Transcript:

[0:01]

Hi, I’m Jessica, a nutritionist with Mad Barn, and I’d like to introduce you to Picasso, a 9-year-old Appaloosa gelding. In early August here in Florida, with temperatures above 90°F and humidity close to 100%, Picasso quit sweating. This condition is called anhidrosis and came with several other symptoms: he became lethargic and had an elevated respiration rate and effort.

[0:32]

This was Picasso’s first documented case of anhidrosis. Prior to his diagnosis, his daily routine included unrestricted access to his stall and to his pasture. His daily diet included 1 pound of soaked timothy pellets, 200 g of pellets, 1 gram of Mad Barn Optimum Probiotics, and 15 g of salt. He also received 6 pounds of coastal Bermuda grass and free-choice pasture grass, plus fresh water and salt. He was in light exercise, mainly at a walk and trot.

[1:11]

Upon his anhidrosis diagnosis, Picasso underwent a few key management changes: he was stalled under several fans during daylight hours to help keep him cool, and all exercise was halted. His daily hay intake increased to account for the restriction in pasture grass. The only other dietary change was an incremental increase in salt to 120 g per day over four days.

[1:47]

Within three days of receiving 120 g of salt daily, Picasso began to sweat normally and his respiration rate returned to normal.

[2:01]

Upon reintroduction to daytime turnout and exercise, he continued to sweat adequately.

[2:06]

Now that temperatures here in Florida have started to cool off, I decreased his salt to 90 g per day, and he continues to sweat adequately.