Nasal congestion

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Permalink Reply by splash on February 9, 2010 at 8:37am

As you have a vet involved I'm gonna assume it's not "strangles". I gather your vet has tested for that?

No advice per se. Good luck. A barn full of "not quite well" horses is a concern.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Jollymour on February 9, 2010 at 3:07pm

Hi, Debra:

It sounds like what we cal "the snots" at the tracks here. It can take 6 - 8 weeks to resolve, and intervention with antibiotics doesn't help. It just needs to run its course.

However, I think "Splash" makes a good point - are you sure you're not dealing with strangles? It's endemic at the tracks, and so easy for horses to pick up. That usually makes horses quite sick, so it may not be what you're dealing with, but it's worth checking, and you only need a nasal swab.

I would have the discharge cultured, to ensure that if you are dealing with a bacterial sinus infection secondary to the original viral infection you can identify the best treatment and lose less time. Additionally, if it doesn't clear up soon, I would think about having the horse scoped, as guttural pouch infections can become deep seated and nearly impossible to resolve if not caught early, and it sounds to me like your horse might be developing that kind of issue. It sounds like a valuable horse, and one you should put more effort into finding a cure for.

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Permalink Reply by Debra McDaid on February 12, 2010 at 1:49pm

Hi

I would say it isn't a gutteral pouch problem, as he doesn't exhibit the symptoms for it, the vet also feels that it is in just the sinus area. It could be the 'snots' as I also know of this, but this has been closer to the 8 week mark with no improvement... we have pretty much narrowed it down to either a problem with the current shavings that are offered where we are, or a cold virus that has left him with nasal congestion that is stubborn in clearing... what I really need is a suggestion on how to clear nasal congestion other than the things I have tried... I don't have time, my time is running out or my season is finished... he isn't sick per say... just stuffed up... we used antihistimines on the vet's whim, and we have used different expectorants... but most of these are for the lungs really, and not for the nose... as my stakes payments are all due now, I have to pick and choose as to what I will pay in and what I won't... tough to do with a colt that can't get past his stuffed head... anyway, thanks for the ideas.

take care

deb

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Permalink Reply by Jan Jollymour on February 12, 2010 at 2:51pm

Hi, Deb:

I'm not sure why you think it's not a guttural pouch infection - it sounds just like one. However, you could try clenbuterol in a nebulizer. It's clearly not allergic, or the antihistamines would have helped, so I doubt very much that it's the bedding. Some horses react to cedar in the bedding, but the antihistamines should have made a noticeable difference were that the case.

I'm not sure what the legalities are with regard to racing a horse on clenbuterol, or how close to race time you're allowed to use hte nebulizer. We're not allowed to use the drug in dresage, but if I were trying to rule things out I'd still try it and just not compete until I was sure it wouldn't test.

Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Norma McDonald on February 11, 2010 at 6:05pm

I would get a nasal swab and see just what is growing -he could have a gutteral pouch infection and they need to be taken care of on a longer term basis -just my opinion. Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Debra McDaid on February 13, 2010 at 12:27am

Hi
My horse is a tough customer. He won't allow anyone but my imediate family near him... the vets (and everyone else) are afraid of him... with good reason. So doing anything other than what we can ourselves is out... like scoping him etc. He is allergic to tranq... As well other horse seem to have the same problem, and they have all shown negative for anything that a swab can show... but your advice is good for a normal problem. The only thing I know is that he dosen't have a gutteral pouch infection... we did have a vet tell us (from a safe distance and after looking and listening to him jogg on the track that it was more a sinus thing, and likely a cold gone wrong, or maybe an allergy possibly... anyway, thanks for the suggestion and the help. deb

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Permalink Reply by Jan Jollymour on February 12, 2010 at 2:53pm

HI, again Deb:

You could also try Flair nasal strips. Event horses run in them all the time, but you'd have to check racing rules.

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Permalink Reply by Debra McDaid on February 13, 2010 at 12:21am

Hi

I think they can be used, but they are more for a hose with nostrils that don't open properly. This is more of a cold/sinus or allergy thing. We have switched to peatmoss, since a vet suggested to another horseman that the shavings that are being provided at the center have a possible mold problem... it isn't obvious to the eye, but there is a very strong paint thinner smell, even though these are the proper white pine shavings (supposedly anyway). We're going to have to wait and see if this helps... but we'll keep working on the problem.... thanks for your help. Deb ps if the peat moss dosen't help his problem, it will be great for his feet! lol lol just very dirty to work with

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