Dehydration in horses tips? According to the Merck Vet Manual, horses most often become deficient in these 12 essential minerals and vitamins. Also listed are the symptoms horses may exhibit when deficient in each. Salt: Deficiency may cause pica, weight loss, tiring easily, dehydration, and muscle spasms. Phosphorous: Deficiency may cause pica, muscle weakness, and trembling. Potassium: Deficiency may cause muscle weakness, fatigue, and exercise intolerance. Magnesium: Deficiency may cause nervousness, excitability, or muscle tremors. Zinc: Deficiency may cause low insulin, insulin resistance, dull coat, poor hoof, or bone diseases. Iron: Deficiency may cause anemia.
Further electrolyte supplementation is also necessary when large quantities need to be replenished. An electrolyte should be given in addition to daily salt rations and is indicated whenever a horse experiences prolonged or repeated sweating. Important: If you’re feeding an electrolyte in water, never add it to your horse’s only water supply. Always provide a separate fresh water source. Now that you know the importance of electrolytes, how do you choose a supplement that’s best for your horse? Look for these three important factors when selecting an electrolyte: High salt content. Sodium and chloride (salt) and potassium should be the main ingredients. Low sugar content. Sugar should not be the main ingredient. Electrolyte supplements shouldn’t contain more than 15% sugar. Isotonic to sweat. An isotonic supplement provides electrolytes in similar concentrations as sweat. According to this PubMed article, an isotonic sweat-like electrolyte is the best solution to rapidly restore fluid and plasma electrolyte imbalance in horses. Read additional info at https://blog.redmondequine.com/4-horse-care-myths-that-may-be-endangering-your-horses-health.
Cooling down your horse is crucial in winter. A sweaty horse can easily become chilled in cold or damp weather once exercise is over. Cool your horse slowly by walking at least ten minutes, then dismount and hand-walk your horse for several more minutes before removing the saddle. Make sure to dry your horse thoroughly before putting her back in the paddock/stall or turning her out to feed. Winter exercise burns up more calories, and your horse is already expending a lot of energy just to stay warm. Working in cold weather can also increase your horse’s risk of dehydration, since horses are less interested in drinking during winter months.
Other benefits of Redmond Rock: Contains natural electrolytes that encourage horses to drink. Packed with 63 trace minerals to nourish horses. (See this table for a complete mineral analysis.) Our minerals are created by nature and come in the right balance horses need. Holds up better in wet weather than pressed blocks. In taste tests, horses prefer Redmond Rock to manmade blocks. We believe Redmond Rock is simply the best natural mineral lick available for horses. Over the last 20 years we’ve heard many horse owners express how our rock improves mineral balance, provides horses a natural trigger to drink, and combats dehydration and colic. Here is Becky Imbornoni’s story of using Redmond Rock to help a colicing horse.
Why Wont My Horse Drink Away Water? Smell. A horse’s smell is more acute than humans. They smell things we don’t and are much more sensitive to those smells. With a sniff, horses can detect aversive chemicals or odors emanating from water or containers. Flavor: Think water doesn’t have a flavor? Think again. A horse accustomed to well water at home may refuse treated water on the road because of the taste of chemicals, chlorine, or fluoride. Find even more information on symptoms of ulcers in horses.