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Symptoms of ER
A horse developing ER will usually begin showing signs right after the beginning
of exercise, although for mild cases, signs may not be seen until after the
horse is cooled out. Signs include reluctance to move, stiffness or shortened
gait when the animal if forced to move, and muscle spasms or cramps, with hard,
painful muscles (especially the hindquarters) when palpated.
Usually there is a correlation between how long it takes the signs to be seen
and how severe the bout of ER is, with the more severe bouts of ER displaying
signs right after work has begun.
Signs of a severe bout of ER may include: sweating, elevated heart and
respiratory rates as a result of the pain, anxious expression, shifting of
weight from side to side, standing hunched and tense, passing redish brown
urine, dehydration, shock, and inability to rise.
If signs of ER are seen, DO NOT MOVE THE HORSE. Movement can cause further
muscle damage. If the animal is far from the barn, it is best to trailer him
back than to move him.
After a bout of ER, blood levels of CPK and AST rise.
Treatment of ER
Mild or Moderate Cases
The horse should receive several days of NSAIDs, rest, and grain or pellets
should be withheld. To improve blood flow to the muscles and help to with muscle
spasms, heat therapy and Equine Massage may be beneficial, as well as
hand-walking if the horse is comfortable walking. Turn-out in a pasture or
paddock will encourage movement. A horse should be moving normally within 12-36
hours after the attack.
Severe Cases
A horse may need fluids, especially if his urine is colored, the horse is
receiving NSAIDs, or if he is dehydrated. Fluids will increase the production of
urine that will in turn help flush out the excess, and potentially damaging,
myoglobin from the kidneys and will reduce NSAID-produced kidney damage. Fluids
should be administered until the urine is clear, which usually takes from a few
hours to a few days.
Vasodilators, such as acepromazine, can help improve blood flow to the muscles.
However, the owner should only give ace if it is prescribed the horse's
veterinarian, as it can lower the animal's blood pressure and can cause collapse
in a severely dehydrated horse. The human drug dantrolene is sometimes given to
alleviate the muscle spasms and prevent further degeneration of muscle tissue.
Vitamin E is an anti-oxidant, and so may help prevent further cell degeneration
in the affected muscles. However, vitamin E products must be used with caution
if they also contain selenium.
Bicarbonate will not help offset any lactic acid in the bloodstream, as lactic
acid generally only accumulates in the affected muscles.
Except to get a horse to his stall, a horse showing signs of severe ER should
not be moved until he is comfortable enough to do so eagerly. This may take
several days. After this point, it is important to either hand-walk the horse a
few times each day, or to provide him with a few hours of turnout in a pasture
or paddock.
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