Effect of furosemide and weight carriage on energetic responses of horses to incremental exertion.
Abstract: The effect of furosemide-induced weight loss on the energetic responses of horses to running was examined in a 3-way crossover study. Eight 2- to 3-year-old Standardbred mares received, in random order, 10 ml of saline solution 4 hours before running on a treadmill (control trial, C); or, during 2 trials, 1 mg of furosemide/kg of body weight, i.v., 4 hours before running. During one of the trials when the horses received furosemide, they carried weight equal to that lost over the 3.75 hours after furosemide administration while running (furosemide-loaded, FL), and during the other trial they did not carry weight equal to that lost after furosemide administration (furosemide-unloaded, FU). Horses performed an incremental exercise test on a treadmill during which rates of oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) were measured, respiratory exchange ratio was calculated, and blood samples were collected for determination of mixed venous plasma lactate concentration and arterial and mixed venous oxygen saturation. Furosemide treatment caused significantly (P < 0.001) greater weight loss than did saline administration; mean +/- SEM weight loss (exclusive of fecal loss) was 1.6, 8.8, and 10.2 kg (SEM = 2.0) for C, FL, and FU trials, respectively. The speed at which peak VO2 was achieved was 9.31, 9.56, and 9.50 (SEM = 0.16) m/s, respectively, time to fatigue was 547, 544, and 553 (SEM = 26) seconds, respectively, and the highest speed attained was 10.3, 10.2, and 10.2 (SEM = 0.2) m/s, respectively. Mean peak rate of oxygen consumption was 130.7, 129.6, and 129.6 (SEM = 1.9) ml/min/kg, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1993-09-01 PubMed ID: 8239140
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research studied the effects of induced weight loss through furosemide, a diuretic medication, on the energy responses of running horses. The focus was to comprehend whether weight loss impacts exercise efficiency and physical capacities such as speed and time to fatigue.
Study Design and Protocol
- The experiment was conducted as a 3-way crossover study on eight 2- to 3-year-old Standardbred mares.
- Each horse was subjected to different trial conditions: receiving a saline solution, receiving furosemide without compensatory weight, and receiving furosemide with compensatory weight.
- The saline solution was given to serve as a control for the study, the furosemide was given to induce weight loss, and the compensatory weight condition was designed to examine the impact of the drug treatment standalone by accounting for the lost weight while running.
Trial Conditions and Procedures
- In the control trial, horses received 10 ml of saline solution 4 hours before running on a treadmill.
- In the two furosemide trials, horses were given 1 mg of furosemide/kg of body weight intravenously, 4 hours before running.
- In one furosemide trial, horses carried weight equal to that lost after furosemide administration while running (furosemide-loaded), in the other they did not (furosemide-unloaded).
- Different parameters were recorded during the exercise test including oxygen consumption rates, carbon dioxide production rates, respiratory exchange ratios, blood lactate levels, and oxygen saturation in the arteries and veins.
Results and Findings
- The study revealed a significantly higher weight loss due to furosemide treatment compared to the saline administration. The weight loss for the control, furosemide-loaded, and furosemide-unloaded trials were 1.6, 8.8, and 10.2 kg respectively.
- The speed at which peak oxygen consumption (a measure of cardiorespiratory fitness) was attained, time to fatigue, and highest speed reached were not significantly different between the trials.
- This suggests that the loss of weight due to furosemide did not have a significant impact on these performance parameters in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Hinchcliff KW, McKeever KH, Muir WW, Sams R.
(1993).
Effect of furosemide and weight carriage on energetic responses of horses to incremental exertion.
Am J Vet Res, 54(9), 1500-1504.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Carbon Dioxide / metabolism
- Energy Metabolism / drug effects
- Female
- Furosemide / pharmacology
- Horses / metabolism
- Lactates / blood
- Lactic Acid
- Oxygen Consumption / drug effects
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Weight Loss / drug effects
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Hinchcliff KW, Couetil LL, Knight PK, Morley PS, Robinson NE, Sweeney CR, van Erck E. Exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage in horses: American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus statement. J Vet Intern Med 2015 May-Jun;29(3):743-58.
- Jimenez M, Hinchcliff KW, Farris JW. Catecholamine and cortisol responses of horses to incremental exertion. Vet Res Commun 1998 Feb;22(2):107-18.
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