Hypothermia- Need Urgent Answers

Showrider · 10-25-2007, 02:05 AM

I'll make a thread about what happened later, but for now I need some help

Horse was stuck in a dam, shivering and exhausted after being there for half an hour-3hours..

Today its probably about 19-20degrees CELCIUS.

But its kind of sticky and humid, I was wearing a singlet up there and I wasn't cold.

The water wasn't as cold as I expected.. but could have been because I was panicking.

We finally got the horse out, took off a heavy all weather rug that was probably the culprit for exhausting him and walked him round. He's now nearly dry and rugged up.

I need suggestions for anything I can do to make him more comfortable and prevent further illness.

He's in a stable, I've fed him (he was very eager) but not yet watered.

Should I give him cold water? (tap water) or luke warm?

I'll never forget on Black Beauty when the stablehand gives the horse cold water LOL

Internet is not serving me well so please get back to me with answers!

EDIT

I should prob add in, I don't think he actually has hypothermia, just needs to almost be treated like he has.

Sue B · 10-25-2007, 02:25 AM

Not speaking from experience....just some common sense things for warming horses....
I think that you have done a good job getting him to this point. I would provide luke warm water to help warm him. Feed him all the forage he can eat and keep other feedstuff such as grain and feeds to a minimum....preferably none for the time being. Let him regain his warmth and get his body "normalized" before returning him to a regular feeding program. If he still seems cold I sould also bed him with starw or hay rather than shavings or other similar things....starw/hay bedding will trap warm air from his body and keep the area around him warmer....shavings can be as cold or colder than the temps around him.

madvoice · 10-25-2007, 02:37 AM

Get heat packs, wrap them in towels and place them around his jugular and under the forelegs and if quiet between the hind legs. Do not put the horse near radiant heat. Give warm sweet fluids if you can (if not, lukewarm water can help). Place a warm blanket over them - if you can warm it near a heater and then place it over him then it will help. You would treat hypothermia in horses similar to that in humans. The reason for placing the heat packs around the jugular and between the legs is that it is closest to the major blood vessels and will help warm them up faster. Good luck.

Blistering Winds · 10-25-2007, 04:32 AM

Warm blankets, warm water won't hurt and will help warm the GI tract if it is compromised in any way from the cold....I've read where experts say Black Beauty's experience is not a "true" experience. He was "ran" then put away "HOT" and wet and given cold water. Cold water wasn't the devastating issue in his situation. Different situation anyways.

A warm "BATH" is the best to warm up the body, but then, you need a really good heated barn.

Hot packs where madvoice advised would probably be the best.

Definitely take his temperature. Who knows, he may not need any intervention. His body temperature will determine the measures to take. Intervene until you have arrived at normal temps.

Morri · 10-25-2007, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue B

Feed him all the forage he can eat and keep other feedstuff such as grain and feeds to a minimum....preferably none for the time being. .

Absolutely! Most people think that grain "heats up" a horse, when in all reallty forage does much better. Forage "ferments" in the horse's stomach, causing extra heat!

Temposmom · 10-25-2007, 10:46 AM

Get a temp on the horse, THIS will let you know "where" it stands in relation to the hypothermia.

10-25-2007, 02:05 AM	#1
Showrider Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Down Unda, Mate! Posts: 1,284 Images: 79	Hypothermia- Need Urgent Answers I'll make a thread about what happened later, but for now I need some help Horse was stuck in a dam, shivering and exhausted after being there for half an hour-3hours.. Today its probably about 19-20degrees CELCIUS. But its kind of sticky and humid, I was wearing a singlet up there and I wasn't cold. The water wasn't as cold as I expected.. but could have been because I was panicking. We finally got the horse out, took off a heavy all weather rug that was probably the culprit for exhausting him and walked him round. He's now nearly dry and rugged up. I need suggestions for anything I can do to make him more comfortable and prevent further illness. He's in a stable, I've fed him (he was very eager) but not yet watered. Should I give him cold water? (tap water) or luke warm? I'll never forget on Black Beauty when the stablehand gives the horse cold water LOL Internet is not serving me well so please get back to me with answers! EDIT I should prob add in, I don't think he actually has hypothermia, just needs to almost be treated like he has. __________________ Against Slaughter. For responsible breeding.

10-25-2007, 02:25 AM	#2
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	Not speaking from experience....just some common sense things for warming horses.... I think that you have done a good job getting him to this point. I would provide luke warm water to help warm him. Feed him all the forage he can eat and keep other feedstuff such as grain and feeds to a minimum....preferably none for the time being. Let him regain his warmth and get his body "normalized" before returning him to a regular feeding program. If he still seems cold I sould also bed him with starw or hay rather than shavings or other similar things....starw/hay bedding will trap warm air from his body and keep the area around him warmer....shavings can be as cold or colder than the temps around him. __________________ Save a Horse - www.saveahorse.org December 13th - National Day of the Horse September 19th - International Talk Like a Pirate Day www.talklikeapirate.com

10-25-2007, 02:37 AM	#3
madvoice Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Humpty Doo, Northern Territory, Australia Posts: 9,687 Images: 281	Get heat packs, wrap them in towels and place them around his jugular and under the forelegs and if quiet between the hind legs. Do not put the horse near radiant heat. Give warm sweet fluids if you can (if not, lukewarm water can help). Place a warm blanket over them - if you can warm it near a heater and then place it over him then it will help. You would treat hypothermia in horses similar to that in humans. The reason for placing the heat packs around the jugular and between the legs is that it is closest to the major blood vessels and will help warm them up faster. Good luck. __________________ Sep 1997 - 15 Jan 2006 ~Fry Baby I'll Miss You~ I'm not a complete idiot.. Some parts are missing I was too busy admiring the inside of my eyelids when HGS hit 3 million posts..

10-25-2007, 04:32 AM	#4
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 31,979 Images: 831 Blog Entries: 17	Warm blankets, warm water won't hurt and will help warm the GI tract if it is compromised in any way from the cold....I've read where experts say Black Beauty's experience is not a "true" experience. He was "ran" then put away "HOT" and wet and given cold water. Cold water wasn't the devastating issue in his situation. Different situation anyways. A warm "BATH" is the best to warm up the body, but then, you need a really good heated barn. Hot packs where madvoice advised would probably be the best. Definitely take his temperature. Who knows, he may not need any intervention. His body temperature will determine the measures to take. Intervene until you have arrived at normal temps. __________________ HGS is a very powerful, addicting place that is just as bad as cigarettes, however healthier for you AND your horse.

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10-25-2007, 10:46 AM	#6
Temposmom Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho, USA Posts: 1,115 Images: 13	Get a temp on the horse, THIS will let you know "where" it stands in relation to the hypothermia.