it unless it doesn't go away after a few days.

[Tens Legacy]

I'm another one who has to wet hay. Dude has a chronic cough if I don't. I suspect he got his cough from a boarding situation he was in (round bales in a wet environment) and now it will never truly be gone. I use the muck tub method also. I dunk the hay all the way in but I’ve never had to actually soak it, his cough pretty much goes away as long as I always do this. I'm sure that since you caught on to what is happening with Buster that you'll get it under control and not have any further issues.

[JackieB]

Thanks for the advice and well wishes, everyone. I appreciate it very much.

[Horseaholic]

a customer at my tack store said cough free works great. I hope that Buster gets better!

[JackieB]

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone. I called the vet and they recommended an antihistamine. I don't think they are too concerned, but we don't want this to continue for too long and have it turn into a chronic condition. So, I got a prescription antihistamine that is in granular form. I'll just mix it in with a bit of sweet feed each day and he'll gobble it right up!

[Beausgirl]

I'm glad you got this under control. I think you made a wise decision with the prescrip antihistamine. I think that because it was caught early - there should be no chronic condition resulting. But - I do have a friend whose horse developed heaves as a result of prolonged dusty feed, but after a few years of soaking the hay and giving her horse - I don't know - it was a cough syrop for horses - like a "Bukley's for Horses" or something (!!) - her mare is actually fine now. Maybe it wasn't "true" heaves, but it was pretty close. I'm sure Buster is going to be fine very quickly since he only got one or two feeds of the dusty hay.

[Gypsy Rose]

Glad you were able to get something to help Buster feel better. I'm sure the prescription antihistamines will make Buster feel better in no time.

[moka]

JackieB, I had Nefous at the neighbors farm for almost two months last summer and he ate dusty hay and started to cough so I talked to the vet. She also said that most likely with him not eating any more of the dusty hay that it should clear up and she also gave me some antihistamine but he didn't like it. So even without the antihistamine it cleared up in about a months. The coughs got lighter and further in between till they stopped completely. Hope the same happens for Buster.

[Remali]

How is Buster doing? The antihistamine is a good idea, I think that was a good idea to call your vet.
I'd water the hay a bit too, just to cut down on the dust.....we used to do that when we had some rather dusty hay and I had a pony that had heaves.

[twh]

To all of you who have to soak hay, or want to improve your hay, check out www.happyhorseproducts.us (http://www.happyhorseproducts.us). Your horse will thank you.