Affiliation:
1. 1 From the Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center, Penryn, CA 95663 (Fielding); and Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616 (Magdesian).
Abstract
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate changes in electrolyte concentrations and hydration status that take place in endurance horses prior to the start of a competition and determine whether these changes would be associated with elimination.
ANIMALS
19 horses entered in the 2016 Tevis Cup 100-Miles (160 km) One-Day Western States Trail Ride.
PROCEDURES
Heparinized blood samples were collected at 5 time points: prior to transport to the ride (T0), during check-in the day before the ride (T1), 1 to 2 hours before the start of the ride (T2), at the 15-km mark (T3), and at the 55-km mark (T4). Packed cell volume and plasma sodium, potassium, chloride, urea nitrogen, glucose, bicarbonate, and total protein concentrations were determined and compared across time points and between finishers and nonfinishers.
RESULTS
Signif icant differences were detected among plasma sodium, potassium, and urea nitrogen concentrations measured prior to the start of the ride (ie, T0, T1, and T2). For all variables except chloride and bicarbonate concentrations, significant differences were detected between values obtained prior to the start of the ride and values obtained during the ride (ie, T3 and T4). Only bicarbonate concentration at the 15-km mark of the ride was significantly associated with finishing status.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Results suggested that significant changes in plasma sodium, potassium, and urea nitrogen concentrations can occur in endurance horses during transport to a competition and when horses are stabled overnight before an event. Additionally, a lower bicarbonate concentration following a steep climb early during the ride was associated with subsequent elimination.
Publisher
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Subject
General Veterinary,General Medicine
Reference48 articles.
1. Identification of the hydration state in emergency patients: correlation between caval index and BUN/creatinine ratio;Riccardi;Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci.,2013
2. Physiological responses of horses to 24 hours of transportation using a commercial van during summer conditions;Stull;J Anim Sci.,2000
3. Subclinical diseases underlying poor performance in endurance horses: diagnostic methods and predictive tests;Fraipont;Vet Rec.,2011
4. Response to saline solution of normally fed horses and horses dehydrated by fasting;Carlson;Am J Vet Res.,1983
5. Application of the sodium dilution principle to calculate extracellular fluid volume changes in horses during dehydration and rehydration;Fielding;Am J Vet Res.,2008