Understanding Electrolytes and Their Importance for Trail Equine Athletes
Explore the crucial role of electrolytes for competitive trail equine athletes, including their functions, absorption in the body, sources of loss, and homemade electrolyte formulations. Learn how electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride are essential for muscle function, intestinal motility, and preventing issues like thumps. Discover insights on electrolyte balance, absorption in the stomach and intestines, sweating rates in horses, and the impact of electrolyte imbalances.
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Presentation Transcript
SWEATING ELECTROLYTES A DISCUSSION OF ELECTROLYTES AND HOW THEY APPLY TO THE COMPETITIVE TRAIL EQUINE ATHLETE
PRESENTORS KAY GUNCKEL, DVM KERI RIDDICK, DVM
WHAT ARE ELECTROLYTES? SODIUM NA POTASSIUM K CHLORIDE CL A HORSE NEEDS ELECTROLYTES FOR MUSCLE CONTRACTION (INCLUDING THE HEART MUSCLE) ELECTROLYTES HELP PRESERVE INTESTINAL MOTILITY PREVENTS THUMPS OR SYNCHRONOUS DIAPHRAGMATIC FLUTTER THERE IS AN ARTICLE IN HOOFPRINTS THAT DETAILS EACH OF THESE AND HOW THEY HELP THE BODY FUNCTION
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY WHERE ARE ELECTROLYTES ABSORBED? STOMACH SMALL INTESTINES HORSE STOMACH TWO TYPES OF TISSUE PRESENT ON THE INSIDE SQUAMOUS (NON-GLANDULAR) PORTION DOES NOT HAVE NATURAL PROTECTION FROM STOMACH ACID AND IS MORE SUSPECTABLE TO ULCERATION GLANDULAR PORTION ***EXERCISE ALLOWS STOMACH ACID TO SPLASH ONTO THE SQUAMOUS PART OF THE STOMACH AND CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF STOMACH ULCERS
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY HOW DO HORSES LOSE ELECTROLYTES? URINE FECES SWEAT FACT: HORSES CAN SWEAT 10-15 LITERS PER HOUR 1 LITER WEIGHTS APPROXIMATELY 2 POUNDS IN ORDER OF LOSS: NA, CL, K, CA, MG
ELECTROLYTES=SALTS ELECTROLYTES ARE USED WHEN THERE IS A NEED TO REPLACE SALTS THAT WILL BE LOST ELECTROLYTES CAN BE IRRITATING AND CAUSTIC TO SENSITIVE TISSUES LIKE THE MUCOUS MEMBRANES AND STOMACH LINING COMPARISON: SALT IN A WOUND
FORMULATIONS OF ELECTROLYTES HOMEMADE RECIPES MIX 2 PARTS TABLE SALT (NACL) WITH 1 PART SUBSTITUTION SALT (KCL) ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION: 4 TABLESPOONS TABLE SALT/ 2 TABLESPOONS SUBSTITUTION SALT/2 GALLONS OF WATER; MAY NEED TO FLAVOR THIS WITH SOME APPLE JUICE REFERENCE: HTTPS://SMARTHORSENUTRITION.COM/ELECTROLYTES-FOR-HORSES-ALL-YOU- NEED-TO-KNOW-INCLUDING-HOW-TO-MAKE-YOUR-OWN/
FORMULATIONS OF ELECTROLYTES HOMEMADE RECIPES DR. KERRY RIDGEWAY S RECIPE: 2 PARTS TABLE SALT (NON-IODIZED) 2 PARTS LITE SALT 1 PART DOLOMITE OR TUMS ANTACID ***AVOID A PRODUCT THAT USES DI-CALCIUM PHOSPHATE AS THE HORSES STOMACH DOES NOT ABSORB THIS VERY WELL THIS IS ADMINISTERED IN 2 OUNCE DOSES AND CAN BE ADDED TO WATER OR MIXED INTO APPLESAUCE OR GATOR AID AND SQUIRTED INTO THE HORSE S MOUTH USING A LARGE BORE DOSING SYRINGE
FORMULATIONS OF ELECTROLYTES COMMERCIAL POWDER COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE POWDER FORM TOP DRESS FEED ADD TO WATER BUCKET ADD TO BEET PULP, HYDRATION HAY OR WATER SOAKED FLAKE OF HAY MIX WITH APPLESAUCE OR GATOR AID AND ADMINISTERED VIA ORAL SYRINGE *** COMMERCIAL FORMULATIONS ARE NOT EQUAL BETWEEN PRODUCTS IN SALTS PROVIDED PER OUNCE
FORMULATIONS OF ELECTROLYTES COMMERCIAL POWDER Perform-N- Win Summer Games Table Salt Enduramax per ounce 13,950 mg 1120mg 5,528 16,700mg Sodium
FORMULATIONS OF ELECTROLYTES COMMERCIAL PASTE CONVENIENT EXPENSIVE WAY TO PROVIDE SALTS SEASONALLY CHECK YOUR TUBES AS THEY TEND TO DRY OUT AND ARE THEN USELESS WHEN YOU NEED THEM ON TRAIL LOOK FOR A PASTE THAT IS BUFFERED CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ORAL AND GASTRIC ULCERS DUE TO CAUSTIC NATURE OF SALTS KER RESTORE PASTE AND SUMMER GAMES ELECTROLYTE PASTE BOTH STATE THEY HAVE BUFFERING AGENTS
BUFFERING AGENTS WHY? SALTS ALONE CAN BE CORROSIVE TO THE STOMACH KAOLIN-PECTIN CAN PROVIDE COMFORT TO THE HORSE REDUCING THE CORROSIVE SALTS BEING SOLELY IN CONTACT WITH THE SENSITIVE LINING OF THE STOMACH KAOLIN: CLAY TYPE OF SUBSTANCE PECTIN: SOLUBLE FIBROUS SUBSTANCE PRODUCED BY PLANTS
BUFFERING AGENTS EXAMPLE OF A BUFFERING AGENT DURVET KAOLIN PECTIN ANTIDIARRHEAL LIQUID USE AS A 1:1 RATIO WITH YOUR ELECTROLYTES MAY NEED TO USE A BLENDER SO BE PREPARED AND EXPERIMENT WITH THIS AT HOME DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF THE CTR TO FIGURE THIS OUT
MANAGING THE EQUINE ATHLETE PRE-COMPETITION KNOW YOUR HORSE AND PREPARE FOR WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WILL BE THAT WEEKEND START FEEDING ELECTROLYTES AT HOME BEFORE TRAVELING HORSE IS WELL HYDRATED ELECTROLYTES IN THE HORSE S BODY ARE ALREADY IN BALANCE CONSIDER FEEDING YOUR HAY REGIMEN (SOAKED HAY OR HYDRATION HAY) BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME
MANAGING THE EQUINE ATHLETE DURING COMPETITION PAY ATTENTION TO THE METABOLIC SCORES DECREASED GUT SOUNDS ABNORMAL PNRS MUSCLE CRAMPING OR FATIGUE SWEAT SCORES
How can you recognize? Sweat loses avg. horse Salt loss per day Sweat score 1 1-4 liter It is still partially dry, moisture and sticky under the saddle. The neck is sticky and the flanks are slightly darker than normal. 2-7 teaspoons MANAGING THE EQUINE ATHLETE DURING COMPETITION SWEAT SCORES 4,650mg-16,275mg 2 4-7 liter It is wet under the saddle and on the neck. Here and there some foam spots along the saddle, were the reins touch the neck and also foam between the hindlegs. 7-12 teaspoons 16,275mg-27,900mg SWEAT SCORES INDICATE A PERCENTAGE OF SALT THAT A HORSES LOSES PER DAY 3 7-9 liter The horse is visibly wet under the bridle, on the neck and the flanks with here and there some foam spots. 12-16 teaspoons 27,900mg-37,200mg 4 9-12 liter Neck and flanks are totally wet. Wet spots above the eyes. White foam between the hind legs. 16-21 teaspoons 1TSP=2,325 MG TABLE SALT 37,200mg-48,825mg 6TSP=1 OUNCE 5 12-18 liter See sweatscore 4 and sweat trickles from above the eyes and the belly. 21-32 teaspoons 48,825mg-74,400mg Source: Zeyner et al 2013; Weight losses in excercised horses, a pilot study
MANAGING THE EQUINE ATHLETE DURING COMPETITION DOSE ON TRAIL AS YOU ARE OBSERVING CHANGES OFFER PLENTY OF HYDRATED HAY AND OR ELECTROLYTE WATER BACK AT CAMP ***ALWAYS HAVE A BUCKET OF PLAIN WATER IN THE HORSE S REACH CALCULATE SALTS TO REPLACE THE LOSS OF THE DAY IF YOUR HORSE HAD EXTREME LOSSES, CONSIDER THEIR SAFETY AND WHETHER YOU CAN REPLENISH THE ELECTROLYTES. SOMETIMES IT IS BEST TO PULL AND RIDE ANOTHER DAY.
MANAGING THE EQUINE ATHLETE POST RIDE CARE CONTINUE TO REPLACE ELECTROLYTES OVER THE NEXT 2-3 DAYS TO COMPLETELY REPLENISH THE TANK EXAMPLE: YOUR HORSE HAS A SWEAT SCORE OF 3 ON SUNDAY, SO THEY LOST 16 TEASPOONS OF SALT. TO REPLENISH THE SODIUM LOSS, IT WILL TAKE 3 OUNCES OF SALT ALONE. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REPLENISH THE LOST SALTS BACK TO YOUR HORSE? HAVE A PLAN FOR YOUR HORSE WHETHER IT IS THROUGH NUTRITION OR INTENTIONAL DOSING
MANAGING THE EQUINE ATHLETE WHO HAS A SENSITIVE STOMACH TALK WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN ABOUT YOUR FEEDING REGIMEN CONSIDER THE QUALITY HAY YOU ARE FEEDING; OFFER WATER SOAKED HAY THROUGHOUT THE COMPETITION ONLY USE BUFFERED ELECTROLYTES MAY NEED TO DOSE SMALLER AMOUNTS MORE FREQUENTLY ASK YOUR VET ABOUT HINDGUT ULCERS PURINA OUTLAST
MANAGING THE EQUINE ATHLETE WHO HAS A SENSITIVE STOMACH OMEPRAZOLE USE THE ALLOWED MAINTENANCE DOSE PRE-RIDE ONLY (FORBIDDEN DURING AN EVENT) CONSIDER STARTING THIS SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THE COMPETITION (WHEN YOU ARE STARTING TO PRE-LOAD YOUR ELECTROLYTES)
MANAGING THE EQUINE ATHLETE WHO WILL NOT DRINK ON THE TRAIL *****START YOUR ELECTROLYTE PROGRAM BEFORE YOU EVER LEAVE HOME***** HYDRATION HAY, FLAKES OF HAY FLOATED ON TOP OF WATER HANG MULTIPLE BUCKETS IN YOUR STALL, AT LEAST ONE PLAIN WATER AND ANOTHER WITH ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION ASSESS SWEAT SCORES AT YOUR PNR STOPS DISCUSS WITH THE VET JUDGE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT YOUR HORSE NOT DRINKING ON TRAIL AND IF THEY ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF FATIGUE, MUSCLE CRAMPING, DECREASED GUT SOUNDS, MAY BE BEST TO PULL AND RIDE ANOTHER DAY WORK ON TRAINING YOUR HORSE BEFORE HEADING TO A COMPETITION GET TO HANG OUT IN THE WATER AND ESSENTIALLY REST. THIS IS WITH A HYDRATED HORSE, NOT A STRESSED HORSE. WORK YOUR HORSE AND WHEN THEY COME TO WATER, OFFER BUT GIVE THEM A TIME LIMIT, THEY DO NOT
QUESTIONS???? WANT TO HEAR A JOKE ABOUT POTASSIUM? K I WAS GONNA TELL A JOKE ABOUT SODIUM BUT THEN I WAS LIKE, NA. HAHAHAHA HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!!! THANK YOU TO NATRC FOR HOSTING THIS WEBINAR KAY GUNCKEL, DVM DRKAYDVM@OUTLOOK.COM KERI RIDDICK, DVM KRIDDICK@COVERLANDFARMS.COM
