Dehydrated

When I pulled Hamps out of his stall today, I immediately knew something was not right.

He is quite tucked up in his flanks, and when I did the pinch test on some skin on his neck, there was definite tenting. Sure signs of dehydration.

When I rode him Friday I thought he felt weak behind as well. I wonder if the dehydration was already kicking in then. I watched him pee today as well and it was darker than usual.

My gut says he probably is not tying up. He shows no soreness at all. No relectance to move. No tying up symptoms really. However, our barn worker reported that Thursday evening the horses were running around like idiots (chilly, rain, wind, you know how it goes). And Friday I found Hampton's sheet out in the field - absolutely destroyed (straps ripped off, etc). Did he run around like an idiot that night and tie up? did he get stuck in his blanket and panic? So he COULD have had a mild episode, but honestly he has been moving great. He just felt ... weak... on Friday. I blamed it on too much playing in the field.

The horses just recently switched to night turn out. Has that triggered something? I went into mild paranoid mode. Did he get into a toxic plant? Is something else going on? He feed has not changed (other than the fact that he is now eating more grass since he is turned out longer), and he has access to salt blocks.

His vitals are all normal. He poo is very normal. He has a great appetite and is still a treat whore. His eyes are bright and glassy, gums normal. So I managed to talk myself off the ledge. I treated him with some electrolytes** and he did drink about half a bucket. yay!

He has gotten a bit dehydrated on me a couple of times before. Come to think of it, it has been this time of year. So if he does not show improvement tomorrow, I am going to call the vet and run fluids on him (IV saline probably). Maybe draw blood and see what he says.

Hoping he drinks a ton of water tonight and recovers. Don't really like to mess around with dehydration.


**I would ask your vet before giving just any dehydrated horse electrolytes as in certain situations (ie when the horse is not eating or drinking at all), it could make it worse.