Anhidrosis... here we go again :(

[floppyammy]

2022 was the first year my gelding had a bout with anhidrosis. I was hoping it was triggered by some antihistamine usage for an allergic reaction that we had dealt with earlier in that year.

Unfortunately, it appears that it is returning this year. I’ve had him on Platinum Refresh/One AC since April. He was sweating normally until the recent stretch of hot (for our area) and excessively humid weather we have been having. While he is still sweating some, I can tell that it is reduced, and his breathing is labored from fairly basic short rides.

I have two questions:

1. Do people who deal with anhidrosis in their horses find it helpful to do a full body clip?
2. I am considering trying the Equiwinner patches. For those that used them, how was your success? Is the money back guarantee valid through a large retailer (like Big Dee’s) or do you have to order direct from Signal Health? (I am planning on calling Signal Health to confirm, once their offices open.)

For background, last year he stopped sweating completely. I started him on One AC and Guiness Stout. That didn’t seem to help. Ultimately, what really worked was a session of Acupuncture and New Xiang Ru San. Unfortuntely, the acupuncture session (through a vet) cost me $500 and the New Xiang Ru San cost over $100, so it was a pricey fix

[whhisperbaby11]

Yea, my cushings horse has this, I do a lot of clipping throughout the year. Since I don’t care how he looks, my clip job looks pretty funky. But what I do is just go out and do a part here and there so it does not become such a big job.

[RhythmNCruise]

My guy doesn’t have enough coat to body clip in the summer. He’s an app and he doesn’t have much coat year-round, but especially in the summer. So, no, I don’t clip him, but I would if he had more coat.

I don’t want to jinx it, but so far this year he’s been sweating. I live in eastern NC, and believe me the heat/humidity are god-awful here. We had a few days of the heat index in the triple digits not too long ago, and pretty much every day is reaching the 90’s now and low are in the 70’s at night.

I started him on One AC in June when we started getting some hot days, and there was one day I went riding and he didn’t sweat at all, but it was in the 60’s and breezy (kind of amazing for here in June!). I decided to up him to two scoops of One AC twice a day. I also make sure he gets a tablespoon of salt twice a day in his feed. So far, he’s kept sweating. And he’ll stand out in the blazing sun grazing in the hottest parts of the day despite having a shady, airy stall with a fan that he can access whenever he wants.

One thing, and this may be purely coincidental, is that he’s been on a completely soy-free diet for the past six months. This has resulted in him being less…bulbous (lol) all over. He’s in good weight and good shape, but he looks much less miserable than he did prior to cutting the soy out. Like he can handle the heat a little better. But it may just be a coincidence. And there is still a chance he might stop sweating this summer at some point. August is always brutal here, so we’ve got a ways to go yet. Fingers crossed though. It’s no fun finding your horse dry-coated and breathing like he just ran the Kentucky Derby.

[FjordBCRF]

@floppyammy

Do people who deal with anhidrosis in their horses find it helpful to do a full body clip?

No technically anhidrosis, but my fjord suffers from heat induced Fecal water syndrome. This year I am acting as though he does have it and started him on OneAC in May. I also did a full body clip and am absolutely convinced in our case it is helping a LOT. His summer coat is very dense still so I will be keeping him clipped year round now.

[Jarpur]

@floppyammy

I am considering trying the Equiwinner patches. For those that used them, how was your success? Is the money back guarantee valid through a large retailer (like Big Dee’s) or do you have to order direct from Signal Health? (I am planning on calling Signal Health to confirm, once their offices open.)

I have ordered them directly from Signal Health twice. First time, the horse didn’t really respond (sweated only under the patches), and there was no problem in getting a prompt refund.

This time, a different horse seems to be responding somewhat, in that I’m seeing some latherin when I hose him off, and can feel more perspiration in his armpits and groin (two areas where he hadn’t stopped sweating), and more dampness next tohis skin when I run my fingers through his clipped-a-month ago coat.

It’s not dramatic (he’s not slick with sweat), and I don’t know how much the addition of Refresh is helping (was already feeding OneAc since March), but he seems more comfortable. However, I’m not working him during this weather (traditionally, my horses get a break in July/August, as we can ride all winter).

IME, the company is responsive. The guarantee doesn’t apply to a horse with PPID (that’s mentioned on the website).

[floppyammy]

Thanks @FjordBCRF. In my horse’s case, he barely grows a coat, even in the dead of winter. I haven’t tried body clipping yet, as I was thinking the gains might be negligible. But even if it helps a small amount, it might be worth it.

[floppyammy]

@RhythmNCruise

One thing, and this may be purely coincidental, is that he’s been on a completely soy-free diet for the past six months. This has resulted in him being less…bulbous (lol) all over. He’s in good weight and good shape, but he looks much less miserable than he did prior to cutting the soy out. Like he can handle the heat a little better. But it may just be a coincidence. And there is still a chance he might stop sweating this summer at some point. August is always brutal here, so we’ve got a ways to go yet. Fingers crossed though. It’s no fun finding your horse dry-coated and breathing like he just ran the Kentucky Derby.

Hmmm. Interesting. The first ingredient of my horse’s grain is soybean hulls…

[cayuse]

Yes to clipping, makes my pony who had anhidrosis more comfortable. And I had better luck with the One AC when I added some regular table salt in with it.

[sheltoneb]

Unless ypur horse has an unusual coat due to Cushing or something else, clipping doesn’t help. I asked my vet the same question.

[RhythmNCruise]

There may be absolutely no link to it, but I stopped soy for other reasons and my gelding has been sweating so far this summer. Could totally be a coincidence. Could be something to it.

I agree with @cayuse that good ol’ table salt is good to feed with the One AC. I recently ordered a 25 lb. bag of Morton Iodized Table Salt from Amazon. I think we’re set for a while! I’m feeding timothy pellets and a forage balancer (KIS Trace) that doesn’t have salt, so I have to add it anyway.

[floppyammy]

@RhythmNCruise

There may be absolutely no link to it, but I stopped soy for other reasons and my gelding has been sweating so far this summer. Could totally be a coincidence. Could be something to it.

I agree with @cayuse that good ol’ table salt is good to feed with the One AC. I recently ordered a 25 lb. bag of Morton Iodized Table Salt from Amazon. I think we’re set for a while! I’m feeding timothy pellets and a forage balancer (KIS Trace) that doesn’t have salt, so I have to add it anyway.

I didn’t know you can get iodized table salt from Amazon - that is good information to have!

[lenapesadie]

1. I have not body clipped any horse bc of anhidrosis. I do believe keeping heat stress to a minimum is an important part of recovery. Fans, misters, cold hosing, no forced exercise

2. I’ve not tried the patches. I have good results adding One AC / Refresh, salt and electrolytes. (Less / no electrolytes using Refresh).

Incidentally, one of my anhidrosis horses is on a soy free diet. I think Vit E supplementation is worth adding as well.

[RhythmNCruise]

@lenapesadie

I think Vit E supplementation is worth adding as well.

That’s interesting. My guy gets a good amount in his KIS Trace, but it’s synthetic and I did get some natural Vit E that I was supplementing, but stopped because I wasn’t sure he needed it now with the grass up (though it’s not a ton of grass). Maybe I’ll start adding it back. Can’t hurt.

[lenapesadie]

I would.

[Jarpur]

TSC has 50# bags of salt for $8.49 here. Suitable for all animals, but not for human consumption.

[Bonnie2]

Studies done for the Atlanta Olympics showed that clipping with a 10 blade, even on a summer coat, helped with heat tolerance. For warm weather work with my anhidrotic advanced horse, we would wet him down before getting on, after his initial warmup and immediately after his round. Neither one ac nor acupuncture helped him very much. Luckily he was a smaller lighter built type. Good luck!

[floppyammy]

@Bonnie2

Studies done for the Atlanta Olympics showed that clipping with a 10 blade, even on a summer coat, helped with heat tolerance. For warm weather work with my anhidrotic advanced horse, we would wet him down before getting on, after his initial warmup and immediately after his round. Neither one ac nor acupuncture helped him very much. Luckily he was a smaller lighter built type. Good luck!

Thanks Bonnie, I appreciate it! I think I am going to try the body clip. Can’t hurt and might help. I’ll take any help I can get!

[floppyammy]

@Bonnie2

Studies done for the Atlanta Olympics showed that clipping with a 10 blade, even on a summer coat, helped with heat tolerance. For warm weather work with my anhidrotic advanced horse, we would wet him down before getting on, after his initial warmup and immediately after his round. Neither one ac nor acupuncture helped him very much. Luckily he was a smaller lighter built type. Good luck!

I’m super impressed that you managed an anhidrotic horse going advanced. Any tips or tricks you can share? Right now I restrict riding to early morning hours and I keep it short - only 20 min of flatwork. If it’s really hot or humid, I wet him down before I ride. Unfortunately turnout options aren’t great, as there is no overnight turnout where I board. So he gets limited turnout in the a.m. only and gets brought in before it gets hot or buggy. We really only need to get through the next 6 weeks before temps will start returning to normal for our area.

Did you find any benefit of cooling with alcohol added to the water? Liniment? I use both on occasion, but probably only to make myself feel like I’m doing something…

[Bonnie2]

Alcohol is a good idea, but I didn’t think of it. Just spent years carrying around a bucket of ice water. If you compete in the heat do work in the heat at home. But pay close attention to the horse to make sure he isn’t overheating. It is even more important for a horse that doesn’t sweat well to accustom to the heat. Sounds like you take good care of your boy!

[Renn_aissance]

@floppyammy

Did you find any benefit of cooling with alcohol added to the water?

Not Bonnie, but yes. If you’re in a humid climate it also helps with evaporation after you have given the horse his 5th cold shower of the day and are waiting for him to dry.

I also body clip, but my horse also has Cushings, so I have more than one reason to do it.

You can increase the amount of either Refresh or One AC you are giving if they aren’t sufficient for the conditions. I don’t remember exactly what the Platinum rep said about the top end of dosing but gave double the amount for one heinous week last August. Especially at the back end of summer when they’ve been on it for awhile there is some tolerance to the effect.