Management of Tying-Up
Acute Tying-Up Episodes
Horses in distress (sweating heavily, elevated respiratory rate, anxious, etc.), reluctant to move, or with myoglobinuria (discolored urine) require immediate veterinary attention. The veterinarian will likely take measures to curb dehydration, relieve anxiety, and squelch the pain. Each case requires an individualized treatment plan.
Physical therapy is integral in the recuperation process. A large box stall will afford the horse the chance to move at will, and hand walking can commence approximately 24 hours after an attack. In lieu of hand walking, horses may be allowed to move about on their own. Too much hand walking may elicit another tying-up episode. Exercise duration may increase over the next several days, and horses may gradually return to regular exercise. Massage therapy may speed recovery.
Complete blood count, serum chemistry, urine assessment of electrolyte balance, and muscle biopsy may shed light on the underlying cause of the tying-up incident. A veterinarian should assist with the measures.
Chronic Tying-Up Episodes
A nervous disposition has been a common denominator among horses afflicted with chronic tying-up. Methods to reduce nervousness should be implemented. Possible solutions include moving a horse away from high traffic areas in the stable, getting the horse a companion animal such as a docile stablemate or goat, altering the time of day when the horse is worked, and possibly administering a tranquilizer prior to exercise.
Regular exercise is crucial and can be accomplished by daily turnout or more formal exercise (riding, longeing, ponying, etc.). Horses should not remain stall bound for long periods of time. The recuperation period following a tying-up episode should be kept short, resuming the horse's normal routine as quickly as possible. An appropriate exercise program can be designed with veterinary consultation.
Feeding programs should be scrutinized and changes made as necessary. The most important consideration is a drastic reduction in grain feeding with the addition of fat (rice bran, corn oil, soya oil, etc.) to ensure adequate energy intake. Imbalances in electrolytes should be corrected. This can sometimes be achieved by simply adding salt (one to three tablespoons) to the ration each day. If inadequate quantities of vitamin E and selenium are being consumed by the horse, supplementation may be necessary. An equine nutritionist can be consulted for advice on feeding horses prone to tying-up.