Understanding Anhidrosis

Anhidrosis, a compromised ability to sweat in the face of exercise or high ambient temperatures, is a potentially dangerous condition for horses. Working horses thermoregulate (maintain a consistent body temperature) primarily through sweating. They lose 65-70% of heat through evaporation of this sweat and 15-25% via the respiratory tract, so the inability to sweat can have a tremendous effect on these regulatory mechanisms. Environmental humidity reduces sweat evaporation and further magnifies sweating abnormalities.

Anhidrosis is widespread in the hot and humid regions of the southeastern United States and the Gu