Walnut Cove, North Carolina Call us: (336) 593-5422
Latitude 36 Mobile Veterinary Services
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News & Articles
Heat Stress - July 9th, 2012
Wow! It’s been sooooo hot!
There are a few things to think about when our horses get extremely hot. Heat stress is a real problem that can cause real harm to your horse, so be ready with some simple remedies in case you run into it.
An overheated horse should be cooled down quickly. Pour a bottle of rubbing alcohol along the horse's back to begin the cooling process. This will help very quickly, but the effect will not last long.
Cold water can also be sprayed onto the hot horse and, of course, a fan can help too. The combination of cold water and moving air are the keys.
The other important thing to know is that you should scrape off the water soon after it’s been applied and then repeat the process until the horse has cooled down. Water that is left on the horse becomes insulation and may actually keep the heat close to the skin rather than releasing it.
When the Olympic Games were held in Atlanta in 1996, many of the myths that horsemen have believed for years were debunked. For example, we'd thought that sudden cold on a hot animal would cause blood vessel constriction and all the problems associated with that, including a decreased rate of cooling. Not true! Horses that came off the Cross Country course and were extremely hot were taken right away into a tent where cold mist was blown over them and towels soaked in ice-water were laid on them. The water was then scraped off and the process was repeated. None of these horses had any adverse responses.
So, if your horse is showing signs of overheating, get busy and put the cold water to him and then use a fan or gently walk him - and repeat as often as necessary.
These principles can also be applied to dogs, and in fact any animal that is experiencing heat stress. Just cool them down as quickly as possible and don't be afraid to use cold water and/or rubbing alcohol to accomplish it.
Stay cool!
