# Horse Coughing in the UK — Quick answer

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/horse-coughing-uk): Horse Coughing in the UK — Quick answer. Most horse coughing in the UK comes from dust and mould spores in hay and bedding (equine asthma) or from infection. According to UK equine vets, soak or steam hay, use low-dust bedding and maximise turnout. Call the vet if the cough persists, or comes with fever, nasal discharge or faster breathing.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/horse-coughing-uk): Horse Coughing in the UK — Why horses cough. According to UK equine vets, horse coughs generally fall into two camps: - Allergic airway disease (equine asthma) — a non-infectious reaction to dust, mould spores and pollens; the most common cause of persistent coughing in UK horses - Infection — viral or bacterial respiratory disease, which can spread quickly through a yard Less common causes include worms (lungworm or migrating larvae), choke, and heart or throat problems — which is why a persistent cough deserves a proper diagnosis rather than guesswork.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/horse-coughing-uk): Horse Coughing in the UK — Common causes at a glance. | Cause | Typical signs | First steps | |-------|---------------|-------------| | Dusty hay or bedding | Cough when eating or first brought in; no fever | Soak or steam hay; change to low-dust bedding | | Equine asthma | Recurring cough, worse when stabled; nasal discharge; heavier breathing | Improve air quality; vet assessment | | Viral/bacterial infection | Cough plus fever, snotty nose, dullness; others on yard affected | Isolate, take temperature, call vet | | Worms | Cough in poorly wormed horses, often youngsters | Vet-guided worm testing |

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/horse-coughing-uk): Horse Coughing in the UK — Equine asthma — the dusty-hay cough. According to Peasebrook Equine Clinic, equine asthma (formerly recurrent airway obstruction or RAO) is an allergic response to mould spores typically found in hay and straw. Breathed-in spores cause inflammation, extra mucus and constriction of the lower airways. Early signs may be mild — an occasional cough during exercise — but as the condition progresses, coughing becomes more frequent and happens at rest, with a raised respiratory rate and effort. Warning signs of respiratory distress include: - Breathing rate above 20 breaths per minute at rest - Flared nostrils and wheezing - Visible abdominal effort when breathing (a 'heave line' along the belly in long-term cases) Equine asthma is not contagious, but it is a lifelong tendency — management focuses on the environment rather than a cure.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/horse-coughing-uk): Horse Coughing in the UK — Coughs caused by infection. If your horse has a cough plus any of the following, suspect infection and call your vet: - Raised temperature (fever) - Thick or coloured nasal discharge - Dullness, reduced appetite - Other horses on the yard coughing Isolate a coughing horse with a fever from the rest of the yard until your vet advises. Keeping up to date with your horse's vaccination schedule reduces the risk of equine flu spreading through a yard.

Source: https://pethealth.org.uk/health/horse-coughing-uk