Veterinary Technician Practice Exam

Which condition in horses indicates an inability to sweat normally?

1. Heaves

2. Colic

3. Anhydrosis

4. Laminitis

The correct answer is: Anhydrosis

Anhydrosis is the correct answer because it specifically refers to the condition in which a horse is unable to produce sweat adequately or at all. This can lead to overheating and a variety of health concerns since sweating is a critical mechanism for thermoregulation in horses. Anhydrosis can be particularly problematic in hot and humid climates, where the inability to sweat can impair a horse's ability to cool itself effectively. In contrast, heaves is a respiratory condition also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and primarily involves the lungs and airway function rather than sweating. Colic is a general term for abdominal pain and does not relate to sweat production. Laminitis is a painful condition affecting the hooves, characterized by inflammation; it also does not have any direct association with the horse’s ability to sweat. Each of these other conditions affects different systems or functions within the horse's body, distinct from the specific dysfunction related to sweating seen in anhydrosis.