Dehydration in horses

With Dr Jan Daniel Du Preez At JME Veterinary Clinic

Thank you to Dr JD du Preez of JME Veterinary Clinic for this quick chat on dehydration in horses (especially appropriate in this heatwave in Gauteng!).

JME is a family-oriented vet clinic based in Sun Valley near Inanda Country Base in Kyalami. They are a mixed animal practice that treats both horses and small animals. JD is a passionate equestrian who competes in showjumping and enjoys breeding top-class Warmbloods.

Q: How much water does a horse drink on average per day?

A: 30-50 litres per day, but it’s closer to 50 litres during the heatwave.

Q: How do you know when your horse is dehydrated?

A: The main signs to look out for are:

• Lethargy (tiredness, lacking energy)

• Pale, sticky and dry gums. When you lift the lip and look in the mouth, you want the gums to be a nice pink colour, and the gums should feel moist to the touch. An excellent way to remember this is that the gums should be PMG – Pink, Moist, and Glistening. If the gums are not PMG, you should call your vet.

• Tenting of the skin with the skin pinch test. The skin pinch test measures the skin’s elasticity or ability to spring back to normal. A dehydrated horse’s skin will return to normal much slower than a well-hydrated horse’s skin. It’s usually best to pinch the skin on the neck (not too hard!) to test for dehydration.

Q: How do you ensure your horse is drinking enough?

A:

• Always ensure that clean and fresh water is available.

• The best way is to keep track of their water intake by measuring the water levels in their buckets. Top tip: Always fill your buckets at the same time of day to the same level, so you spot straight away when something is awry. Beware of automatic waterers, as these make it difficult to assess water consumption.

• You can add salt to the food to encourage drinking.

• To make water more palatable, you can add molasses syrup, although some horses do not like it or should not have it due to other health conditions (like metabolic syndrome). Always make sure there is another bucket of clean, fresh water available at the same time.

• In winter, make sure that the water isn’t too cold. Horses prefer warmer or room-temperature water.

• You can soak grain and hay to encourage water intake. For example, bran retains a lot of water when soaked.

• Feed treats that are high in water; melons and apples naturally have higher water content. Just keep in mind that fruit is high in sugar, so if your horse is on a lowcalorie diet, has metabolic syndrome, or is prone to laminitis, consult your vet before feeding sugary treats, even if they are high in water!

• Add an electrolyte supplement to food or give an electrolyte paste. Whilst this does work, it is best done under the guidance of your vet or equine nutritionist.

Q: How will your vet treat your horse for dehydration?

A: Your vet will assess your horse, and depending on the degree of dehydration, they will either opt for nasogastric intubation (tubing) with liquids, or an intravenous (IV) drip to introduce fluids more rapidly.

CONTACT JME VETERINARY CLINIC

Vet-on-call 24 hours 066 202 8161

Website www.jme.vet.co.za

Address: 14 Riders Road, Midrand, South Africa