dehydrating horse

Question
hello, if a horse is drooling or foaming, is it dehydrating? how can i detect a dehydrating horse?

Answer
Hi Caine,

Thank you for your question.  A horse can drool or foam at the mouth for different reasons that may not be related to dehydration.  

There are a few quick field tests that will help you determine if your horse is in fact dehydrated.  The first is the capillary refill test on your horse's gums.  Open your horse's mouth, press firmly on the gums with the pad of your finger or thumb for a few seconds and then release the pressure.  Applying pressure to the gums turns the area white, and once the pressure is released the gums should return to their normal color within 2 seconds.  If it takes longer for the color to come back, your horse may be dehydrated.  The skin pinch test can also indicate your horse's hydration.  If you lightly pinch a 2 inch section of skin between your finger and thumb, along the side of your horse's neck, and release then release it it should return to it's normal state (flat like the rest of the skin) in less than 2 seconds.  If the skin remains wrinkled or tented for more than 2 seconds it indicates that your horse could be dehydrated.  Both of these methods indicate a significant state of dehydration.  A 'poop test' indicates dehydration at an earlier stage of less dehydration.  If you step normally (as though walking) on a ball of horse poop, it should leave a ring of water around the ball of about 1''.  Less moisture than that indicates the beginning of dehydration.

I hope that helps.

Thanks, Corlena