Nasal Discharge

[PasoPal]

One of my horses has a white discharge coming out. Only one nostril generally and usually only after a long ride or workout. Any ideas on what could cause this? Also, labored breathing after about an hour of riding is the only other symptom. :confused:

[motorgypsy]

There are a number of viral and bacterial upper respiratory illnesses including what they call "shipping fever" that have those symptoms but it can also be allergy. If you're feeding hay you might try wetting it thoroughly before feeding it if you can. If it doesn't go away it may need a vet check. The viral respiratory problems don't respond to antibiotics but they can go into a bacterial infection. Just keep an eye on the color of the discharge and if it changes to yellow or green you need a vet.

I've used benedryl on an allergic mare with good luck and there are other allergy treatments that are more aggressive but mostly you just have to figure out what they are allergic to. Good luck!

[Terry Wallace]

You might want to locate yourself a copy of the March 2010 Equus. It covered runny noses in horses and has all the info to help you identify the problem.
One thing for sure....you don't want any other horses sharing food or water with the affected horse until you identify the problem. Strangles is easily spread via water troughs for example.

Here is an excerpt from Equus:

thin gray frothy snot, particularily from only one nostril is a hallmark of a gutteral pouch infection.

Foul smelling discharge can be produced by an infected tooth or sinus. That too may be from only one nostril.

Any headshaking on this horse? Reluctance to eat? Check teeth if so.

Thick, creamy pus is indicative of an infection such as bacterial bronchitis, rhino, or strangles.

Thin watery discharge with no sign of illness is usually a reaction to cold or airborne irritants.

Any fever on this horse?
Strangles and other diseases generally will show some lymph node enlargement right under the jaw. You would be able to palpate that.

What is the respiratory rate on the horse? A normal rate is 12-15 breaths a minute. Are the nostrils flared? Is the horse "tucked up" in the flank area?

Just some things to check out.
Don't wipe the snot out if you take the horse to the vet...Vet will want to see and possibly culture it. Since you state this happens after exertion...there is likely something going on that is causing it. Sometimes..if it is a tooth, particularily on an older horse...you can palpate the outside of the face along the jaws and find it as the horse will "wince" if you touch it. Most of the face will feel hard and structured...an impaction can feel like a softer pocket. Older horses have less and less tooth and they get pockets in the jaw & skull where tooth "used to be" and that area can get impacted.

Hope this helps...

[PasoPal]

I am thinking guttural pouch or tooth infection. I will be taking the horse to the vet this week to check it out. I don't suspect anything contagious because it has been going on for a little while and everyone else is quite healthy. I will let you know what the findings are. The horse does not snot all the time, only during trail riding or short exerted workouts. :)

[Helene]

Guttural pouch infection can be quite dangerous as there is a major blood vessel close by that can rupture. My vet told me he had lost a horse to that -- when I took one of my horses to him. Her signs, though, were obvious without any exercise-- she coughed a lot, shook her head, and had some thin discharge from one nostril. My vet scoped her and it was not cheap (about $400). The diagnosis was a guttural pouch infection. He sucked fluid out and might have given her some antibiotics (can't remember). She's been fine ever since -- been a few years.

[PasoPal]

No cough, no head tossing. Hmm, that makes me wonder more about tooth infection. We'll see and I'll keep you posted.