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  Discussion on Possible AnhiDrOsis
Author Message
Member:
amara

Posted on Saturday, Aug 18, 2007 - 3:45 pm:

Hi Dr.O and others,
earlier this week i went to the barn in the evening to find my pony breathing extremely hard and not a DrOp of sweat on him. i calculated his breathing rate at around 70bpm. my thermometer was not handy and i didnt want to waste any time, so i immediately went to hosing him off.

After 20-30 minutes his respirations were more normal and i went and found my thermometer. his temp was a little over 102. I decided to keep hosing him, and after another 20 minutes he seemed much more bright eyed and interested in his surroundings, and his temp was now around 100. His breating was normal. Normal temps for him is around 99, pulse around 40bpm and respiration 12 or so. He is normally quite the food hog (and is in fact a little overweight but no more than a 6 i'd say)

he has never had any problems sweating before. there was no evidence that he had been running around. he was in his paddock and it was not in the least bit disturbed. He's not the sort to run around for any reason. he had some shade (which he doesnt have to compete for) and plenty of hay and water. temperature that day was around 102, which is cooler than it had been for the past severl days, but obviously not very cool. there was very little humidity and a consistent light breeze.

The next day I had the barn workers check on him while I was at work and got a call in the evening that he was a little distressed. When I got there he was breathing a little heavy - around 50bpm, and his pulse was also about 50 bpm. He had sweated on his neck and chest, tho not a whole lot. the temp. that day was in the upper 90's a with a definite breeze. i hosed him off and within minutes he was completely normal. At no point on this day was his appetitie diminished, and except for breathing fast he seemed fine.

since then the temps have cooled down and we've had no problems. his hair coat the day after the bad case was very dry, but no hair loss anywhere. but it has appeared more normal since then. it seemed almost like it was "sunburned" tho he has shown no sensitivity anywhere.

I know you need more evidence than this, but is this possibly a case of anhiDrOsis starting? even tho he's been sweating completely normally all along? or an isolated case of heat exhaustion?

i'm hoping to move to a new place closer to work where the horses can live at home. its still at least a month off tho. once there i'd be able to set up fans and misters and whatever else necessary. riding him is not important, only his health. for right now tho i'm stuck boarding, and there's no way i can set up any fans or misters or a wet area or anything of the sort. the best i could do is bring him home to my house and put him in the fenced yard with the dogs and the big shade tree. guess i could put up a fan or sprinkler in the yard. i know my landlord wont care - he's already told me so.

moving up north is a definite possibility if he'd be best off for it. after 11 years together you do what you must. tho i dread shoveling snow again.

in your opinion what is the best course of action to take? wait and see? have a vet out to do adrenalin injections? he gets only hay, pasture and a trace mineral salt block. are electrolytes helpful?

Thanks
Melissa and her "Little Man"
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 20, 2007 - 6:21 am:

Hello Melissa,
Yes this sounds like it could be the beginning of AnhiDrOsis. I would not bother with the adrenaline but would take the management precautions in the article including trying the electrolyte recommendations.
DrO
Member:
amara

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 - 7:59 pm:

just a quick update...
after a couple of days slight DrOp in temp and a very nice breeze the temps are again in the upper 90's with high humidity and very little breeze... the pony has had absolutely no problems whatsoever... i've found him out in the hot sun in the middle of the day sweating normally, and have even worked him a few times and he's sweated fine....
i was going to get the electrolytes but wasnt sure how i would go about feeding them, since he doesnt get any grain at all and hated to put it in water in case he didnt drink, and couldnt get any paste electrolytes without waiting several days to order, but with this evidence i guess maybe i'll hold off on that... everything about him is bright eyed and bushy tailed and completely normal like he's always been.... i'm hoping it was just a weird isolated case, but obviously will be ever vigilant, just in case... thanks for your great articles
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