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Coughing is a common clinical sign in horses that can be entirely benign or the first clue of a medical condition.
Your horse’s cough is a normal reflex that keeps his airway healthy and clean. But some conditions associated with coughing require immediate veterinary care.
Horse owners should learn to identify different types of coughs to determine when to call the vet. While certain diseases only respond to medical treatments, feeding and environmental changes can also help manage coughing in horses.
This article will review the causes, symptoms and diagnosis of coughing in horses. We will also discuss treatment options for breathing conditions and how horse owners can address respiratory health with management changes and nutritional support.
Types of Coughing in Horses
Frequent coughing is a reliable indicator of an underlying medical problem. But many different factors and conditions can contribute to coughing.
Additional symptoms and circumstances associated with your horse’s cough can help you identify the cause.
Early diagnosis of health conditions reduces the risk of complications. Always consult your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your horse’s cough.
Coughing During Exercise
A single cough or two at the beginning of a ride is not unusual. Horses cough when exercising to clear a small amount of mucus or debris in the upper airway as they begin breathing harder. [1]
However, persistent coughing throughout a ride is a cause for concern. Horses may struggle to breathe due to a respiratory infection, or they could have a physical abnormality.
A displaced palate can cause horses to cough during work as the soft palate obstructs the opening to the trachea and interferes with breathing. The coughing caused by this abnormality is more of a dry cough. [2]
Coughing during exercise is also a symptom of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). Horses with this condition cough to clear blood from their lungs.
Coughing That Produces Mucus
Unlike dry coughs, wet or productive coughs expel mucus. These coughs generally indicate inflammation in the horse’s airways. Airway inflammation is associated with several conditions in horses. [3]
Examination of the mucus offers additional insight into the cause of the cough. Allergies are associated with light or clear-colored mucus, while bacterial infection produces thicker, white/yellow mucus. [3]
Coughing After Transportation
Even a cough or two after transportation in a trailer calls for prompt investigation. This may indicate shipping fever, a life-threatening form of bacterial pneumonia.
Horses tied in trailers for hours can’t drop their heads to clear their airways. Inhaled foreign bodies, such as hay and bedding particles, carry pathogens that enter the lungs and cause infection. [4]
The stress of trailering also compromises the horse’s immune response to the infection, so immediate treatment is necessary to improve outcomes. [4]
Coughing While Eating
Violent coughing after eating is a sign of choke, which occurs when food gets stuck in the horse’s esophagus. Most cases resolve spontaneously, but horses can accidentally inhale food during the choke episode. [5]
A veterinary examination will determine if the horse needs medical intervention to reduce the risk of aspiration-induced pneumonia. Sporadic coughing while eating also warrants a closer inspection.
Dental issues prevent the horse from adequately chewing his food. But other physical problems with the mouth can cause food to go down the throat before it’s ready. These include entrapment of the epiglottis and neurological issues. [6]
Coughing in Young Horses
Some parasitic and bacterial infections primarily affect young horses. Coughing in horses under two years of age is often associated with Ascarid infection. Unlike older horses, foals don’t have resistance to this parasite. [7]
Young foals under four months old can develop a severe lung infection from Rhodococcus equi. This bacteria lives in the soil and enters the foal’s airways through inhaled dust particles. [8]
Coughing Without Obvious Cause
Some coughs have obvious causes that horse owners can address right away. Coughs caused by excessive dust from the footing, bedding, or feed are typical examples. [9]
Other coughs don’t have an obvious culprit. You should consult your veterinarian if your horse suddenly coughs without an apparent instigating factor.
Unusual issues that can cause coughing in horses include tumors, injuries, or problems with other organs. [10]
When to worry about your horse’s cough
An occasional cough is not cause for alarm. But any coughing that becomes frequent or severe warrants investigation. While the horse may not have an infection, frequent coughing indicates that your horse has compromised breathing ability.
Any coughing onset accompanying changes in attitude or performance also needs immediate attention. Other symptoms associated with respiratory infections include fever, nasal discharge, and lethargy. [11]
Causes of Coughing in Horses
Coughing in horses can arise from infectious and non-infectious causes. No matter what type of cough your horse has, identifying the underlying cause is the first step in any effective treatment plan.
Here are some of the most common causes of coughingin horses.
Influenza
Equine influenza is a highly cont