AZOTURIA 219 



The precipitating factor is active exercise, following idleness 

 on full feed. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms appear suddenly, with little or no 

 warning, and are very uniform. The horse comes out of the 

 stable feeling unusually well, then after going a short distance 

 goes suddenly lame, or stiff, or weak, in his hind legs. Both 

 legs may be affected alike, or one only, or one first, then the 

 other. Occasionally one or both front limbs are affected. The 

 horse staggers, is very weak on his affected legs, and may fall 

 before he can be unhitched. 



He perspires very freely ; the muscles over his loins and hips 

 are rigid to the touch, frequently tender on pressure, and may 

 tremble or twitch. 



The urine is highly colored, varying from red to almost black, 

 and increased in specific gravity. This abnormal color is due 

 to the presence of red coloring matter of the blood and volun- 

 tary muscles. It may not be conspicuous, however, in mild 

 cases. The pulse may run up to 60 or 80 per minute (normal, 

 42 to 48) ; and the temperature increase to 102 or 104 (normal 

 about 101) if the animal is restless, but in many cases they vary 

 but little from normal. The bowels may be normal, and the 

 appetite fairly good in mild cases, Skin sensation may be di- 

 minished, as shown by pricking with a pin. The natural peris- 

 taltic action of the intestines may be suppressed, but the bowels 

 will usually empty under the influence of an injection or other 

 local irritation. A chronic paralysis affecting one or both hind 

 limbs may be a troublesome factor in the case. 



Prevention. — Prevention is simple, easily applied, inexpen- 

 sive and reasonably certain, and for these reasons, preferable 

 to treatment, which is frequently unsatisfactory even if the pa- 

 tient recovers. Moreover one attack predisposes to another, and 

 the second attack is more easily brought on than the first. Pre- 

 venting the first attack may prevent several attacks and ulti- 

 mate death of the horse. 



There is but slight danger of azoturia for the horse that is 

 thin and weak, or for the young colt or for the aged horse. This 

 disease often affects the best horse in the barn, one that is in 

 good flesh and in the prime of life. When such a horse has 

 been working on full feed for a time and then stands idle for a 

 few days, or even twenty-four hours, make a large reduction in 

 the grain ration, or if the horse is quite fat, stop all the grain. 



