Windt
im Wald Farm
Geauga County, Northeast Ohio
since 1995
Azoturia/Tying-up Syndrome
Jim Hamilton, DVM
Tying-up or azoturia is a muscle metabolism problem.
The causes are several but the result is the same, muscle cramping.
If the cramping is severe enough then the myoglobin released from the
damaged muscle goes from blood to kidneys and into the urine, turning
the urine a dark red color. Most cases of tying-up are not that severe
and usually present as a horse that has been off for several days and
is then exercised aggressively. In the middle of the ride (or sometimes
right at the end) the horse's stride shortens and he cramps up.
Treatment is usually routine in that anti-inflammatories, small doses
of sedative, muscle relaxers and in some cases IV fluid therapy gets
the job done. The horse is then put on a very low energy diet for at
least 1 week and blood muscle enzyme levels are obtained to assess the
damage. The bigger challenge is to figure out why it happened and to
prevent it.
One of the more common causes of azoturia in mares is the hormonal effect
of coming into heat (estrus). I have seen many young athletic mares
who are on a good nutritional and exercise program tie-up only because
they were in heat. In fact, this past weekend we had a large driving
competition here in Southern Pines and a mare that was part of a two
horse team came into flaming heat on the day of the endurance phase.
She was very fir and on a good nutritional program but shortly after
completing cross country, she had a severe episode of azoturia.
Some of the other common causes are too high a level of protein and
energy in the diet and poor electrolytic supplementation in hot weather.
Prevention involves use of potassium salt and baking
soda supplementation in the feed, making sure that dietary energy and
protein levels are not too high and that you be aware of predisposing
factors such as estrus in your mare or a lameness that is overlooked.
Last but not least, you will have fewer problems in general if the horse
is kept on a "regular" consistent exercise program.
