PG . 34
AQHA HORSE HEALTH
Tacky , dry or sticky gums Capillary refill time (> 3 seconds ) Little interest in feed or water Distress , agitation Stumbling Weakness Reduced urination Loss of skin elasticity Collapse
DEHYDRATION AND ELECTROLYTES During prolonged exercise , horses may sweat 15 – 20 litres per hour of exercise . Excessive sweating can lead to dehydration . When horses are becoming dehydrated their fluid levels are dropping and they ’ ve run out of ways to cool themselves – sweating is compromised and their ability to regulate their body temperature diminishes , doubling their risk of heat stress .
Substantial amounts of sodium , potassium and chloride , and significant amounts of calcium and magnesium are lost in sweat . The loss of these electrolytes can suppress the thirst reflex and the desire to drink even in the face of dehydration . This is an important point to remember — sweating can suppress the desire to drink . We have all heard “ you can lead a horse to water , but you can ’ t make them drink .”
Sometimes , however , the signs of impending heat exhaustion are difficult to recognize . If you suspect your horse is developing heat stroke , call a veterinarian immediately and take extreme measures to cool your horse quickly . If the signs of heat stress are severe , your horse may need intravenous fluids and electrolyte therapy and veterinary attention should not be delayed .
Our task is to ensure that the horse is provided with adequate fluid and salt . Of prime importance is daily electrolyte supplementation . Some form of salt supplementation is a must . For non-exercised horses , voluntary intake from salt / mineral blocks is usually enough to meet sodium ( Na ) and chloride ( Cl ) requirements . In exercising horses , voluntary salt intake is highly variable and in one study , the intake of four out of six horses was well below even the maintenance requirement .
To replace losses from hard work , horses need to consume 50g a day from a salt block - you can weigh blocks regularly to determine intake . So , certainly have a salt block in the stable , feedbin , yard or paddock , but monitor consumption and add extra salt to the feed .
‘ The daily diets of many horses are deficient in calcium and magnesium . Most feedstuffs and pastures are low in calcium and magnesium . Compounding this , calcium absorption is reduced in horses on common anti-acid ulcer treatment . Signs of both deficiencies are difficult to pick – except when extreme and long-standing . But borderline imbalances and deficiencies do affect performance and muscle function so a daily supplement can protect against marginal deficiencies and further losses in working horses .’
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The number of electrolyte supplements on the market nowadays is huge and it ’ s important to read the product labels carefully and take note of the actual quantities of sodium , chloride and potassium in the supplement . The higher the sodium chloride content , generally the better the product . Supplements that contain a lot of sugar (> 15 %) and not much else should be avoided - otherwise you will be feeding a lot of sugar and not enough electrolyte . For electrolyte syringes , a good syringe should be delivering at least 20-30g of electrolyte per dose .
How much salt should be added each day ? For horses doing moderate daily exercise in cool to moderate temperatures , 25g twice a day increasing to 50g twice a day in hot weather is a good rule-of-thumb . You can make this at home using straight salt ( NaCl ) or a 3:1 ratio of NaCl : KCl ( KCl is commonly known as ‘ Lite ’ or ‘ Lo-salt ’). In reality , horses get ample potassium ( K ) if they have lots of hay each day . For the horse who is fussy about anything added to his feed , there is a cookie recipe that you can try : 2 cups of grain , 2 cups of rolled oats , 24 ounces of electrolyte mix ( commercial or homemade ), 3 cups bran ,
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