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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

A QUESTION FOR HORSE BLOGGERS.....HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED TO ONE OF YOUR HORSES????

This is Berlin.  She is a 26 year old 3/4 Trakehner.  Last night we went out to dinner and Jill did chores.  She called to let me know that when Berlin came in she was sweating profusely on her front left quarter.  When I went out to the barn, she was SOAKED from about 6 inches back from her ears, down the neck to her shoulder, around to the left side of her chest and wringing wet down her left leg.
Her temperature was normal, she was not acting stressed, but the wet area was pretty warm.  I sponged her down and called my most knowledgeable horse friend and then the vet (who did not think she needed to see her which was fine with me).  I rubbed her down with a towel, brushed her and went back out at midnight.  She was not dry but going in that direction.  This morning she was dry and still a little warm above her front left leg.  Because it was so localized, I believe it was a bite/sting, but so far have not found a swelling.  Have you ever experienced this?  She passed manure, ate, was alert, had a normal temperature....  What is going on around here?????

At noon I went out to check on Berlin.  She is still dry, but a little warm above her leg...eating out in the pasture and acting normal.  Terry suggested a spider bite.  I also still think it was a bite or sting.  Thanks for your input.

13 comments:

Unknown said...

I have never seen that either? I have to lean towards a sting of some kind. If you find out, let us know. Very weird!

Anonymous said...

Since it was only on one side, it probably wasn't tying up - tying up usually presents with lots of sweating, but there are usually signs of pain and tight muscles. Not that.

I'm thinking some sort of sting(s) - could she have laid on nettles or an ant hill? Sounds like an inflammatory/allergic reaction, although the sweating is odd. Keep an eye on it and if there's more swelling/heat a visit from the vet might be warranted.

I'm tired of mystery horse ailments . . .

Val Ewing said...

First off that may have been a bit scary for you!

No, I don't think that I've ever heard of this either, but I wonder if it wasn't some sort of short term reaction.

This is a great case for reminding horse/equine owners that it is so important to know your animals vitals!

Know your horse's normal temp, respiration, and heart rate. This is so useful when your horse 'feels a bit off'.

How is she today?

A Work In Progress said...

I've known of a few horses who do this, it usually corresponds to an injury of some sort. One vet said it was from nerve damage from an injury. As long as everything else is normal, it doesn't seem to be anything to worry about. Just looks strange.

farmer said...

sure hope you get some good advise.
I'm curious to know whats going on,hoping all turns out well!!

Terry said...

Poor Berlin! I've been spared that one, thank goodness. My best guess would be a spider.

Anonymous said...

Here's another possibility - not to be alarmist but it could be something to do with the non-voluntary nervous system - this controls sweating. Could be from a nerve injury or some inflammation affecting the spinal nerves from something like EPM. Check to see if anything is different between the two sides, such as pupil size, etc. A vet could do a neurological exam to test reflexes, etc.

Sharon Creech said...

So much to be aware of and worry about. Hope Berlin continues to improve.

allhorsestuff said...

Boy, sure sorry that happened. Glad that the mare seemed unaffected mostly.
Can't sat I've seen or heard of that...Will forward my sis. Shannon and Kate may be onto something but I was thinking bite or sting traction too.

Hoping that's the end of it !

Oak Creek Ranch said...

I haven't seen or experienced anything like this. The suggestion of sting/bug bite reaction makes a lot of sense to me. The fact that your vet didn't think she needed to come out would indicate that she isn't too worried. Did she give you any idea of her thoughts on the matter?

Enough already!

juliette said...

This sounds like an insect sting or bite. I know when the body produces histamines against a poison that the temperature elevates. It sounds like the bite area had concentrated levels which caused the sweating.

mj said...

This has happened several times to our Quarter horse gelding Rhettly. He's been with us since he was eight, he is 23 this year. The very first time it happened I spoke to my vet. He felt that it may have been a genetic cause in this particular quarter horse line. I wasn't sure about that diagnosis, but over the years I've begun to think that it may be feed or stress related. I think that his immune system can't always fend off changes in diet or environment the way our other horses do... And I'm talking about very subtle little differences like temperature change, a different fly spray or a new bale of hay.
I have no idea if this is similar to what you have observed with Berlin, and this being said, our Rhettly has always survived his hot flashes/sweats, and like your Berlin he has seemed just fine the next day. I hope that this was a one-time occurrence for the big guy.

thecrazysheeplady said...

Interestingly, this DID happen to me a couple weeks ago. Nothing other than the odd sweating seemed askew so I just kept an eye on him and it went away. I wondered about a bite, but couldn't find anything swollen anywhere. Hmmm....