Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

One of my horses hasn't been "doing right" recently...just not "with"
the program...and coughing some too.  Have had the vet out and all
they're doing is treating symptoms and we really don't know what is
truly going on with him.  He coughs and acts like he has a sore
throat when eating the coarser hay so he is on our better hay for the
time being, although I'm starting to give him some handfuls of the
regular coarser hay again.  Vet did do bloodwork and found he is a
bit anemic...5.6 vs the normal of 6.5 to 12.  

I've had fecal checks done on the herd and only the boarded horse has a
moderate load (per the vet) of round worms...which we'll be treating
the whole herd for so it doesn't pass around.  The others tested
negative...although I've read that not all worms show up on fecal
tests.  

The vet has also been boosting his immune system with Equistim or
whatever...he gets his third (and final) dose on Friday.  I
haven't seen much improvement overall, although he's not coughing much
at all anymore, but he may be having occasional coughing when I'm not
around.  On Monday he had at least one coughing fit that I'm aware
of.  He is also finishing up a container of Tucoprim as
well.  Why the vet feels he needs all this is beyond me...they say
they don't know why he's like this...although they said his lungs
sounded better?  

I'd like to worm him along with the rest of the herd but would that be too much stress on his system??

This is, or was, a healthy 9 year old horse.

Does anyone have any suggestions or whatever?  Vets??

Thanks,
Val