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Nadia F
Member
Username: Nadia
Post Number: 57
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, Oct 15, 2005 - 3:14 pm: |   |
Hi, Dr. O,
My horse was diagnosed with allergies a few years ago. I have since changed his environment a few times, each getting better with time outside and diet. He has arthritis in his knee, and the vet a few years ago suggested I put him on aspirin for the rest of his life to slow down joint damage. He gets about a 1/2-3/4 scoop Aspirese (aspirin in molasses powder), 1 scoop Corta-Flx pellets, 1/4 scoop Grand Vite (vitamin powder) - along with ~ 2-3 lbs of oats - twice a day. I would say his health is great, the only issue he has is when we first start to ride, he does cough deeply for about 10-15 min (on and off.) This past weekend, I rode him for about 30 min. He did his coughing thing for about 10 min. After the ride, I put him in his stall while I cleaned up. When I went to take him out, I noticed that he had blood in his left nostril (sort of looked like a mini-explosion) - and the usual white mucous coming from his right nostril. He's never had a bloody nose before. I wiped out both nostrils, then let him continue to eat for a few more minutes to see if he would have any more drainage. No more blood out of his left nostril. A small amount of the muscous remained on the right - but I would say this is normal drainage after riding. Temp was normal. He seemed 100% normal in his appetite and attitude. The vet saw him the next day - no drainage. No temp. Lungs sounded clear. I told her about the coughing issues he normally has. Vet suggested putting on guaifenesin powder (1 tsp per day - I split between the 2 supplements). I rode him last night for the first time since he's been on it and he did not cough at all. Out of curiosity, I did an internet search on guaifenesin and found some articles indicating that aspirin should be avoided - it seemed to say it will negate the effects of the guaifenesin. Is this true? I think I mentioned the supplements he is on, but I can't be sure. Should I call the vet about this? Is there any harm in continuing the powder? Could the combination harm him? I was suprised he didn't cough at all last night. I didn't realize that this stuff has sedative effects - the amount he is getting - could this affect him? He seems very normal.
Thanks. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 13920
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 17, 2005 - 8:08 am: | |
Hello Nadia,
I do not know any way that aspirin will stop the expectorant effects of guaifenesin Nadia and I am surprised it had this effect of stopping a cough considering its proposed mechanism of action. Guaifenesin is supposed to increase secretions in the lungs. The increased secretions are more fluid than the mucous from inflammation and the increased fluidity of the secretions are supposed to be easier to remove. Therefore I would have expected a coughing but easier and shorter in duration. Personally I tried using guaifenesin for several years for "barn cough" and did not see any difference. Your post illuminates what is likely your biggest ongoing problem: you continue to expose your horse to barn air, for more on this see Equine Diseases » Respiratory System » Heaves & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
The doses that cause noticeable sedation are quite large so you could be below that level.
DrO |
Nadia F
Member
Username: Nadia
Post Number: 58
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 17, 2005 - 9:50 pm: | |
He was started on it for 4 days before I rode - maybe he coughed up alot the first few days? I am amazed as well as to how fast he seems to have relief. Since July, he is now in a stall that has an attached run (~20 x 100) - he can go in and out all night. He is out all day in the pasture. He gets fed his hay on the ground. I feed him racehorse oats (less dust?). This (the guaifenesin) is the only change he has had since then. I have now ridden him 4 days in a row and he only had 1 small cough last night. I am just hoping he stays comfortable.
Thanks. |
