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  Discussion on Overheating?
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Member:
mysi

Posted on Saturday, Jul 14, 2007 - 10:07 pm:

I'm recently returning my horse Moose to work after an injury(started back about 6 weeks ago). I started with walking to an hour and implemented 5 min of trotting increasing 5min every week. I'm at 25 min now and it's the middle of the summer here in South Florida, so it's super hot and humid. Within 10 minutes he is huffing and puffing but still peppy and wants to go so we do. He definitely gets tired close to the end, but heading home he gets a second wind and tries to drag my home (I let him get away with that). He doesn't sweat much at all, more at the walk, sometimes intermittently throughout the workout, but sometimes not at all(he use to sweat regularly). I put him on One AC at the suggestion of my vet 3 days ago.

When we get back to the barn he is breathing so
heavy and puffing so much. His heart rate is very high too. I untack him and let him pee in his stall (like you care about that). I immediately hose him for about 15 minutes to cool him down. I then put him under fans to continue to cool him. But sometimes 30- 45 minutes after all of that he's still breathing heavy. I always check his temp at that point and it's usually about 102-102.3. Then I take him out and hose him again, let him graze for a few minutes and he's usually fine at that point. But several other horses at my farm recover in just a few minutes. Granted they are all TB's and Moose is a warmblood/draft cross.

He doesn't ever seems depressed, and is always ready for his post ride apple. He also pulls to the grass to munch after his first shower.

I do have him on electrolytes daily and I recently read on here thats not such a good idea, yet it says to give it in times of heavy stress and we ride like this 6 days a week. He refuses to touch his salt block - always has. (I've tried a few kinds too).

Also let me mention that I changed to ride in the late evenings when its a little cooler and it's made a slight difference, as sometimes I don't have to give him the second hose down.

So are the electrolytes appropriate?

Should I keep pushing when he's already puffing?

Am I pushing to hard and doing damage to him in some way?

Should I be doing something else or is the fairly normal considering his breed, being out of shape and the weather?
Member:
mysi

Posted on Saturday, Jul 14, 2007 - 10:11 pm:

I posted this twice on accident, you can delete one. Sorry.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 15, 2007 - 8:46 am:

Melissa,
The article Horse Care » Routine Horse Care »
Summertime, Caring for Your Horse in the Heat gives you specific guidelines to judge if you are over stressing your horse with exercise in the heat. I would say a 30 to 45 minute cool down following exercise suggests you are over stressing this horse and at risk of serious problems. Also you need to realize you will worsen his anhiDrOsis with this type stress. Considering the breed and condition I would strive for even a shorter recovery time than recommended in the article, perhaps a 20 minute recovery to the parameters in the article.

You could and should add loose trace mineral salts to the feed. As to giving electrolytes, if the horse does not sweat heavily I am uncertain of the need but don't just stop, you should wean a horse off of them over a months period. A horse with a sweating problem should not be put to the test of what it might be able to stand, instead it is up to you ro protect this horse from over doing it.
DrO
Member:
mysi

Posted on Sunday, Jul 15, 2007 - 12:43 pm:

Thanks Dr. O. I will definitely cut back. And I'm on my way to the feed store to get trace minerals. It's funny how when I ask my vet and trainer these things they kind of blow me off. They think I am neurotic with my horse (I am) and over-reacting. I am overprotective, but only because I love him and want to protect him from any harm.

I'll let you know how he does. He's never had a sweating problem until recently, is that something that just starts for no reason? Will he ever sweat normally again?
Member:
mysi

Posted on Friday, Jul 27, 2007 - 9:35 pm:

Well, no feed store here carries loose trace mineral salts only trace minerals and none have salt), so in desperation I pulverized Moose's salt block into "Loose trace mineral salt" and have been adding into his feed. With a dash of oil it sticks to the feed so after much dismay, he gave in and eats it.

He's still not sweating, I've had him on One AC for ever 2 weeks, no help. I've cut back on his exercise, I'm not sure what I can do. My vet wants me to start giving him 12cc's of Ventipulmin 1/2hr before I ride for 5 days and see if that "jump starts" him to sweat. She says it's effective. I'm willing to try I guess. At $225 a bottle it better work! Apparently lots of people here use it and some every time they ride they have to use it. I'm concerned because I live in South Florida and it doesn't exactly cool down until Oct-Nov. What happens if he never starts sweating? Are we done with heavy work (jumping and long trail rides)?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 29, 2007 - 9:05 am:

I wish I had better news for you Melissa. You will be limited to riding that does not push the horses thermoregulatory system. Many of the horses have to move to cooler climates to become useful mounts again.

Please let us know if you think the clenbuterol (Ventipulmin) is helpful. Prelimanary research suggests these type treatments are not helpful (Vet Dermatol. 2007 Jun;18(3):152-60. A preliminary study of the short circuit current (Isc) responses of sweat gland cells from normal and anhiDrOtic horses to purinergic and adrenergic agonists.)
DrO
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