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  Discussion on Anhidosis Symptoms
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Member:
Starda01

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 22, 2006 - 5:39 pm:

The other day the trainer at my barn told me she thought my horse might be showing early signs of becoming a non-sweater. She sited a chalkiness to his coat, and a thickening of the skin. I've had the horse, a 16-17 year old Appendix QH, and in that time haven't noticed any abnormalities in his sweating. In fact, he's been sweating fine, and the weather has been extremely hot recently. We live in Miami, Florida, so its an area that has a higher percentage of anhiDrOtic horses.

Her remarks gave me pause, and some of the things I had been noticing lately is that he's had some hairloss on his chest, but he's doing a lot of shedding. It seems to me like the shedding is a healthy sign, and that he's getting ready for his fall coat to come in because he's getting darker just as he did last year. But he's been very sensitive to being brushed, esp on his chest. He has always been sensitive, but lately he seems quite sensitive. As for the chalkiness, I'm wondering if I haven't been using the shampoo too much and dried his coat out.

My questions are; What symptoms have any of you with anhiDrOtic horses experienced leading up to the problem occurring? and how expensive have the treatments for it been for you?

Thanks,
Sara
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006 - 6:40 am:

Hello Sara,
Living in NC I do not see anhiDrOtic horses but in the article associated with this discussion there is a review of clinical features found in 847 anhiDrOtic horses in FL in the scientific reports section. Though patchy hair loss is on the list I do not see anything about chalkiness or thickening of the skin. On the other hand frequent shampooing will make horses skin flaky. Concerning therapy I know lots of things are given but do not know of any treatments that are supported by research. What are folks giving locally for the condition.
DrO
Member:
Starda01

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006 - 2:20 pm:

Hi DrO,
Thanks for your reply. I have read the articles I didn't see anything which indicated symptoms to watch for prior to the horse stopping sweating. I was told that it comes on suddenly, but that doesn't seem to always be the case according to what I've read. At present my horse still seems to be sweating ok. I'm foregoing the shampoo for a while to see if the natural oils in his skins will shine up his coat again. Plus I put some wheat germ oil in his feed to see if that might help, if dry skin is the problem.

I have seen people use One AC. The trainer at our barn said the only treatment she knew of that worked was ACT (I don't know if she meant ACTH) and that it was very expensive. Of course, all of the common sense principles of keeping the horse in the shade, stall fans and exercising only in the cooler hours of the day, etc.

Since all my horse experience prior to this one was in Maryland, I'm not really familiar with the condition. I know of other horses that have it, but I don't really know what their owners did about it.

Sara
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 4:26 pm:

That is because other than a gradual slow down is sweating with concomitant increase to heat sensitivity I don't think there is anything you can hang your hat on Sara. Neither One AC or ACTH have any proof of efficacy that I am aware of though they are popular treatments but you hit the nail on the head: avoid heat and humidity stress.
DrO
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