DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ANHYDROSIS???? YOU NEED THIS INFO

Summer time is not always the best time of the year for our horse counterparts, especially if they are afflicted with ANHYDROSIS!  Do you have any idea what this is?  It is very important to know that this is a condition where a horse has the inability to sweat, therefore it is unable to properly cool down in hot/humid temperatures.  There are many factors that are believed to be the cause of this condition, one being, the over stimulation of the sweat glands making them cease to work completely.  When the horse cannot sweat it will then try to cool itself down by locating to a shady area, panting and flaring nostrils, and lying down in a damp cool area perhaps.  Studies have shown that pain, environment and dehydration in combination play a big part in the development of this condition that can in fact, happen over night.  One day a horse may appear to sweat just as it should, then the next  day the sweat glands produce nothing.  Keeping the horse's temperature down will reduce the chances of brain damage that will become a risk factor once the temperature reaches 106 degrees.  Hair loss around the face and neck area, very dry, brittle hair and scaly skin are all symptoms that indicate you may have a "non-sweating" horse on your hands.  A test can be administered by your veterinarian using the injection if epinephrine that is known to cause sweating.  If your horse does not produce sweat after this injection, the horse may be diagnosed with ANHYDROSIS.  Another good practice to keep in mind is to keep your horse healthy and well hydrated in the hot and humid months of summer.  A good idea is to give oral electrolytes that will help with the balance of salt and chloride in the blood.  When these levels are low, it has been determined to be a contributing factor too.  Keep a look out for strange behaviors in the hot and humid months of summer.  Giving a bath followed by a mild brace will also keep smegma from building up in the sweat glands sometimes producing blockages resulting in an impaired sweating ability.  Horses are the only animals besides humans that sweat to cool off.  So keep your horse sweating.