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  Discussion on Dehydration
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Posted on Friday, Jul 2, 1999 - 10:41 am:

DrO: I have a horse in temporary care this week lunge and turn-out only (MFT pinto gelding 12 yrs old) Everything in his physical make-up this normal, his attitude is good and his eating well(10lb cubes am & pm. stables feed of choice not mine) He was vet checked two months ago (all OK) when his owner purchased him. Our stables has auto. paddle drinkers and as with some horses this one was not using it well so his owner added a 10 gallon bucket of water to his stall to make sure he was getting enough water. Wednesday our weather temp (So. Ca.)increased to between 85-90 degrees and by a skin pinch test (pinch stays for approx. 2 secs.) he is showing signs of dehydration again. I in turn placed a larger bucket (which I am cleaning out daily) in his stall (which is in a shady spot) and by what I can tell his intake is between 20-25 gallons a day by how empty the bucket is(no other horse can get to it,) his urine also looks normal. My question is this: How reliable is the pinch test and is there any other reason why his skin would give the appearance of dehydration? Thank you for your time, Lynn

Posted on Saturday, Jul 3, 1999 - 9:10 am:

The skin pinch test is not very reliable I am afraid at least not as a absolute test. Some horses have less elasticity in their skin and all horses tend to lose elasticity as they get older. Changes in the skin pinch test are probably of more importance as long as you use the same area and same amount of pressure and time when you pinch.

The amount of water you describe is certainly excessive and I would double check the accuracy carefully. If it is true, be sure this horse never runs out of drinking water and I would have him evaluated for kidney disease, early Cushinoid, and medullary wash out. By the way I have two healthy horses in the practice that drink 20 gallons plus daily that I have not been able to determine why but 3 or 4 that are cushinoid.
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Jul 3, 1999 - 11:06 am:

DrO Thank you for your time it is appreciated! Everything you've said make alot of sence. By the amount of wet area's in this horses stall and the facts you have giving me about the pinch test. I will be sure to discuss the other possibilties with the owner when she returns. Lynn
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