Anhidrosis in Horses
Anhidrosis can be a debilitating condition especially for performance horses. During hot weather or hard exercise horses with anhidrosis do not sweat. Since sweating is essential for cooling muscles and internal organs a dry horse will quickly overheat and be in danger of heatstroke. Any horse may be affected but this condition is much more common in humid southern climates.
What Is Anhidrosis?
Anhidrosis also known as dry coat syndrome or nonsweating disease is the inability to perspire. It occurs most commonly in the southeastern U S. but horses throughout the country can be affected during particularly hot summer weather 1
Anhidrosis may appear suddenly or gradually with the first signs being exercise intolerance and slow recovery particularly in hot weather. Other
symptoms become evident as the problem progresses.
Symptoms
Elevated pulse and body temperature
Slow exercise recovery
Scanty perspiration
No sweat dry coat
Flaky skin
Hair loss
Lethargy
Horses with anhidrosis will sweat very littleor not at allwhen other horses are wet with perspiration. Even during work affected animals will not perspire causing them to overheat quickly and breathe heavily in an attempt to cool down.
Causes of Anhidrosis
The physiological cause of anhidrosis is not known but the onset can be startlingly sudden.
This condition appears most frequently in places temperatures and humidity stay high for long periods of time.
Approximately two percent of horses in Florida have been reported to be anhidrotic 2
Diagnosing Anhidrosis in Horses
