Anhidrosis & Hair Loss in Horses

If your horse has difficulty sweating, it may have a very serious condition called anhidrosis. This disease must be carefully managed in order to keep your horse healthy. Anhidrosis can cause damage to your horse's hair and may result in hair loss.

  1. Anhidrosis

    • Anhidrosis is a condition where a horse is unable to sweat and cannot effectively cool itself off. It is usually a progressive condition that gets worse over time, and the horse will pant and puff in order to try to regulate its body temperature.

    Hair Loss as a Symptom

    • One symptom you may notice in a horse with anhidrosis is hair loss or thinning hair. The hair loss is often seen on the head and upper neck, especially around the eyes.

    Dry Coat

    • Sweat helps move oils to the skin's surface, so a horse that has difficulty sweating will usually have dry skin. As a result, the horse's coat becomes very dry; you may be able to easily pinch out the hair.

    Hair Removal

    • While some of the hair loss is a result of the disorder, sometimes less hair can be a good thing. Hair removal can help keep your horse cooler, so a horse with a thick coat may benefit from a body clip.

    Treatment

    • Anhidrosis is difficult to cure and its treatment usually consists of managing the disease and its side effects. Work closely with your veterinarian; some options include special feeding programs, keeping the horse in a cool environment and hosing the horse to keep it cool.