Sunday, September 16, 2012

Health Report: Allergies

This was not a good weekend for allergies even though the weather was gorgeous, the humidity low, and the temperature danced around 75 degrees.  I went out to trim Harley's feet on Saturday.  He coughed several times in the aisle.  He has been doing great with very minimal symptoms, so this took my notice.  I put him on the longe line after his trim and he moved out happily.  He coughed a couple times and then stop completely.  Exercise seems to help him clear out the airways.

Today I went back to see him and the red flag was immediately raised.  He was waiting for me at the gate and coughed a few times before I even put his halter on.  I walked him to the barn and he proceeded to cough in the cross ties.  Rather than groom him and stir up more dust, I just cleaned his feet, threw on his tack and took him to the small riding ring.  We walked for a few minutes and then I asked him to trot.  He moved off readily and assumed a pleasant stretch in his neck and back.  I got him moving in both directions, expecting him to do a couple big coughs and then be fine.  The big cough never came, so I moved him up to canter.  He cantered almost as soon as the idea entered my mind and I started to think that he was going to be fine.  It was not until we had made a few circuits in both directions that he finally let out a couple productive sounding coughs.  I patted his neck and made some soothing sounds.  Unfortunately, his coughs did not subside this time.  He would be fine for a couple minutes and then start up again.  After ten minutes, I decided to call it quits.

What makes this even more heart-wrenching is that I know my horse was not feeling his best, but he wanted to keep going with our ride.  As soon as a coughing fit stopped, he would surge forward in trot.  He did not want to let me down.  I did my best to let him know that he was not letting me down and that he is a wonderful horse and a sweetheart.  He still got his carrots, which he was happy to eat.  That was a good sign that he was "okay".

Allergies are an immune response that amplifies.  Saturday was not particularly bad by itself, but Sunday was definitely worse.  I realized that I was probably going to have to give him steroids to break the cycle.  I do not know what exactly set him off.  That is one thing that can make allergies such a frustrating condition to manage.  I checked the weather channel website and it said that weed pollen was high, but it has been high for most of August, so I am not sure if that is the trigger.  I do not like to give him steroids, but getting the inflammation under control is necessary.  We had a really good summer and despite the humidity, he only coughed a few times a visit.  I did not have to cut any of our rides short.  But today?  He has not coughed that badly since February, when he was first tested for allergies.

I called the vet and she gave me the green light.  I watched him eating his hay about twenty minutes later and he did not cough even once.  This makes me feel much better.  I hope tomorrow brings more of the same.

No matter what, you are a good, good boy.

6 comments:

  1. I hope his allergies settle down soon. Poor baby.

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  2. Poor Harley. We have a horse (Nate) with asthma and allergies and it's heartbreaking to hear them coughing. It seems different seasons and changes of weather affect the allergies of some and not others. I hope he's feeling better soon and the medicine does it's job.

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  3. Dang it Harley! I sure hope you will be ale to keep it somewhat under control, It must be terrible to hear him cough like that. I suppose it's good that you know it's allergies, but the unpredictable part has got to be frustrating. I am glad he gets some relief from the medicine. Does he act differently after you give him the medicine? I hate side effects.

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    1. No side effects that I have noticed, but steroids are definitely not to be taken lightly.

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  4. How frustrating, just when you were beginning to think you had his allergies under control. Hope he gets back to normal asap

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  5. Poor guy ... I am sending healing thoughts his way. :0)

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