Throat clearing/mild choking type of cough

[Cat_Tap]

This is a long shot but there is so much knowledge on this forum I thought I would give it a try.

5 days ago my horse had a couple of little coughs when eating his mash or trying to chew his peanuts. I wasn’t worried until I tried to work him. On the lunge line when asked to canter he shook his head and threw it up in the air. He did canter but had trouble to maintain it. I went back to trotting and he seemed fine. I put on side reins and he produced a nice round stretchy trot. However when I switched to the right he panicked so I took the side reins off.

I gave him a couple of days off and kept an eye on him. He would occasionally cough a little, again when eating his mash but not when eating hay. He does not have a nasal discharge but I did notice some clear phlegm coming from his mouth.

I tried to lunge him again today. Threw his head up on the left canter but not the right. When trying to “blow” he coughed again. This is not a noisy belly cough but a light throat clearing/ choking type of cough.

At this point I am afraid to ride him as the last time I rode him when he had some neck pain I ended up in the dust. I have made an appointment with the vet but she can’t come until next week. I thought that someone here might have an idea what I am dealing with. My thought is some throat or airway obstruction.

[Simkie]

If he had a throat or airway obstruction lasting five days, you would know. He would likely be dead, or close to it.

Sounds like he has a little irritation, which is not terribly uncommon this time of year as they switch to hay. Call the vet out if you’re concerned, but what you’re describing doesn’t sound that unusual…

[sascha]

Can you describe the feed you call “peanuts” I ask because I own a horse who will choke on the smallest piece of hard feed - like extruded, pelleted, packaged treats, etc. Once we got to the bottom of that and soaked her hay for a couple of weeks to help soothe her throat, KNOCK ON WOOD, we saw the end of the chokes. Dry hay is not a problem. All feed is soaked. No fruit since her first choke was on a small piece of a small pear. No manufactured treats. No dry feed. Dissolvable, delicious (to promote actual chewing) treats only, like mints and soft gummy candies.

Good luck and I hope your solution is as easy as mine was!

Looking a little further though, at the not quite as positive/solveable side, I wonder if the coughing fits could have annoyed any potential bony abnormalities in the neck I’d want that checked out if possible.

[Cat_Tap]

Sascha my horses get peanuts in their shells as treats. He has not had a history of choking and nothing has changed in his routine regarding feed for the 15 years I have owned him. He only has the occasional light cough, not a coughing fit.

[DinkyDonk]

A couple of summers ago my hinny mule apparently got a blade of pasture grass caught somewhere–he had a cough that was obviously one where he was trying to clear his throat (eating and drinking just fine). Was ready to call the vet and it disappeared. Silly animals!