August 2021 Newsletter
Anhidrosis
Most of the horses in the Texas heat are soaked with sweat this time of year. Sweating, shade and drinking water are the horse’s natural way to keep from becoming overheated. Some horses have a condition known as Anhidrosis and have lost their ability to sweat. This generally happens when a horse has “worn out” their sweating mechanism by constantly overheating and profusely sweating. Anhidrosis also occurs in horses that relocate from cooler climates to our humid Texas heat. This condition usually lasts all summer until the night temperatures consistently fall below 70 degrees in the Fall, then normal sweating and respiration should resume.
Signs of Anhidrosis are nonstop rapid respiration and/or panting with flared nostrils, temperature over 102 (normal equine during summer is 100-100.8), decreased or no sweating even after exercise, and exercise intolerance.
Various medications are available to treat anhidrosis but none with much success. AC powder, Omega Equine Mega Sweat, or dark beer on the feed benefits some horses. Acupuncture has been reported to be 70% effective in some cases.
Management of anhidrosis is to keep the horse as cool as possible. Barn misters and high velocity fans help cool stalls during the day. Turn the horse out at sunset and bring in by 10am, before the temperature rises. Pastured horses can be hosed off, but scrape off the excess water from their coats if leaving them in the sun. If you must ride the horse, ride lightly and only in the coolest part of the day, normally early morning. It is best to wait until temperatures cool in the fall and the horse has returned to normal sweating and respiration before resuming exercise.
Cushings
Cushings horses that failed to shed properly should have their long hair coats clipped to keep them cool.
Heaves
Equine Asthma or Heaves is a condition where the horse has difficulty breathing. The horse “heaves” the air out on expiration with an abdominal muscle push to empty the lungs, so he can breathe in. The bronchioles or small airways in the lungs are constricted in diameter, and are often full of mucous, making it hard to breathe. Equine asthma is an allergic reaction to the mold and dust that is on mature pasture grass or round baled hay. Hot humid weather is a contributing factor in bringing on the symptoms. Cutting hay or pasture nearby releases mold dust in the air, causing a horse with heaves to go into respiratory distress.
Signs are difficulty breathing, abdominal flank muscles push on exhale, coughing, wheezing and exercise intolerance. The horse usually has no nasal discharge, snotty nose, or fever.
Management is eliminating the source of mold dust exposure. Do not feed round baled hay. Feed wet down flakes of square baled grass or alfalfa hay to reduce dust. Remove the horse from the pasture except for few morning hours. Keep it indoors under a fan and wet the bedding or dirt daily to reduce dust.
Treatment is cortisone and bronchodilators to quiet the bronchospasm and open the airways of the lungs. Cortisone is given in a decreasing dose, but often the horse has to stay on a low dose all summer to breathe comfortably. A new treatment, Aservo, is now available. It is a cortisone mist that uses an equine designed inhaler. When given daily for 2 weeks, it should keep the heaves under control for 2-3 months.
Tokyo Olympics—-July 24-August 8.
Equestrian events on NBC Sports (Dish channel 159). US team won Silver in dressage, 6th in 3 day event. Jessica, daughter of Bruce Springsteen, is on the US Jumping team.
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