Pitty's Sick:-( Opinions please

[halfmoonfino]

Yesterday when I came to the barn, I noticed thin, watery discharge coming out of Pitty's nose, and there was evidence that it had been there earlier too (dry, crusty stuff around his nostrils). I cleaned him up and thought maybe it was just from the wind and cold weather, as he has gotten snotty from the weather before. Today he looked the same. There was slightly more discharge, but still thin and milky-clear. I cleaned him up again. It seems to be worse when he's eating hay, I noticed.

I'm very upset that my baby seems to be a little sick. :cry: He's usually so healthy! As you know, we recently had an outbreak of the "S" word at our barn, but that seems to have resolved itself, and Pitty (thank God) never got it. At first I thought maybe this was the beginning of some strangles, but it doesn't seem like it. His appetite is normal, no fever, seems fairly bright-eyed, and the discharge is not changing color. He is vaccinted against flu/herpes, so I doubt it's that. I worry that he caught some kind of littel cold. Two nights ago it was 42 degrees, so I opted not to blanket (he's gets blanketed under 40 degrees normally). Turns out it drizzled a little all night and part of the next day. Although they have shelter, I wonder if he caught a chill? I have been blanketing each night since. They were also out of a roundbale for three days with mom and I being the only ones throwing hay to them :evil: (That's a whole 'nother story that'll make me get p*ssed all over again). So...any ideas on what I should do? I'm so upset that he isn't feeling 100%. He seems slightly off to me, although he is eating and seems responsive. He has not been ridden hardly at all for the past two weks because I have an injury, so he's been at rest in the pasture.

Any ideas to make my baby feel as comfy as posible would be much appreciated :smile: Poor wittle Pitty....

[Blameitonbrio]

Poor Pitty! I wonder if he could have a lighter case of the strangles? You know this time of year, my dog will start having "eye boogers" because of pollen. Can horses react to that?

I know...I am only asking more questions and not really helping. I look forward to seeing what everyone has to suggest, and I hope your Pitty Boy is better soon.

[Terry Wallace]

What is his temperature? How is his respiration ..how many breaths per minute...
Maybe a bit of rhino. Has he been around any other horses.
Very doubtful it would be strangles on a horse his age.

[halfmoonfino]

Hmm...

his temp was 100.9 the other day, which might be a tad elevated for him (he's usually around 98.9), but it's nothing like the fevers I've seen with strangles. Even flu has higher temps, right? Pitty lives with a lot of other horses, but none have traveled recently, nor has he. I haven't checked his repisration (good idea!) but he does not appear to have labored breathing/be short of breath/or have any abnormal respiratory noises. Oh well. Thanks for the idea! I welcome more...

[GeorgeGuns]

You are probably right and its just a weenie little cold, and shall pass. In the meantime I recommend apples, carrots, mushed and hot if possible with a touch of honey... and gentle hugs. Poor guy.

If the hay is different he may well be reacting to a different dust (no hay is perfect!) and if the hay is temporary so too will be the snotties. Sounds more like a cold though if he is feeling poopie.

[Abejita]

he has a low temp for normal doesnt he!..I would guess its probably hay related but if you are really concerned it wouldnt hurt for a vet to come listen to his lungs and trachea sounds..have you ridden him lightly to see if hr coughs while exercising ?

[Terry Wallace]

One more question for you....has it been windy where he stays? Sometimes you will get a lot of CLEAR nasal drip right from the tear ducts emptying into the nostril, due to horses keeping their eyes closed during windy days. The natural tears have no other place to go, so they are "detoured" into the nasal passages, and show up as relatively clear drip, that can dry and also look whitish when dry.

This was discussed at length at the last equine seminar I attended..a horse opthamologist gave the presentation.

What ever the malady..it does not sound serious...perhaps it will clear up in a few days....give his lungs a listen with a stehoscope...

[halfmoonfino]

Yes, it has been windy. He'll be staying blanketed in the wind just to be extra cautious, although it's supposed to get warm over the next few days. I can't go to the barn today, but my mom is going up to check his temp, lung sounds, wipe his nose, etc...

The hay situation is not good. Their new bale seems very dusty to me. Some of the square bales in the barn have had mold dust, and though I've been careful to check the bales that I throw for mold dust, I bet the barn owner isn't (I've seen her throw moldy hay before). I wonder if it could be an allergy to the mold? I'm very distraught, but at least he doesn't seem to be seriously ill. If he doesn't improve by the end of the week, I'm calling the vet out. I also want to make sure he doesn't get any respiratory reaction to the hay. He has been known to have a small airway and is prone to choke. I have to keep a careful watch on him. Anything anyone knows about allergic reactions to the hay....let me know.

I have not ridden him (I'm on riding probation for at least another week) but I could longe him tomorrow and see how he sounds. He has been gaiting in for supper from his pasture and doesn't appear to be fatigued.

Thanks for the help, guys! I'm not *quite* so beside myself now. ;-)

[Abejita]

yes it could be a reaction to mold(or just regular old dirt dust)not necessarily an 'allergic' reaction.Just irritation .The hay I am feeding now is full of dust because when the second cutting was baled last year we were in a mild drought.It is just dirt . I shake out the flakes when I can to help dissipate it. (the wind actually helps there..except then it can blow out of the field easier :roll: ) Many of the horses actually have muddy looking nostrils due to this ..and the ground is so dry now that when they walk or we drive on it you can see a dust cloud come up.So just 'grazing 'on whats left can get dirt into their noses.try not to worry too much.I know its hard especially when you cnat be there to check on things yourself.

[halfmoonfino]

Good news! Mom went out to check on Pitty today, and he seems a lot better (wind was not as bad either). His temp was at 98.9 again, there was no new snot all morning, and his appetite was healthy. Apparently it was the dust kicked up by the wind because he's doing MUCH better. I'm so happy :D

[appyday]

98???

[appyday]

98???