Horse with runny nose and swollen nostrils?

I suggest you have him swabbed. They take a test of the mucus and culture it.

Thing is are you sure its not strangles because the antibiotics would suppress it for a bit, making the horse seem better, but all it actually does is prolong the strangles.

Also a horse doesn't need to have abcessess under the jaw to have strangles a large percent don't. They don't even need a temperature.

But when symptoms start with a runny nose and the mucus coming out like custard, it is usually strangles.

If you've already had him swabbed sorry!

It does sound like some sort of infection especially as the anti-biotics worked a bit. I would get the vet back and if he or she is unsure of whats going on it might be worth getting refered to a vet school/hospital where they can do more investigations, maybe scoop him or something. He maybe has something in the sinus that is causeing the infection and needs removing before it will clear up.

In the meantime, probably what you are doing allready, but try and keep the horse reasonably isolated, maybe pick a buddy for him and isolate those two, especially as it seems to be quite a long term problem, it's not good to isolate for two long but you don't want to risk spreading. Aslo try and keep the discharge cleaned up. You should also try putting him onto a dust free bedding and feed to reduce any possible irritation from dust in straw and hay. Also could try putting him on eccinacea suppliments to help boost his immune system. You can also get stable sprays with menthol in them to reduce the dust and help with his breathing as blocked sinuses will probably have an effect on that.

Good luck finding the cause - try to get refered to the vet school as they have a much wider base of knowledge and the equipment to diagnose.

I agree with the first person. An infection is a good guess if it's swelling. A lot of times Runny nose can be any sort of disease but definately get your vet to check on him. The poor thing... You might want to make sure the hay isn't dusty a minor respotory problme can worsen with bad hay or bedding.

Good Luck!

It sounds life a infection of some sort, report to your vet on the mucuous etc.

He should stay away from the other horses until you know exactly what is wrong with him. If it is a infection it will spread to the other horses if they become in contact. Make sure everyone around where your horse is kept so they know not to get into contact of this horse and then go off and touch their own horse. It will spread infection.

Good luck, talk to your vet

I think I just read about something similar to this in an issue of "Equus" magazine. Go to their web site and search. There was a growth of some kind high up in the nostril that had to be removed (non-cancerous). Or could it have been a snakebite? Check out that wes site. Sounds miserable to look at and deal with.

yes.

is he a bald faced or pink faced horse? it could be a yeast infection, in the sinus

or

there is fungus, found in the tennesee area, that sets up shop in the sinues and pouch. i would contact leesburg equine hospital, because they are very experienced in the treatment of this fungus. out of the 2 horses i have seen with it, one recovered fully, the other could not overcome it. the treatment was over 5k, and required many , many trips for treatment at the hospital and than alot of home treatment and vet visits. i think after everything was said and done, my friend spent over 7,000 dollars on fixing it, and then was so freaked out by the whole horse ownership thing that she got rid of him. she has 3 children and was in no way prepared for the circus that ensued.

i went thru the same thing, this time last year. turned out my horse had developed allergies.

try 24/7 turn out, and water down hay, and inside of the barn. that really helped my guy.