Due to the many possible cough causes veterinarians might need to perform a battery of exams and tests to narrow the differential diagnoses. | Photo: Kevin Thompson/The Horse

By Lori Madsen, DVM

As a horse owner, you would not hesitate to seek veterinary care if your horse shows signs of lameness, colic, choke, or other immediate dangers. But what do you do when your horse shows signs that are less clear-cut, such as a cough?

There are dozens of reasons why your horse could be coughing from a mild irritation to an underlying condition that needs treatment. Here, we’ll review some possible diagnoses and the tools and tests your veterinarian might use to figure out what’s making your horse cough.

Check for Fever and Monitor the Cough

The first thing to determine is whether your horse has a fever. Take your horse’s temperature once or twice a day for several days. If the temperature is higher than 101.5° F, contact your veterinarian. A cough with a fever could indicate an infection or tumor and warrants immediate veterinary care