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Posted: Tuesday, July 31, 2001

Water Consumption

By Michael Lowder, DVM, MS

Dr. Lowder:
I have a 9 yr. old Thoroughbred that I adopted off the race tracks. He was a Northern bred and raced horse, so his first few summers here in Florida have been brutal for him. He has suffered from Anhydrosis and dehydration in the past, but has been sweating fine the start of this summer. However, he has increased his water intake to between 20-30 gallons a day, yet still suffers from dehydration. His wet spot has not increased and his skin looks shrunken, as though the water is not reaching his cells. His behavior has not changed, nor has his appetite. All of his vital signs are in the normal. Is there a suppliment I could give him to help correct this, or is this a more serious condition that only my vet could handle?ĘThank you for any suggestions you may be able to provide.

Kim Farlow

Depending upon the diet and environmental temperature and the work load put on your horse his water consumption could be normal but not likely. The extra water has to be going somewhere. If the 'wet spot' in his stall has not increased and he is not sweating more then something is wrong. He my have a case of psychogenic water consumption. You will need to get your vet involved in this and see if the two of you can bring this puzzle together. I would also suggest they check his kidney function.

Thanks, Dr. Lowder

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