"Chronic Cough Surprise"

These images are from a quarter horse gelding in north-central Florida that presented for a chronic cough. Endoscopy revealed multiple fungal granulomas (bottom image) and the horse was treated with anti-fungals plus a pythium vaccine. Thirty days later (top image), the cough was resolved and the throat was much improved. The horse will continue treatment for another 30 days in hopes of shrinking the remaining granulomas. Pharyngeal or throat inflammation is a common cause of coughing in horses and should be evaluated with an endoscopy exam. Fortunately, fungal granulomas within the pharynx are relatively uncommon!