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Signs can include any or all:
Sweating in excess of normal, Stiffness
and reluctance to move, A rolling action of hindquarters if hind
legs are affected.A worried expression, pain and fast breathing, Raised heart
rate and sometimes body
temperature. When exercise finishes pawing of the ground and signs of mild
colic, Repeated attempts to
urinate. Urine may be red with blood in bad cases hence the name azoturia
which means red urine.
Causes:
It has
traditionally been put down to a rich diet, because it typically effects
horses in hard work more than
others, which is not sufficiently reduced on days of rest. When next hard
exersice is introduced the
symptoms appear. Blood supply to muscles is disrupted because of diet and
possibly stress. Also
excitable horses seem to suffer more. Levels of Vitamin E, Selenium and
Magnesium may be too low
and electrolyte inbalance may be present. A Viral infection may be present.
Veterinary treatment:
Bute as
an anti-inflammatory and to prevent more muscle damage Sedatives to calm,
Fluids to aid detox
of the system and Blood tests to determine other factors that may be present.
Owners
of such horses may wish to ensure that diet, management and exercise
programmes are
the best possible to both manage and prevent onset:
1. When
an acute attack occurs keep the horse warm and comfortable, rugged up in a
deep bed. Reduce
feeding to top quality hay and water and use a detox formula to clear the
system. Call your vet.
2.
American vet Dr Beth Valentine has done extensive research into this and the
related conditions and
concludes that such horses are intolerant of the carbohydrates in grains and
pelleted feeds and
recommends that they be replaced with vegetable oil. This is not so
difficult as it might seem nor so
expensive as, weight for weight oils give over 3 times the calories as
carbohydrates in grains etc.
E.G. 2 cups of oil weigh about 1lb and provide 4,000 calories whereas 1lb
of oats, corn or pellets
only provide 1,200/1,400 calories.
3. Part
of the hard feed can also be replaced with alfalfa and a good supply of
vitamin E, selenium and
magnesium is essential. Good quality hay or pasture should still make up the
bulk of any equine diet and
hard feed increases should only follow and not precede the build up to hard
work. Remember that only
horses in racing or Olympic training together with top performance and
endurance horses can be said to
be in hard work.
4. Daily
turn out during recovery is vital according to Dr Valentine and then the
build up in work must be
very gentle.Use an exercise blanket to keep the quarters warm on cold, wet
days. Reduce the hard feed
on the night before and on days of rest and when using bran ensure an
adequate calcium supplement to
counter any leaching of this element.
PEGASUS HEALTH PRODUCTS THAT CAN HELP
LiveAid Liquid
an
Ayurvedic herbal formula for a fast detox and in powder form for
longer term use.
Aids energy & condition.
Milk Thistle (powder for easy absorption) is also useful for
detox
SambarSalt & Stressban+ can be used as electrolytes in plenty of water
to help flush out toxins etc.
Linseed oil and Soya Oil are both vegetable oils suitable to replace
grains etc in hard feed
(Cod Liver Oil is fish based and not suitable in this instance)
Hoof Express an Ayurvedic herbal formula or Biotin+/ Limestone Flour
to counter calcium leaching of bran
Pegavite a vitamin, mineral and trace element supplement high in
vitamin E, magnesium and selenium
Stressban is a unique Ayurvedic herbal calmer that also controls the
fizz but not the sparkle
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