Winter Hazards -
The Frozen Horse or Horsicle

The winter weather comes with its own special hazards and challenges. Horse owners and horses have to deal with everything from frozen water buckets to icy paddocks. A case in point was the Horsicle, Henry, a 7-year-old Quarter horse gelding. He was presented to the Ontario Veterinary College for treatment of hypothermia (low core body temperature).

Henry was found swimming in a pond on January 18, 2004. How long he was in the pond is unknown. After removal from the pond, Henry was recumbent, but did try to rise. The referring veterinarian treated Henry with intravenous fluids, anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants, and sent him to the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph for further treatment. On arrival, Henry's rectal temperature was very low (32.2°C; normal is 37.5 - 38.5°C). He was still down, unable to stand and was shivering severely. He did not respond to touch or manipulation but seemed aware of the surroundings. Henry had rapid and shallow respirations and an elevated heart rate. Mucous membranes were severely blanched and digital pulses were very poor to absent, consistent with severe vasoconstriction as a response to hypothermia.

Henry was given supplemental oxygen into his nose. Laboratory tests revealed marked signs of muscle injury and poor circulation. Intravenous fluid therapy was given to restore circulation and to help warm him. Once the circulation improved, warm water baths and enemas were given to increase his body temperature. Henry's rectal temperature rose slowly over the afternoon and shivering subsided. By mid-afternoon, he stood and was moved to a stall. He passed urine that was very dark due to dehydration and muscle breakdown. Fluid and anti-inflammatory therapies were continued. Antibiotics were given to help fight pneumonia and any damage that may have happened to the gut. Over the next day, Henry developed generalized edematous swelling over his body. Serum began to ooze from cracks under the jaw and over his biceps muscles but he had a good appetite and continued to become brighter and more alert. His respiratory rate and heart rate were elevated and his temperature returned to within the normal range. Lung sounds were increased and harsh.

Over the following week, Henry's edema began to resolve, and the muscle-enzyme levels in the blood normalized. On January 23, Henry began to sweat mildly, possibly due to revascularization of the skin and this was thought to be a good prognostic indicator. He was discharged from the hospital eight days after admission. He continued the convalescence at home and has since returned to normal activity.

A "tip of the hat" to the staff of the Ontario Veterinary College.

Take-home Message

• There are many hazards when horses have access to ponds and streams.
• Horses should always be fenced away from streams and ponds to prevent stream/pond bank damage and erosion.
• Stream and pond embankments are often very slippery and hazardous for horses to navigate.
• Horses may 'do the splits' when walking on ice or sharp pieces of ice may damage their legs and tendons.

Horses should always be provided with fresh clean water from a bucket, water trough or water bowl. Snow is not a suitable substitute for clean fresh water. A horse would have to consume up to ten times the volume of snow to meet its water requirements. This is a tremendous drain on the horse's energy reserves and an inefficient process. Impaction colics can occur when horses have restricted access to water.

Related Links

• The Perils of Winter - Dealing with Ice, No Water, and Frozen Ground

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