We’ve all been there. We go out to feed or catch our horse to ride and immediately notice a discharge coming from one or both nostrils. Is your horse sick? Is it just allergies? Or could it be an infection? How’s a person to know?
Here’s a quick guide to help you figure that out. The first thing you’ll want to do is make several observations—about both the nasal discharge and your horse’s overall demeanor.
Symptoms
Some things to take note of regarding the discharge include:
- Color
- Consistency
- Amount
- Coming from one nostril (unilateral) or both (bilateral)?
- Does it have an odor?
Nasal discharge can be watery, mucoid (opaque and white), purulent (thick and yellowish-green), or a combination of any of these. Different colors and consistencies can be due to different causes.
Questions to ask yourself about your horse’s overall demeanor include:
- Are they bright and alert?
- Are they eating and drinking normally?
- Do they have a fever?
- Are there any other abnormal signs aside from the discharge?
Possible Causes
Here are the primary possible causes of a runny nose in horses:
Allergies
A horse with watery or mucoid discharge is likely reacting to dust or other environmental irritants. This is usually a temporary problem, but environmental changes may be needed if it continues.
Asthma
Watery or mucoid discharge could also be related to equine asthma. This is more common in horses that are kept stalled for most of the day; they are usually reacting to dust particles in the environment or in hay. Horses with asthma will typically have other symptoms, such as labored breathing, as well.
Viral Infection
Horses with a viral infection may have thick, yellow discharge coming from both nostrils. They will also likely be less active than usual and possibly running a fever.
Bacterial Infection
Bacterial infections can also cause thick, yellow nasal discharge, and this may occur after a horse has been ill with a virus first. Keep in mind that bacterial infections can also occur due to dental disease. If your horse is experiencing discharge from only one nostril (usually creamy), it could be from a bacterial infection of the guttural pouch or an infection of the sinus cavity. Fever may be present here as well.
If your horse’s runny nose lasts for several days, is severe, or if you see other visible symptoms of illness, don’t hesitate to get your vet involved!
Enjoy this blog post? We think you may like Breathe Easy: Supporting Your Horse’s Lung Health by Casie Bazay.
