Replies

Speaking of kennel cough, Kari and I have had something similar run through all our horses. It seemed to run it's course in about 2 weeks, but they had the awfullest cough and snotty nose you've ever seen. I don't know what it was, but mine have been vaccinated for every respiratory ailment known to man and they still got it. It must've just been some kind of cold, but it was bad. Goose was the only one that just couldn't shake it. He would cough so much that he would run out of breath and I thought he was either going to pass out or throw up (if he could).

I called the vet and he told me to come by and pick up some Uniprim (powdered feed-type antibiotic) to give him for 7 days, so I did, but that didn't even phase it. I finally ended up having to give him 25cc of penicillin every day for 10 days to get rid of it, and even then it started coming back a few days after I stopped the penicillin.

I mentioned all this to the guys down at the co-op and they recommended I give him some Aureomycin. It's a granulated tetracycline-based feed type antibiotic/growth hormone that's labeled cows, sheep and pigs, but they said they gave it to their horses any time they started getting a little snotty or coughing and it seemed to nip it in the bud. At that point I was willing to try anything. It wasn't that expensive either, ($17.95 for a 50# bag) compared to the Uniprim ($35 for a small container that lasts 7 days). You feed about a pound per day per horse and they seem to like it. It looks about like crushed graham crackers. I ended up having to give it to Whirl too because she started coming down with it after Goose and it kept her from getting a full-blown case. Kari and I split a bag and she used it on her bunch too and it worked on them.

I'd never heard of it before but sure was glad those guys at the co-op told me about it. It was a real life-saver so I thought I'd pass it along.