Horse without Water for 3+ Days--Help

sundancer maiden · 08-28-2008, 11:22 PM

Wanna talk about stupid!!!
Fence post was down, horses out, so I had to do some rounding up and closed a gate that is normally never closed.
Just now I wondered why Dani kept leaving her food and going outside. I finally went out around the barn, through one pen to get to hers, and as soon as I realized where she was standing it hit me and I started running. As soon as I opened the gate she trotted for the tank!
It has been hot and humid and she has been without access to water for 3+ days!
What do I need to do and watch out for?
How long before I get to breathe again?

Horse poor · 08-28-2008, 11:30 PM

How much did she drink? If you were able to keep her from drinking to much all at once you will be ahead of the game. Have you seen her urinate lately. Your best option would be checking with your vet.

Horse poor · 08-28-2008, 11:32 PM

If she is still by the water take her away immediately or she could founder.

Chic · 08-28-2008, 11:35 PM

I've never had that happen before but I guess I'd be worried about her drinking too much at once. Maybe give her a couple gallons then 1/2 hour to an hour later give her some more?

Freedomnchrist · 08-28-2008, 11:37 PM

Yup...ditto to both the above...not too much water at first!

Jean Genie · 08-28-2008, 11:50 PM

Impaction colic may also be a worry. I'd be consulting w my vet ASAP.

sundancer maiden · 08-28-2008, 11:57 PM

I let her get a decent drink but not too crazy. This is a huge tank that the water has been in all day, so it is air temp, not cold. She went to grazing on her hay while I came inside to start the thread. I then went back out, she was still at the hay but did go back to the water for a sip, then back to the hay. She is acting totally normal.
Should I keep checking on her for the next couple of hours, or more, or if something was going to happen would it have been fast? As soon as the water hit her somach?

sundancer maiden · 08-29-2008, 12:01 AM

Oh, I am not forgetting about the vet. I have an appt. at 8am, at the clinic, for 2 horses to get their teeth floated.
Should I just plan on taking her too?

Horse poor · 08-29-2008, 12:04 AM

If she drank no more than two or three gallons you should be okay. I would lock her away from the water until morning and let her drink again then. Is she passing fecal matter normally? Nothing will happen instantly, it takes time to have an impact on the system. I would restrict her food as well so as not to pack too much food on a possibly dry system at least for tonight. Check her hooves for heat in the next 12 to 24 hours.

Hope everything is fine, but keep watch for signs of colic and founder for the next couple days.

Horse poor · 08-29-2008, 12:06 AM

I would at least talk to the vet to see what he thinks and if he wants to check her out. Your best info will be from him since he will have seen so many more cases and can tell you better what to watch for.

**seerfarm** · 08-29-2008, 06:20 AM

Of course a large concern is possibility of dehydration, and impaction due to not having enough fluid in the gut and body.

I would have her looked at by the Vet to be on the safe side.

If she has had access to any grass either in the PM or early morning she has gotten atleast some water from that because of the dew.

I would have her checked and then to be extra careful, if she receives any grain at all to with hold it for the next 24 hours. They are better equiped to handle hay than grain if they are down in there water intake.

Seanachie · 08-29-2008, 06:28 AM

Seerfarm covered most of it.

Let her drink all she wants. The danger of founder is usually when the horse is too hot (lots of galloping) and gulps lots of water. If she's just been without, let her drink.

She should be fine but you're doing the right thing by having her checked.

BarnBum · 08-29-2008, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean Genie

Impaction colic may also be a worry. I'd be consulting w my vet ASAP.

That is what I was thinking, call your vet, might be safest to get her re-hydrated via an IV. You can monitor her intake that way. Plus do blood work for her electrolye levels.

PeggySue · 08-29-2008, 06:49 AM

There is very little chance of her colicing from too much water unless like somebody mentioned about she is very hot from exercise and drinking ICE cold water!!

If she hasn't coliced yet chances are you aer in the clear but I would take her along to the vets to be safe....

sundancer maiden · 08-29-2008, 07:05 AM

Well, I went out to check and Dani is at the fence nickering for breakfast! Her feet are great, I will report about the vet as soon as we get back.
I am withholding her feed until the vet says otherwise.

myboyjake · 09-02-2008, 09:50 PM

I guess that would be a hard way to learn lesson...check your water everyday

BarnBum · 09-02-2008, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myboyjake

I guess that would be a hard way to learn lesson...check your water everyday

I know this thread isn't about an automatic water, but, This is why I don't like automatic waterers. For starters, you don't know how much they are drinking and two, you get lazy and not check them. I boarded a long time ago and that happened to my horse, I came out to ride, his automatic waterer was bone dry. He drank and drank ....... I was furious. This is Fla, they NEED water. I had a few words with the BO and needless to say I left with my horse in tow !!!!!!!!

I know exactly how much water my horses drink, their buckets are cleaned and filled 2x day.

BarnBum · 09-02-2008, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sundancer maiden

Well, I went out to check and Dani is at the fence nickering for breakfast! Her feet are great, I will report about the vet as soon as we get back.
I am withholding her feed until the vet says otherwise.

How is everything ?? Good I hope !!

Freedomnchrist · 09-02-2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarnBum

I know this thread isn't about an automatic water, but, This is why I don't like automatic waterers. For starters, you don't know how much they are drinking and two, you get lazy and not check them. I boarded a long time ago and that happened to my horse, I came out to ride, his automatic waterer was bone dry. He drank and drank ....... I was furious. This is Fla, they NEED water. I had a few words with the BO and needless to say I left with my horse in tow !!!!!!!!

I know exactly how much water my horses drink, their buckets are cleaned and filled 2x day.

Hey....you wanna be my horse Mom????

Horse poor · 09-02-2008, 10:54 PM

My neighbor had the same thing happen, horse was out of water for only a day and a half. Foundered in both front feet, so it can happen in a horse that has not been worked and isn't hot. Never say never!

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08-28-2008, 11:22 PM
sundancer maiden Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Udall, KS Posts: 1,130	Horse without Water for 3+ Days--Help Wanna talk about stupid!!! Fence post was down, horses out, so I had to do some rounding up and closed a gate that is normally never closed. Just now I wondered why Dani kept leaving her food and going outside. I finally went out around the barn, through one pen to get to hers, and as soon as I realized where she was standing it hit me and I started running. As soon as I opened the gate she trotted for the tank! It has been hot and humid and she has been without access to water for 3+ days! What do I need to do and watch out for? How long before I get to breathe again? __________________ You don't have to be crazy to be my friend, but it helps!!!

08-28-2008, 11:30 PM
Horse poor Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,102	How much did she drink? If you were able to keep her from drinking to much all at once you will be ahead of the game. Have you seen her urinate lately. Your best option would be checking with your vet. __________________ 'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.' - Thomas Jefferson

08-28-2008, 11:32 PM
Horse poor Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,102	If she is still by the water take her away immediately or she could founder. __________________ 'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.' - Thomas Jefferson

08-28-2008, 11:35 PM
Chic Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,209	I've never had that happen before but I guess I'd be worried about her drinking too much at once. Maybe give her a couple gallons then 1/2 hour to an hour later give her some more? __________________ Jewlery For Your HorseThe Kelley Square "I cannot do everything, but I can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." Edward Hale

08-28-2008, 11:37 PM
Freedomnchrist Greenbroke Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 3,312	Yup...ditto to both the above...not too much water at first!

08-28-2008, 11:50 PM
Jean Genie Started Join Date: May 2006 Location: NW Illinois Posts: 2,002	Impaction colic may also be a worry. I'd be consulting w my vet ASAP. __________________ Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle.

08-28-2008, 11:57 PM
sundancer maiden Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Udall, KS Posts: 1,130	I let her get a decent drink but not too crazy. This is a huge tank that the water has been in all day, so it is air temp, not cold. She went to grazing on her hay while I came inside to start the thread. I then went back out, she was still at the hay but did go back to the water for a sip, then back to the hay. She is acting totally normal. Should I keep checking on her for the next couple of hours, or more, or if something was going to happen would it have been fast? As soon as the water hit her somach? __________________ You don't have to be crazy to be my friend, but it helps!!!

08-29-2008, 12:01 AM
sundancer maiden Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Udall, KS Posts: 1,130	Oh, I am not forgetting about the vet. I have an appt. at 8am, at the clinic, for 2 horses to get their teeth floated. Should I just plan on taking her too? __________________ You don't have to be crazy to be my friend, but it helps!!!

08-29-2008, 12:04 AM
Horse poor Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,102	If she drank no more than two or three gallons you should be okay. I would lock her away from the water until morning and let her drink again then. Is she passing fecal matter normally? Nothing will happen instantly, it takes time to have an impact on the system. I would restrict her food as well so as not to pack too much food on a possibly dry system at least for tonight. Check her hooves for heat in the next 12 to 24 hours. Hope everything is fine, but keep watch for signs of colic and founder for the next couple days. __________________ 'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.' - Thomas Jefferson

08-29-2008, 12:06 AM
Horse poor Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,102	I would at least talk to the vet to see what he thinks and if he wants to check her out. Your best info will be from him since he will have seen so many more cases and can tell you better what to watch for. __________________ 'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.' - Thomas Jefferson

08-29-2008, 06:20 AM
seerfarm Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portal, Ga Posts: 7,732	Of course a large concern is possibility of dehydration, and impaction due to not having enough fluid in the gut and body. I would have her looked at by the Vet to be on the safe side. If she has had access to any grass either in the PM or early morning she has gotten atleast some water from that because of the dew. I would have her checked and then to be extra careful, if she receives any grain at all to with hold it for the next 24 hours. They are better equiped to handle hay than grain if they are down in there water intake. __________________ "To know the road ahead, ask those coming back".

08-29-2008, 06:28 AM
Seanachie Started Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 2,149	Seerfarm covered most of it. Let her drink all she wants. The danger of founder is usually when the horse is too hot (lots of galloping) and gulps lots of water. If she's just been without, let her drink. She should be fine but you're doing the right thing by having her checked. __________________ Seánachie "I'll keep my guns, my religion, and my money - you can keep the change." Last edited by Seanachie : 08-29-2008 at 06:31 AM.

08-29-2008, 06:49 AM
PeggySue Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dennison, Illinois Posts: 525	There is very little chance of her colicing from too much water unless like somebody mentioned about she is very hot from exercise and drinking ICE cold water!! If she hasn't coliced yet chances are you aer in the clear but I would take her along to the vets to be safe....

08-29-2008, 07:05 AM
sundancer maiden Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Udall, KS Posts: 1,130	Well, I went out to check and Dani is at the fence nickering for breakfast! Her feet are great, I will report about the vet as soon as we get back. I am withholding her feed until the vet says otherwise. __________________ You don't have to be crazy to be my friend, but it helps!!!

09-02-2008, 09:50 PM
myboyjake Halter broke Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: ohio Posts: 155	I guess that would be a hard way to learn lesson...check your water everyday

09-02-2008, 10:54 PM
Horse poor Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,102	My neighbor had the same thing happen, horse was out of water for only a day and a half. Foundered in both front feet, so it can happen in a horse that has not been worked and isn't hot. Never say never! __________________ 'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.' - Thomas Jefferson