horse doesnt seem to sweat and has breathing problems....

kethief

kethief

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hi i posted at the begining ov the yr about my mare with a pollen allergy she has since been having ventapulmin since april. IV noticed that she is always worse when the sun is out but lately iv realised that she never seems to sweat even if she had a rug on and it was too warm, when it was warm in the summer the most she ever got was a slight girth sweat but nothing anywhere else. i just wandered if the lack ov sweating could be why her breathing is worse when sunny and her not being able to cool down properly. I am gonna mention this to my vet but would value any advice on a non sweaty horse.

Thanks

ps she also gets cold easily and dithers. ie if it was raining and below 14 degrees
 
My boy has semi anhidrosis too, it takes a lot to make him sweat, he has tree pollen allergy so has a snotty nose in the spring time and he also feels the cold really easily especially if it's raining.

By a lot to make him sweat, he will get slightly damp under the saddle if he's been ridden hard but not anywhere else, even when he raced. I've hacked out with horses who've been dripping.

The main thing to remember is to be aware that a normally sweaty horse would sweat under some conditions and to not push your mare to beyond that as she's not sweating.

My boy is 18 now so I would suggest you don't worry but if you want to talk to the vet then do so. I've never used ventapulmin either but do give herbs if he needs them.
 
Thanks,

I will def hav a word with the vet as its something iv sort ov been aware of but not really thought a lot about, but it does make sense as its like she cant cool down properly hence the laboured breathing. I still think she has a pollen allergy but it could be making her appear worse. Iv tried a lot of different herbs ie, pollen x, pollenese, msn, rosehips plus the ventapulmin but would be willing to try anything. Im just starting to lower her ventapulmin dose to get her off it as she will be fine by the end of the month! but is this due to the lack of pollen or the cooler weather. she is 18 and not really ready to retire fully yet as she loves going out. Its a case of gentle walks in the summer and then soon as winter comes shes raring to go. Pretty fustrating really cus she is perfect, but im now looking for another but finding it hard as whatever i look for has to be the whole package and more and shes gonna be hard to beat.

I know im prob clutching at straws but its worth looking into.

Thank you for replying x
 
Hi,

Sweating levels are very individual as in humans....it may contribute to elevated respiratory rates but I've not come across this tbh.

Bottom line is I'm not aware of treatment available for this in any case. Primary respiratory disease is more likely to be causing the respiratory disease IMO.

Imogen
 
thank you

i guess im always looking for a reason and cure and getting nowhere, just wish there was something out there that would sort her breathing out. My vet doesnt want to giv some meds as there would be to much of a risk of lami and im not prepared to risk it at her age for my own selfish reasons (she copes ok just grazing in her field) inhaler is a possibility but vet said i need to use it 3 times a day, unfortunately i cant get to her that many times. Hopefully she will stay field fit for a fair few summers and we can just potter about when weather is suitable. iv had her three yrs now and we get by, just so fustrating and worrying. x
 
kethief said:
thank you

i guess im always looking for a reason and cure and getting nowhere, just wish there was something out there that would sort her breathing out. My vet doesnt want to giv some meds as there would be to much of a risk of lami and im not prepared to risk it at her age for my own selfish reasons (she copes ok just grazing in her field) inhaler is a possibility but vet said i need to use it 3 times a day, unfortunately i cant get to her that many times. Hopefully she will stay field fit for a fair few summers and we can just potter about when weather is suitable. iv had her three yrs now and we get by, just so fustrating and worrying. x
Click to expand...

Aghghgghrghggh :mad:
Sorry - that frustration is not with you at all ;)
If you want to use steroids for inflammation you can. Is she actively laminitic? Has she ever had laminitis?
If obese and laminitic previously then she's of some risk of using oral preds. IF you use at 1mg/kg and she HAS inflammation diagnosed in the lung on a scope then you are pretty unlikely to cause lami from the drugs. If fat or previously lami then use with care and diet/restrict lush grazing etc but the seroids will work on the inflammed area not the side effect. If there is an overdose or no inflammation then side effects are obviously much more likely as they are not required to fight inflammation.

If she's at high risk or has lami at the moment then inhaled steroids carry pretty much 0% risk. The drug in inhaled and then has it's effect in the lungs then exhaled. Not enough passes into the blood to create side effects.
Inhalers are easy to use and more tolerate them. And here is best bit....they're a lot cheaper too! And steroids are only used ONCE DAILY
orally and TWICE DAILY max IME by inhalers. Once is often enough especially for maintenance.

PM me if you want more details on either....:o

Imogen
 
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