Heat Risk: Managing Horse Health in Summer Months
standing him in front of a fan can also help lower body temperature.
Anhidrosis
Horses living in regions where hot temps are combined with high humidity are more at risk of anhidrosis which is the partial or total inability to sweat. This can wreak havoc on your horses health in the summer
Signs of anhidrosis include panting rapid breathing with noticeable flaring of the nostrils elevated temperature even at rest decreased energy and sparse dry hair coat sometimes with scaliness or thinned hair on the face neck and shoulders.
Anhidrosis is seriously dangerous for a horses life and we do not have a cure for it. Its primarily about managing their environment says Faith Hughes DVM DACVS who has been with Peterson Smith Equine Hospital Complete Care in Ocala Fla. since 1991.
Management includes using sprinkler systems and fans not exercising when its hot feeding during cooler times of day and making sure the horse always has cool water available. Youll find a variety of supplements on the market designed to help manage anhidrosis.
MosquitoBorne Disease
Another major threat to your horses health in the summer comes along with those buzzing pests that bother everyone at the barn. Eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis EEE WEE and West Nile virus are the main mosquitoborne diseases that affect horses. Fortunately proven vaccines are available to prevent them.
These are considered core vaccines meaning all horses should receive them. In regions with heavy mosquito populations veterinarians often recommend horses be vaccinated against these diseases twice a year to avoid this summer danger for horses.
We have cases of EEE in Florida every year which serves as a reminder that this disease is not gone and is not more prevalent only because of vaccination says Hughes. Encephalomyelitis vaccines are more than 99 percent effective at preventing the disease when administered effectively.
In addition to vaccinating
your horse use repellents labeled for use against mosquitoes. Cut down on mosquito breeding areas by eliminating standing water and damp vegetation.
Fly Problems
Fly controlboth onhorse and in the environmentis important not only because flies are irritating but because they are responsible for transmitting a variety of diseases including pigeon fever and equine infectious anemia to mention only a couple
House and stable flies also play a role in summer sores cutaneous habronemiasis weeping skin lesions caused by the infective larvae of stomach worms.
Summer sores are very treatable but theyre uncomfortable for the horse and annoying for the owner says Hughes. Pay
