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  Discussion on Rescued COPD horse has sweat episodes
Author Message
Member:
Pfdusty

Posted on Saturday, Dec 3, 2005 - 9:59 pm:

I just founded Dusty Trails Horse Rescue, Inc. here in Montgomery, AL and 2 weeks ago we took in a COPD gelding about 200+lbs under weight. He was in a field with other horses and has a history on COPD. His picture is at: www.dthr.org/zero.htm
We started him on Senior food, some beet pulp (soaked) and costal/bermuda hay (washed) and for the past week 1/3 cup corn oil 2x day. At first he was on 8cc dex every day, at this point he is on 8cc every third day.
Sometimes he has a white nasal discharge but not regularly.
He is finally gaining weight and feeling better (he is running into the pasture which before he wouldn't even lift his head up).
We did have one episode of a mild colic (impaction) 1 week ago. And he was on EP-1 3x for 4 days.
This afternoon he held his tail out again as he did when he had the mild colic but he is eating fine, behaving fine, temp is fine, gut sound, pooping fine, and soft.
But his chest is sweaty, underside of the neck as well as between and outside of his hind legs.
Is it possible the sweat having something to do with the COPD? Or could it be hormones going crazy due to malnourishment? He bites into the salt lick.
He seems OK given the circumstances, should I ignore the sweating? Of course it just so happens that our Vet is at a Conference of some sort for a week.

Thank you for any info.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Dec 4, 2005 - 9:59 am:

How old is this horse Moni?
DrO
Member:
Pfdusty

Posted on Sunday, Dec 4, 2005 - 10:55 am:

He is somewhere between 18 and 22. This morning all was well again and the sweat areas had dried up.
One more thing, when he came he had a very weak cough and "farted" with every cough. Now, 2 weeks later the cough is gone and he has started to nicker in the mornings. So I was wondering if it really is COPD. He still is breathing harder but not nearly as bad as when he came.
He used to be 100% outside without shelter.
Member:
Choney

Posted on Sunday, Dec 4, 2005 - 11:26 pm:

Hi Moni,

I bought a copd/heaves horse approx one year ago. I have found that strictly following the guidelines posted on Dr. O's site have helped tremendously.

First no hay at all. I have just started introducing small amounts of Dengie (see Lucerne Farms website) with no issues thus far.

Second, outside all the time. No exposure to barn air.

Third, Dex IM given at first sign of any breathing distress, no waiting for full-blown respiratory distress (used judiciously).

The two times she's had sweating episodes in the past year, it was noted upon closer examination that actually she was is in mild respiratory distress. Those are the times I started her on the dex. So, perhaps the "sweats" in your horse are the byproduct of labored breathing also.

I should point out that this horse has thrived on this management. It is hard to deny hay, but she gets lots of apples, carrots, and treated with products similar to Dengie.

Best of luck with your shelter. What a wonderful thing to do.

Cher Mc.
Member:
Qh4me

Posted on Monday, Dec 5, 2005 - 2:41 pm:

I have no comments on your questions, but wanted to wish you all the best with your shelter. What a kind and thoughtful thing to do and I am sure you will make a big difference in many horses lives.
Member:
Pfdusty

Posted on Monday, Dec 5, 2005 - 2:54 pm:

Thank you Cher and Shawna for your responses.

Of course now that I wrote about this fellow, he started coughing/farting again.

Strange is that the sweat episodes are only in the evenings/nights.
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Monday, Dec 5, 2005 - 4:01 pm:

Moni, I really have no idea about the sweats being only at night and only on certain parts of the gelding, but I can say that when I am training, and the horse is resisting my asking it to give a part of its body to me, the sweat comes on the parts of the body that are the most resistant. I don't have to be trotting or cantering to get a sweat. If we are working on "give to the bit" at a standstill, and if the horse is very resistant, the most stubborn neck and shoulder muscles will be the ones that sweat the most. I am wondering if your gelding ever lays down? Maybe he is struggling to stay afoot . . . and the muscles are protesting, and therefore getting tired? Still . . . I don't understand why that would only be at night . . . unless, maybe, he is wandering around during the day, and the resistance isn't concentrating in just a few spots. Wish I knew more to help. I'm sure there is a member who knows . . . or at least knows SOMEone who knows the answer.
Member:
Lilly

Posted on Monday, Dec 5, 2005 - 4:54 pm:

Moni,
Is the horse kept inside at night? Could it be that the barn air makes it difficult for him to breath and that is why he sweats? Is it dusty in the barn? Just a thought. I just noticed in Cher's post that labored breathing can be accompanied by sweating.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Dec 5, 2005 - 7:51 pm:

I suspect at night the humidity is up or the breeze down making the sweat accumulate rather than evaporate. Older horses with Cushing's disease do seem to sweat a bit easier, partially because they have a very heavy coat, does this horse have a heavy coat?
DrO
Member:
Pfdusty

Posted on Monday, Dec 5, 2005 - 8:28 pm:

Where do I start,
he is in a barn at night only because he is so thin and it is getting cold, but it is very well ventilated. When the stalls get cleaned or anything is going on, we put him outside first and he doesn't come in till we think that the air is better (looking against the lights).
He does not have a heavy coat at all but he does lay down at night. Occasionally there is a night where he doesn't sweat (to make it more confusing).
The goal is to eventually put him outside 24/7 again (that's how he was kept before we took him in) but from my observation over the year, he did worse then compared to now in a barn.

Once crazy thought is: He does like coming in and is calm but could it be nerves since he is used to being out all the time and he is now "confined" and some days are worse than others?

It isn't a big deal, just strange and I am just worried since he definitely has a long way to go just to get his physical strength back.

Thanks for all the responses!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 6, 2005 - 4:57 pm:

One last point, if the horse does have COPD you will probably not get rid of the cough and difficult breathing until he is no longer kept in the barn. See the article for more on this.
DrO
Member:
Pfdusty

Posted on Friday, Jan 6, 2006 - 11:48 pm:

Update:
We finally figured out why he is sweating at times. He never was in a stall, only outside, and it is related to being confined. Zero's COPD is significantly better and gained about 100+ pounds. He runs and bucks and rolls in the mud!
Zero is one happy guy but still has more weight to put on.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Jan 7, 2006 - 11:36 am:

Super Moni,
Nervous sweats huh, it does happen.
DrO
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