Re: Re: what to do with cramp/tie-up

["superpat" <superpat@gateway.net>]

Hi Maggie,
You may want to check the archives for discussion about tie-ups. I remember
some discussion not more than a few months ago. In short, though, you do not
want to force the horse to walk. To do so could cause even greater muscle
damage or shock and even death.. In severe cases, the horse will not want to
move anyway. Last summer, after only a few miles of a training ride, I
noticed that my horse was taking longer than usual to pulse down after a
long very steep uphill trot. (in hindsight, I should have taken this clue
and been more observant). After a couple more miles, she simply stopped and
was hesitant to move forward. I could feel her hind legs trembling. I
dismounted immediately and knew in an instant that we had a severe problem.
Her hip muscle was rock hard and tight as a drum. Within a minute or so, the
sweat was dripping from her so profusely that it was as though a hose was
pouring over her. She would not move either rear foot. Luckily, the weather
was in the high 80's. The protocol is to not move the horse, cover with a
blanket or cooler and seek veterinarian assistance immediately. As we were
miles from the trailer, the only thing to do was to wait it out while my
friend rode back to the trailer to try to bring it closer to the trail when
my horse was able to walk. After about an hour and a half, my horse offered
to take a step. I walked her about a half mile to the trailer and was able
to get her home. The vet took blood samples the next morning and confirmed
that we had a case of Myositis or Tie-up. Luckily there was little kidney
damage and after a couple weeks, she was back to normal. This is a very
serious condition, not to be taken lightly as there could be severe kidney
damage as well as muscle damage. It is extremely painful for the horse. I
now carry Banamine with me on all training rides as it could lessen the
damage in the event of another tie-up. A good source to check for a thorough
discussion of this is Nancy Loving's Veterinary Manual for the Performance
Horse, available from Equine Research, Inc. phone (800)848-0225.
Pat

----- Original Message -----
From: Maggie Mieske <mmieske@netonecom.net>
To: Glenda R. Snodgrass <grs@theneteffect.com>; Ridecamp
<ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 4:13 AM
Subject: RC: Re: what to do with cramp/tie-up


> Glenda,
> I was just reading an OLD Horse magazine last night (1969...I enjoy
looking
> at those things!) and read an article about first aid.  It was very
> interesting.  It said to NOT walk a horse who is tying up.  Cover him up
> and keep him still until the vet arrives.  This particular article was
> stressing the importance of knowing the difference between tying up and
> colicking as the symptoms can be somewhat similar....I never thought about
> it!!  I am interested in hearing some other thoughts on the subject....is
> this article still true or is it way off base?  If we goof and think our
> horse is colicking and walk a horse who is tying up, can/will it kill
them?
>  This is what the article said can happen. Please reply to both me and RC
> as I have been on "farrier chauffer" duty lately and we are working 12-14
> hour days right now and have 100s of RC posts I can't get to...I am just
> zipping through this morning while I'm waiting for the shower to see if
> anything interests me.  So.....if I've missed something important this
past
> week or so, please fill me in someone!!  :)
>
>
> Maggie Mieske
> Mieske's Silver Lining
> 10601 S. Richards Rd.
> McBain, Michigan 49657
> http://www.netonecom.net/~mmieske
> mmieske@netonecom.net
>
> ----------
> > From: Glenda R. Snodgrass <grs@theneteffect.com>
> > To: Ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> > Subject: RC:  what to do with cramp/tie-up
> > Date: Sunday, April 30, 2000 7:00 PM
> >
> > After the beach gallop on Thursday, Embers had a slight quivering in his
> > hindquarters while tied to the trailer, eating hay and drying off before
> > the ride home.  My first panicked thought was a muscle cramp or tie-up,
> > but I quickly realized he was shivering from the cool breeze that just
> > came up, and he quit once I threw a cooler on his back.
> >
> > The incident made me realize, however, that I don't have a clue what to
> do
> > in case of tie-up or cramp when there's not a vet around.  What is the
> > best course of action?  Walk him around?  Massage?  At what point is it
> > serious enough that I need to put him in the trailer and head for the
> > nearest large animal clinic?  I've simply never thought of these things
> > happening anywhere but at a ride.
> >
> > Glenda & Lakota
> > Mobile, AL
> > AERC # M18819 & H27310
> > SE Region
> >
> >
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