Very Common
Less Common
You also might be observing
Observation
What you see. The starting point for addressing any equine health related issue is your observation.
YOU ARE OBSERVING
Hay looks Old, Dusty or Moldy
Summary
Horses are uniquely sensitive to changes in feed, especially changes in hay. For this reason, do not feed hay of questionable quality or hay that looks old, dusty or moldy. Set it aside for examination or discard it.
If your horse has eaten poor quality hay, monitor them for signs of intestinal or respiratory distress. Look out for signs of abdominal pain (colic). Listen for coughing.
Over the long term, the feeding of dusty hay can create irreversible changes in the horse's lungs and the development of RAO (formerly COPD, heaves). In addition, bouts of life-threatening respiratory distress (similar to an asthma attack) can occur.
If your horse has eaten poor quality hay, monitor them for signs of intestinal or respiratory distress. Look out for signs of abdominal pain (colic). Listen for coughing.
Over the long term, the feeding of dusty hay can create irreversible changes in the horse's lungs and the development of RAO (formerly COPD, heaves). In addition, bouts of life-threatening respiratory distress (similar to an asthma attack) can occur.
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Code Green
Contact Your Vet to Obtain Useful Advice & Resources- To discuss your equine's general health and management.
your role
What To Do
Monitor your horse during any transition to a new hay, and for several days (even weeks) afterwards. If your horse is coughing, or showing any signs of illness or disease, stop feeding the hay.Perform the Whole Horse Exam (WHE), paying particular attention to respiratory rate and effort, and the presence of coughing. Contact your vet and share your findings and concerns. Save representative samples of the hay for assessment and analysis.
Skills you may need
Procedures that you may need to perform on your horse.
your vet's role
Questions Your Vet Might Ask:
- Are you considering feeding the hay, or has it already been fed?
- Are any of the other horses in the group coughing?
Diagnostics Your Vet May Perform
Figuring out the cause of the problem. These are tests or procedures used by your vet to determine what’s wrong.
Very Common
Less Common
Diagnoses Your Vet May Consider
The cause of the problem. These are conditions or ailments that are the cause of the observations you make.
Treatments Your Vet May Recommend
A way to resolve the condition or diagnosis. Resolving the underlying cause or treating the signs of disease (symptomatic treatment)
Very Common
