WHAT TO DO

Do not try to force water into your horse’s mouth. If your horse is too “dull” to drink, shooting water into his mouth with a hose, syringe or other device may cause some of the liquid to be drawn into his lungs—this may lead to aspiration pneumonia.

Do not administer electrolyte pastes. A horse who is dehydrated and overheating is already experiencing metabolic stress, and forcing him to swallow electrolytes may stress his system even more.

Do not give your horse any medications. Dehydration taxes a horse’s kidneys, and adding medications to his system can cause further damage.