Horses suffer shock in the same ways that humans do. Dr Alison Moore, a lead veterinarian of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture offers important information that can help horse owners determine whether or not a horse is suffering from shock.
Horse's mucous membranes - Key to cases of shock
Deprived of oxygen and nutrients, the organs begin to fail and if the shock isn’t treated, the horse will eventually lose consciousness, the heart will stop and the horse will die.
Horses suffer shock for a number of reasons including injury, colic, extreme fear, blood loss and dehydration. The two most common types of shock that occur in horses are hypovolemic shock, which is caused by a sudden, severe blood loss due to major internal or external hemorrhaging or fluid loss through dehydration (i.e. diarrhea), and septic (or toxic) shock.
Septic shock is secondary to an infection, it occurs when large amounts of bacteria and endotoxins (toxins inside bacteria cells that are released when the cell is destroyed) enter the blood stream. “They cause the blood vessels to constrict and that affects the body’s cells and how they use energy,” said Dr. Alison Moore, lead veterinarian of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Animal Health and Welfare department. “That decreases blood flow to the organs.”
Other forms include: cardiogenic shock, which is associated with conditions that hinder the heart’s ability to pump blood; neurogenic shock, caused by damage to the nervous system due to severe trauma, pain and stress; and anaphylactic shock resulting from a severe allergic reaction
Deprived of oxygen and nutrients, the organs begin to fail. If the shock isn’t treated, the horse will eventually lose consciousness, the heart will stop and the horse will die.
The color of a horse’s mucous membrane – eyelids, nostrils and gums – can reveal the status of blood circulation. Gums are the most accessible mucous membranes and can offer a quick snapshot of the horse’s health.
In a healthy horse, the gums are moist and a bright pink color, but in a horse who has shock, they will appear very different. “Sometimes they’ll look very pale or grey. In septic shock, sometimes they appear as a bright red or a brick red,” said Nova Scotia veterinarian
Dr. Vanessa Scanlan notes that a toxic line, a purplish discoloration on the gums just underneath the teeth, is also a hallmark sign of septic shock.
Capillary refill time (CRT) is an indicator of how well blood is circulating through the horse’s body. To check CRT, press a thumb or finger against the horse’s gums for two seconds. A white mark will result. The mark should return to a healthy pink color within one or two seconds after you have removed your finger/thumb. If it takes longer, the horse could be in shock.
Seeking treatment early is the best defense against shock. If you think your horse is exhibiting symptoms, even if you aren’t positive, call a veterinarian right away. It could save his life.