what do you guys think this is?

[paintjumper]

I have a broodmare, about 10 years old (I'd have to look at her papers to be sure) that is an overo paint with the mostly white head. She has had 2 bouts with Sq. cell cancer on one eye lid, both removed. Actually the second time the third eye lid was removed and the vet said she got it all. She wears a fly mask year round since the first surgery. For the last 3 years or so she will have bouts of rattly sounding breathing, even when standing still. This summer it has gotten worse, she has no nasal discharge and does not appear to be in trouble with her breathing, it is just "ratty" The vet is not worried the cancer and the breathing are connected but I am. What do you think? A vet with a scope is 2-3 hours away and this mare is a horribe hauler, I would hate to try it in this heat with that breathing, So. Ga.

[deltawave]

Does it get worse with exertion? With the temperature? With turnout on grass? With the type of hay? Anything make it better? How long does it last, how often, and what are her vitals with and without the rattling? Did your vet listen to her lungs during an episode? Is she plagued with anything that might suggest allergies?

[pintopiaffe]

Could it just be post nasal drip?

Is it raspy like an asthma person? Or a groany sound? I have one horse that I was SURE had pneumonia as a foal. Whenever it's raining or wet, he makes the sound still. Scoped perfectly clean, he just somehow figured out he can make this noise... and he does. Mostly when he's 'whining' about something. (gimme food, it's wet, I'm miserable...' it's endearing, now that I know it's not an issue... <shrugs> but it sure sounds like he's DYING. :eek:

[paintjumper]

No post nasal drip, she is out on grass 24/7 with grass hay in the winter, only exertion she gets is to trot to the feed bucket, nothing really makes it better but maybe she is a little better on the cooler days, maybe. Her vitals are normal with no temp and her lungs are clear. I think it is all in her head which is why I am worrying about the eye cancer.

[Mach Two]

It's not all in her head, horses don't know how to do that....but she could have a long standing pocket of abcess somewhere in her throat or nasal cavity. I used to take all my horse's temps daily (eventers...I kept a log book of their baselines as good practice to know when something was "off") and had one who ran 1/2 degree high....and he had a little rattle. One day, the abcess he had been brewing for 6 months burst (and came out his nose) Sure enough, the vet said it was something he'd had a long time, and some antibiotics cleared up the rest of the rattle.

Do you have a vet that can do a farm call? Does her temp run high (take it early AM and late PM...even a hald degree means something. Good luck!

[deltawave]

I think the OP means by "all in her head" that the pathology lies somewhere north of the neck. Anatomically, not psychologically. :)

[paintjumper]

I meant physically in her head, not psychologically. If this is an abcess it has been there a LOOOONG time, at least 3 years. The guy with the equipment to do a scope does not come this far north anymore but I guess I could give her a round of antibiotics and see if it gets better. It sounds like if she could just blow her nose REALLY hard she could breathe better. I have bad allergies and asthma so I know how she must feel.

[deltawave]

I don't know how useful it is in horses, but maybe sinus X-rays? At least they're inexpensive and could probably be done at your barn.

[Gayla]

The vet held my mare's nose closed for about 30 seconds and then let her breathe. She coughed and coughed. She has allergy induced COPD. She sounds wheezy if you lay your head on her side. One easy thing to try is for your vet to give you some Dex and see if she improves. If she does, it may be allergies or COPD of some sort. I think it is strange that your vet didn't think of this first so maybe the location of the noise is not in line with COPD. Around here it is so hot it is very common in horses in the summer. I might have her scoped the next time the vet was out to ease your mind. You are thinking it is some sort of growth that is blocking her airway?

[paintjumper]

from anything I have had before. I have had a mare with an abcess that drained on its own from one nostral, a mare with heaves and 2 roarers, this mare does not sound like any of them. I am just worried the cancer in the eye is related somehow. She does not seem be in any pain, she is fat on pasture with a little feed in the morning just because she thinks she deserves it, her coat is slick and pretty,............ just this rattling with EVERY breath. :(