Coughing

[harleydales]

Harley has had a bit of a cough for a while now - nothing major, not constant and it's not affecting his weight or general attitude.

He sometimes does a strange thing when he's eating long grass or hay (not that he gets hay in the summer!) - he stretches his head out, opens his mouth wide and kind of rolls his tongue around as if he's trying to dislodge something. Whatever it is then re-appears and gets chewed up. He's had his teeth checked and they are fine.

He'll just suddenly cough in the field for no reason, though he does cough sometimes when he's eating his feed (pasture mix, fed dry).

Occasionally when he's ridden he will stick his head out and whereze a bit but he doesn't whistle/roar under pressure.

Any ideas?

[valerie n scout]

neither of ours cough Jane, tho Scout does a funny "chewing" motion our tooth man said his teeth were cr^p when he first did them and its more a habit now, hope you get to the bottom of the coughing tho x

[SuzieP]

I don't think I'd worry too much Jane, unless the cough gets violent or troublesome, or you notice changes to his general condition.

A lot of the horses on the yard cough from time to time, especially at the start of a schooling session - like clearing their throats - and especially when the weather is dry and dusty. Many of them have soaked hay to damp the dust down.

If he coughs over his feed, you could always add a bit of water to damp down any dust?