How Serious Is Tying-Up In Horses?

Tying-up is considered a veterinary emergency, especially if the horse is exhibiting signs such as profuse sweating, reluctance to move, and dark urine. A veterinarian should always be consulted when it is suspected that a horse is experiencing an episode of tying-up.

Can a horse recover from tying up?

Recovery time may be up to 6-8 weeks, and ability to return to work will vary with severity. Horses that suffer from chronic attacks of tying up can often be managed successfully with strict exercise, management and diet protocols.

How long does a horse take to recover from tying up?

The horse should be given at least 4-6 weeks rest with only light work, depending on its recovery. All efforts should be made to find out the reasons for the tying-up in the first place, particularly as it is often a management related problem.

What to do when a horse is tying up?

If your horse is showing signs of tying-up, stop exercise immediately. If the horse can walk, get him into a stable, but if he can’t don’t force him to walk as you could cause more damage. The horse will be visibly in pain and will often sweat profusely which means the signs can sometimes be confused with colic.

How long does a tying up episode last?

This period should also last around 20 minutes, or longer if your horse’s respiratory rate is still elevated. If you know you have worked your horse particularly hard (such as for a competition or a day’s hunting) it is just as important to gently walk your horse the day after too. Allowing him to stretch and relax.

What not to feed a horse that ties up?

Diets high in starch and sugars (for example those that contain large amounts of grain based feeds) are well known to make tying up occur more frequently and severely. For horses with the PSSM form of tying up, we recommend that all feeds containing grains be removed from the diet completely.

What to feed horses prone to tying up?

High energy fibres like lupin hulls, sugarbeet pulp and soybean hulls or high fibre grains like lupins are also valuable in providing energy in the diets of horses prone to tying up.

What objects should you avoid when tying a horse up?

Never tie with bridle reins or a rope attached to the bridle. Baling twine, string, and leather will break under pressure and should not be used. Be sure to tie your horse well out of the reach of a strange horse to avoid fighting.

Can a horse recover from a twisted gut?

This can be the result of a gassy distended gut becoming buoyant and twisting around on itself, or a twist could result from a horse rolling about with colic pain. This is a real emergency and if the twists aren’t corrected quickly the gut dies. This is fatal for the horse.

What causes a horse’s muscles to tie up?

Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) has been identified to be the most common cause of tying up in Quarter Horses and Draft breeds (some specify the Draft horse disease EPSM). It is a primary muscle disorder characterized by the accumulation of unusable carbohydrate the muscle cells.

Can stress cause tying up in horses?

Stress, excessive sweating, lack of drinking before and after work or not travelling well will cause electrolyte imbalances or disturbances which predispose a horse to ‘tying-up’.

What not to feed a horse that ties up?

Diets high in starch and sugars (for example those that contain large amounts of grain based feeds) are well known to make tying up occur more frequently and severely. For horses with the PSSM form of tying up, we recommend that all feeds containing grains be removed from the diet completely.