Effect of oral administration of electrolyte pastes on rehydration of horses.

The research article investigates how different electrolyte pastes given orally affect the rehydration process in horses suffering from dehydration due to furosemide, a diuretic drug. The outcome indicates that all electrolyte pastes tested improved voluntary water consumption and recovery of body weight while Sodium Chloride (NaCl) when part of the paste, offered the best hydration results.

Research Methodology

• The research was conducted using six horses.
• The applied procedures involved measuring voluntary water intake (WI), body weight, and the constituents of blood and urine, before and after inducing dehydration. This was done using the administration of the diuretic drug, furosemide, and withholding water overnight.
• Similar variables were also measured during a 36-hour rehydration period.
• Each horse was given four separate treatments non-specifically, these treatments were four different electrolyte pastes. These pastes provided either 0.5 g of KCl/kg of body weight, 0.5 g of NaCl/kg, 0.25 g of NaCl and 0.25 g of KCl/kg, or included no electrolytes (control treatment).
• The electrolyte pastes were administered three times at 4, 8, and 12 hours after the start of the rehydration period.

Research Findings

• Voluntary WI was significantly higher with all electrolyte pastes compared to the control treatment.
• Horse recovery of body weight was significantly better when NaCl was a component of the electrolyte paste.
• The usage of NaCl and combined NaCl-KCl pastes seemed to foster temporary hyperhydration.
• Increased urine production and electrolyte excretion during the final 24 hours of the rehydration period was observed in horses that received the electrolyte pastes.
• No adverse effects were detected from oral administration of hypertonic electrolyte pastes.

Conclusions

• Oral administration of electrolyte pastes to dehydrated horses can lead to improved rehydration through increased voluntary WI.
• Rehydration is more efficient and complete when NaCl is a component of the electrolyte paste. This finding suggests electrolyte pastes that contain NaCl could be more effective for managing dehydration in horses.