Powered by Google

Sorry, something went wrong and the translator is not available.

Sorry, something went wrong with the translation request.

loading Translating

 
Decreased Sweating in Horses
Revised: June 27, 2024
Published: October 03, 2017

One of the problems many horses face during the summer is the inability to sweat, a condition called anhidrosis. It is believed to be related to horses' lack of acclimation to hot and humid weather, but Dr. Ben Buchanan indicates in The Remuda, a quarterly publication of the Texas Equine Veterinary Association, that the condition develops in horses native to warmer climates, such as Texas, just as often as those imported from cooler areas.

Anhidrosis is reported to affect horses up to 20 percent in the southern United States and is more common in younger horses. Sweating is the manner horses cool themselves, and while it is under hormonal and nervous system control, little is known about why this happens to some horses and not to others. It is thought excessive stimulation down-regulates the receptors and just basically wears them out so that no sweat is produced. Some mildly affected horses will exhibit poor performance, while many seriously affected horses have a high temperature and are breathing rapidly to try to cool themselves.

A sweat test is used to diagnose the condition. Mildly affected horses can be worked in cooler parts of the day, and keeping them under fans and misters can be helpful.

Discuss with your veterinarian possible treatments and other ways to make a horse diagnosed with anhidrosis more comfortable. 

The content of this site is owned by Veterinary Information Network (VIN®), and its reproduction and distribution may only be done with VIN®'s express permission.

The information contained here is for general purposes only and is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk.

Links to non-VIN websites do not imply a recommendation or endorsement by VIN® of the views or content contained within those sites.

Top
SAID=27