First of all you are making a huge mistake taking her off hay. A horse needs at least 50% of their diet from hay or you can wait and watch her colic. Next, the pellets if alfalfa, are too much and will leach the minerals from her system and now you have even a sicker horse. I don't know who told you do this, but they need to sit down and learn about a horses digestive system and why they need what. Let's go back. She is in a community living. That is never the best. Horses pass snotty nose stuff all around like kids in kindergarten. I am totally against that. But that is all you can do, then so be it. Take a look at her, and see if you see a heave muscle line on her belly. That is a muscle that develops from a chronic cough. You didn't say how long she has had a cough. Take the hay apart and see if you see bracken or other wild grasses in it. That could be the problem right there. OR mold, or tons of dust. Typically it's what is going in that is creating the problem. NEXT, where is she grazing? That so important. Is she eating anything that is causing a URI? I see that a lot this time of year. Most important, if she is not hungry, she has a more serious issues. Since I can not see her, I don't know what she looks like or how she has changed. Up her supplements and add Vit C, B complex, E and wheat germ oil. She does not feel good and I think she has a serious belly problem. Does she stretch out when she pees, how does she act when you press on her belly? Is she cycling properly? Does she have a snotty nose. Feel if she has any lumps under her chin on down her throat. There is something else going one and you have to figure what it is. I would prefer you have a Vet see her. Until I know a lot more, how you work her, how are her feet, is she bullied by the other horses, I really am in the dark to give you an exact answer. If you have any other questions, please ask.

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Edited by MichaelsMom on June 21 2006 at 2:44 AM

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Hi! Often hay allergies are progressive. But I'm curious about an obstruction. It a tough call on coughs and they are very difficult to be exact when diagnosing on line. This may be something a Vet has to handle. I'm concerned that she has not eaten enough and the cough is progressive. So I have to start thinking bacterial. A cough without a fever is always frustrating and the swelling in the lower belly may be from the coughing, almost like when people say they separate ribs from muscle from coughing so much. Another reason, I would call the Vet. I would hate to think she has given herself a "hernia" over the coughing. Play it safe on this one and call your Vet and run this by him. If she is off now for 5 days and still coughing, she may have a lot more going on than a hay (mold)allergy.

I'm so glad. Keep him near her for awhile. The temp is okay. Not a big deal. Now that she is getting her appetite back, she'll feel better and so will you. I don't think she is going to ned a Vet for another then the AB's. I think her lungs will beat this. She is young and healthy and she has you. You could get her on a little sweet feed to bring her energy level up that will pick her up as well. MY favorite is the green snot all over a new suede jacket, or better yet, in the face. Yikes! Don't go too over board on the AB's, and up the probiotics for one week. Mix a little Vit C, and antioxidants and I think she will be fine in less than in a week. I'm glad I could help, if you ever need, me, just relist the questions, ask for me and you don'y have to pay. Hugs to you and Mysty. She is very lucky to have you as her human.

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