Tying Up
PREPARED BY: Cheryl Sutor [1998]


The following list contains the possible symptoms of Tying Up. Tying up is usually exercise-related. Symptoms below are most likely to appear within the first 1/2 hour of work. Some horses may not exhibit all symptoms. Tying up seems to be more common in young Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds who are either not fit or high strung, however, it can occur in any breed.


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Most common symptoms:
Obvious discomfort
Abnormally short strides, muscle stiffness
Difficulty in movement. Horse may refuse to move
Muscle hardening/contracting with hindquarter spasms, mostly in croup area
Elevated pulse & respiration

Possible additional symptoms:
Flaring of the nostrils
Slow capillary refill time
Pawing
Pale gums
Sweating
Short, stiff gait
Brown colored urine


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Management of Tying Up

Call your veterinarian immediately. Ask the veterinarian if you should administer any treatment prior to his arrival. Ask what you may do to comfort your horse until he arrives.

Do NOT move your horse! Moving your horse even a few steps may make the condition even worse. However, you do want to keep him on his feet.

Protect the horse from chills by using a blanket.

Encourage the horse to drink, it will help flush his kidneys of waste.

Why do horses become Tied-up?

A horse becomes tied-up when his muscles have been overworked. The muscles become damaged from toxic by-products that are produced during the work. These toxic by-products are produced from the blood's inability to carry enough oxygen to the muscles. High glycogen content and abnormal polysaccharide in the muscles. Sometimes, defective calcium regulation. When a horse ties up repeatedly, it may lead to kidney damage.

What can you do to prevent Tying-up?

Feed a low or no-carbohydrate diet with high fat. Warm up and cool down your horse properly with at least 15 minutes of walking. Don't exercise the horse to a point where it is stressful. Provide turnout as often as possible.

hey GR...Danzig pretty much covered it but since I know you like to know stuff...read this one...why tying up used to be called 'monday morning sickness'
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/horse_talk/61483

the trainers here could probably tell stories about 2 YO fillies that tie up...for some reason the high strung girls do it a lot...
yearling fillies like to do it at the sales too...when they did it was usually mild, we'd give them some bute paste, a little Ace to relax them, and some electrolytes...

A little trivia...another name for tying up is azoturia. I used to have to know all of this stuff for all of those competitions that I went to as a youth. I can't believe I still remember some of it...lol.

When we supplemented selenium, we supplemented vitamin E at the same time. I can't tell you why (it's been way too long :eek: ), but I remember it had something to do with an inbalance if you didn't. Does anyone know anything about this? I'm getting too old. LOL

has to do with bio-availability...but I'm getting old too...i can't remember exactly...one limits the uptake of the other if i remember right...

I never said that you could not have an opinion just that yours as well as all of us here were not 'qualified' opinions.

It takes zero courage to offer an opinion on an internet message board.
Comparing the KY derby winner and a 5 claimer seems a bit stupid. And dont give me all that crap about they are all God's creatures. That these people have choosen to try to save the horse surely is not a negative thing.

You're pretty much right. You usually have to supplement selenium in cases of white muscle disease, azoturia...etc. Vitamin E and selenium work together, and are used especially in the treatment of white muscle disease in foals. Vitamin E prevents the breakdown of cells, and selenium aids in the absorption of vitamin E through the tissues.

I must say that this is probably the most civilized discussion of Barbaro's potential fate I have seen-- I'm impressed! It's hard not to get carried away with emotions, no matter which side you're on... no one wants to see this horse suffer, but then again, the horse deserves every fighting chance at a decent life.

I hope Barbaro doesn't have to be euthanized, and as of now I trust that if he hasn't been put down, there is a good reason for it. However, if he does have to be put down, I also understand that there was also a valid reason for doing so. I have never seen the colt in person so I don't feel comfortable saying what should or should not happen to him; like I said, I'm trusting the judgement of those who are around him day in and day out. Each day that I check all the horse racing websites and see that Barbaro is still alive and well, I'm happy.

Randalll, your heart is in the right place but trust me on thisl, you DO know if they've given up. Horse's absolutely won't eat if they are sick or suffering, that is exactly one of the ways we gauge their general outlook. My horse Rhage suffered a severe case of Laminitis and had to have the very same surgery Barbaro did, it was awful getting to that point and seeing her in such intense pain, and if she had shown me at anytime that she was suffering I lover her enough to have let go, but she had a brightness in her eyes and was so accomodating that even the Vets remarked how intelligent she was to help them help her. 16 months later after numerous xrays, foot wrappings, pain medications, and intense ups and downs, she is now able to lead a normal life, her foot will never look the same, as will Barbaro's, but she's alive, happy and deserving of every attempt to save her. In fact I just came in the house from feeding her and she ran up to me bucking, kicking and squealing with anticipation for her carrots.!

I trust the people close to Barbaro, who know him inside and out, and love him, will not let him suffer.

Wonderful post. Thank you and congrats on your mare getting well. Hopefully Barbaro will get there too.

Vitamin E deficiency lowers selenium absorption and utilization which is why many selenium supplements also contain Vit. E. Unfortunately, unless the Vit E has been stabilized, it only has a shelf life of a couple weeks.

Suzanne(WHY do I know this???)

lol

yeah, i ask myself that about trivia. hell, i can name every king and queen of england in chronological order from william the conqueror. yet it doesn't pay the bills.....:rolleyes:

Danzig and Paisjpg, thanks for the links-- I logged off yesterday morning and didn't get back online until this morning, so I just read them all. Very interesting stuff. It IS funny what our minds choose to retain, isn't it?

News is better on Mr. B this morning:

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=37086

Oops, sorry for posting a link that had been posted earlier. See what I miss when I get off DT for more than a few hours? :)

thanks suzanne:) I knew that one of them limited the other just couldn't remember how exactly...

that's funny...i'm a useless knowledge junkie myself...but I don't know the english royal family...you win :p :D

I have only this to say: The Jacksons and Dr. Richardson have the best interest of Barbaro in their minds and in their actions. I respect that they are doing the right thing. In my opinion, Barbaro has conveyed to them his will to live. I am happy and optimistic that he can recover and lead a life of quality.