If your horse has a cough, you also suffer as a pet owner. Especially when the weather changes and in the cold season, horses can quickly catch something. In this article, we explain which symptoms you should react to and which home remedies are suitable for relieving coughs in horses.
Coughs in horses - causes and symptoms
Coughs are very common in horses. The cause can often be traced back to the conditions in the stable, especially in winter. High humidity, bedding and feed create a high level of exposure to ammonia, fine dust, fungal spores, skin and hair particles as well as husk crumbs from grain and bacteria. This irritates the upper respiratory tract of the animals and can cause infections. Particularly in stabled horses that are in close contact with many other horses and are frequently turned over, the risk of infection with a bacterial horse cough is significantly higher.
An infectious cough is an acute disease of the respiratory tract and should not be taken lightly. Especially in winter, it is difficult for the animal to fight the cough on its own. With prompt action and the right treatment, you can prevent a spread and chronic cough in horses.
Symptoms of infections and coughs in horses:
- Sneezing and sniffling
- Yellowish nasal discharge
- Blowing out of the nose
- Runny nose
- Coughing/rattling
- Abdominal breathing
- Fatigue and tiredness
If the cough is advanced, additional fever and mucus production may indicate bronchitis. At this point at the latest, the animal should be taken to the vet to determine the appropriate medication.
Home remedies for horse coughs
As a rule, coughs in horses are not serious and can initially be treated with natural remedies. If the cough still does not go away after a few days, it is advisable to take the animal to a vet. Below you will find some remedies that can naturally alleviate a horse's cough.
Sage tea for horses
Sage is a traditional medicinal herb and is particularly effective for throat and pharyngeal diseases as well as gastrointestinal disorders. The main ingredients of sage are essential oils, flavonoids and bitter substances. Sage is known to have an antibacterial, antiviral and secretion-promoting effect. Sage tea for horses can loosen mucus and soothe coughs. Simply boil sage tea according to the instructions on the packet, leave to cool and give to the horse with its feed.
You can also sweeten the sage tea for horses with a little honey. Honey is contained in many cough remedies and is therefore a natural alternative to common cough suppressants on its own.
Bronchial herbs for horses
If your horse has a cough, bronchial herbs for horses should not be missing from the treatment. This cough herb mix supports the airways, cleanses the bronchial tubes and strengthens the horse's immune system. A high-quality and effective herbal mixture usually contains eucalyptus, marshmallow root, Icelandic moss, thyme and ribwort leaves. These natural herbs complement each other perfectly and have a holistic effect on the horse's body. Ingredients such as cineole, methylcysteine, flavonoids and tannins have an anti-inflammatory and antiviral effect.
The bronchial herb mix can also be given to horses as a preventative measure during the cold season. This strengthens your animal's immune system in good time and makes the horse's lungs less susceptible to infections.
Inhalation for horses against coughs
Inhalation is also an effective remedy for horse coughs. Medication, saline solution or other liquids are better able to reach the bronchial tubes through inhalation and can take effect directly on the spot. Special inhalation devices for horses make the procedure much easier.
It is best to have the animal inhaled as soon as the first signs of a cold or cough appear, so you can prevent a cold at an early stage.
Various essential oils are recommended for inhalation:
- Camomile
- camphor
- eucalyptus
- peppermint
- sage
- thyme
As horses are very sensitive to essential oils, they should be highly diluted, otherwise they may irritate the mucous membranes.
Preventing coughs in horses - strengthening the immune system naturally
To prevent annoying horse coughs, you should strengthen your horse's immune system all year round. Today, horses' immune systems are severely challenged due to stabling and, in some cases, inferior feed quality. Especially in winter, there are often draughts in stables, which can cause long-term problems for the four-legged friends and often also promote coughs, bronchitis and colds in the animals.
With natural herbs, roots and fruits, you can strengthen your pet's immune system all year round so that they can start the cold season with a strong immune system. Because we know: Prevention is the best medicine! If your horse's body is well nourished all year round, it can build up reserves and prepare its immune system for the winter.
Echinacin drops, rose hip powder and the tried and tested bronchial herbs can be fed to the animal all year round. They not only add variety to the diet, but also provide plenty of important vitamins and minerals. The feed supplements are also purely natural.
To keep the amount of dust in the stable as low as possible, try not to shake out the hay in front of the animal's box and also not to clean in the stable when your horse is present. Plenty of outdoor exercise is also an effective way of preventing horses from coughing in winter.
If the cough is already present, moisten or wash the hay before feeding and perform specific movements with your animal in the fresh air to promote the expulsion of mucus.
When your horse has a cough - an overview
- Coughs in horses often occur during the cold season
- If it is not treated in time, a horse's cough can become chronic and even develop into bronchitis and a cold
- With natural bronchial herbs for horses and other home remedies, you can alleviate the cough and strengthen the horse's immune system
- If your horse has a cough and it is not relieved after a few days of treatment, you should show the animal to a doctor
- Avoid excessive dust exposure in the stable and encourage your animal to exercise in the fresh air
