Heatstroke or virus

[Shadow the Reindeer]

Temp of 41C had Vet out, he's had an internal, to which the vet pulled a mass of poo out. He kept panting, nostrils going ten to the dozen, I've cold hosed him twice to bring his temp down. I've just left him tucking into his hay, dosed up on bute and antibiotics. Going back down about 8ish to see if he's passed anything. Vet thinks Colic may be secondery. Infection highly like the cause. Have updated vet, fingers crossed guys xx

Having just left him, temp is now 38.3C after 90 mins of being over 40C.. The Sun was very intense this afternoon, and his field mates temp was normal, but then he's more white than black, Shadow is near black. Also his winter coat is coming through, and he's moulting like mad.

 

[racebuddy]

oh know that doesn't sound good , I
Would be thinking more infection / viral than heatstroke if he had no rug on and was just pottering around in the field not doing any strenuous work , how is he now had bute and abs fingers crossed he's feeling bit better ?? X

 

[Shadow the Reindeer]

oh know that doesn't sound good , I
Would be thinking more infection / viral than heatstroke if he had no rug on and was just pottering around in the field not doing any strenuous work , how is he now had bute and abs fingers crossed he's feeling bit better ?? X

He's passed some poo, is no longer feeling hot or clammy to touch, and his temp is down to 37.6C. I decided to turn him out on the paddock behind the stables to get him moving about. He's bright and alert and a lot happier in himself. He'll be checked about 5 in the morning and again later. Up to now, we seem to be heading in the right direction.

 

[Shadow the Reindeer]

According to what I've just read, my horse had a close shave.. At one point during his worst moments, his temp reached 41.0C (105.8F)..

'Rectal Temperature

Rectal temperature is another valuable parameter for monitoring a horse's well-being. As a mammal, an internal set point is regulated in a horse's midbrain to maintain body temperature within a very narrow range. Part of the body's temperature control process relies on losing heat generated by working muscles and normal digestive metabolism.

An exercising horse typically works within a rectal temperature range of 101-103°F. Should rectal temperature surpass 103.5°F, the horse is overheating.

Once a horse has been pulled up to rest, rectal temperature should decline steadily over 20 minutes back to the normal resting value of 99-100°F. Initially in the workout, as internal temperatures rise, the bulk of blood from cardiac output is diverted to the skin away from the working muscles to facilitate heat dissipation. Internal heat continues to rise if surface evaporation (sweating) is no longer able to keep pace with the heat buildup. As muscle temperature elevates, contractile function of the muscle fibers is impaired, further contributing to fatigue and exhaustion.

Loss of vital fluids through the skin causes a steadily progressive state of dehydration unless this "water" is replenished. Blood flow diminishes to the subcutaneous layers of the skin to reduce sweat fluid losses, further limiting sweating action in an effort to conserve body water. If exercise continues and water isn't offered, heat continues to build in the horse with no outlet.

A rectal temperature above 105°F is abnormal in any horse and poses a dangerous situation; rapid cooling measures should be initiated at once. The higher the internal temperature, the more metabolic demands are placed on the system; this metabolism needs to be fueled by oxygen. If body
temperature exceeds 106°F, the body's demand for oxygen might surpass the amount that can be supplied by the respiratory system. An oxygen deficit then occurs in the tissues (hypoxia), potentially leading to kidney, heart, liver, and brain damage.

At temperatures greater than 107°F, a horse in severe heat stress can go into convulsions or a coma, then die. The objective is to avoid these scenarios.

Cooling Techniques

Under any exercise conditions, following some simple strategies will assist your horse in cooling out. As you finish a workout, bring your horse to a walk. Hop off and spend a minute or two walking him so blood flow continues to flush metabolic waste products and heat from his muscles. If an overheated horse abruptly ceases working, blood pools in the muscles (decreasing that in the circulation), contributing to relative dehydration. A fatigued horse might refuse to move. Provided he is not tied-up with muscle spasms, you can assist circulation in the muscle by massaging major muscle groups in rhythm with the heartbeat.

If the heart rate returns to 64 bpm or below within 30 minutes, but the respiratory rate remains elevated, such an inversion does not necessarily imply your horse is in danger. It means he needs help ridding his body of the extra heat. Both the respiratory rate and heart rate should return toward resting rates within 10 minutes of stopping exercise. You can assist your horse in cooling in a couple of ways.

In warm weather, copiously bathe his head, neck, and legs with cool water. Large blood vessels in these locations flush heat to the skin surface, and rapid evaporative cooling is achieved by continual sponging of these areas. Apply cool water and as it heats up, scrape it off of major muscle groups, such as over the loin and hindquarters. Draping wet towels over the head and neck might be counter-productive to cooling as the towels serve to insulate the horse rather than allowing heat to escape, particularly if the water on them remains warm.

Continuously apply and scrape water away until the horse's skin feels cool to the touch. His respiratory rate should decrease as his internal body temperature descends into the normal range. All horses will need some assistance with cooling in the summer months even if the respiratory rate is not inverted or elevated.

Ideally, the body temperature of an overheated horse should be decreased by 1°F every 30-40 minutes by bathing his head, neck, and back with water. Cooling him down too rapidly can cause him to chill.

Keep monitoring rectal temperature with a thermometer, and muscle tone, as you cool out your horse. Once the rectal temperature reaches 101°F, you can stop and see if he stabilizes without further assistance.

In hot and humid climates, cold or ice water can be applied to the entire body with less risk of muscle cramping. The danger in cooling these large muscle groups too rapidly lies in the tendency of blood vessels to constrict away from the surface while retaining metabolic by-products that need to be carried out from deep muscle tissues. Diminished blood flow to the skin surface further allows heat to persist within deep muscles, causing heart and respiratory rates to remain elevated.

Besides exhibiting poor metabolic recoveries, the horse might develop "tying-up" syndrome, with sudden cramping and muscle spasms (more on this shortly). An affected horse might refuse to move, or exhibit colic-like signs due to painful cramps. Heart and respiratory rates further climb in response to pain, and as muscles spasm and contract, more heat is generated in a horse's already overheated muscles.

Offer a bucket of water to your horse immediately following exercise. Traditionally, horse owners have avoided letting "hot" horses drink because of a perceived risk of colic and cold-water founder (laminitis). However, with the possible exception of very hard galloping exercise (e.g., racing), horses can safely drink right after exercise. He'll want more water at this time than he will later, so give it to him to best rehydrate him. Offer water as soon as is practical and let him drink up to two or three gallons during the initial 15 minutes of recovery.

Find a shady spot for an overheated horse, preferably with decent air circulation from a light breeze or fan. An enclosed space with stagnant air adds to heat retention. Fans are helpful for convective cooling--as the air flows across the horse's body, it pulls heat off the skin. Periodic, short walks also help the muscles pump heat out of deeper tissues.

A dangerously overheated horse might need to be dunked into a nearby pond, or soaked entirely with a hose or buckets of water. Intravenous fluids might be necessary to treat severe dehydration and shock, and also to cool the internal organs and muscles. Severely affected horses need to have their acid-base balance and electrolyte status evaluated and their deficits corrected using oral and intravenous fluid therapy. Administration of the non-steroidal drug Banamine might be helpful to decrease inflammation and to prevent endotoxemia in very debilitated patients.'

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/139...ress-in-horses