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Effect of varying initial drink volume on rehydration of horses.
Abstract: Body mass (BM), water intake (WI), and plasma osmolality (P(osm)) and electrolyte concentrations were measured in six 2-year-old Arabian horses provided either 4 l, 8 l, or an unlimited amount of water (UW) for drinking during the initial 5 min of recovery from 45-km of treadmill exercise. After weighing, horses were placed in a stall and further WI between 20 and 60 min of recovery was measured. During exercise, horses lost 3.3+/-0.3%, 3.2+/-0.1%, and 3.3+/-0.2% (P>.05) of BM and P(osm) increased by 7.2+/-0.5, 7.9+/-0.8, and 7.7+/-0.5 mOsm/kg (P>.05) for 4 l, 8 l, and UW, respectively. WI during the first 5 min of recovery was 4.0+/-0.0, 8.0+/-0.0, and 9.0+/-1.3 l and was accompanied by 2.4+/-0.4, 5.8+/-0.9, and 6.1+/-0.7 mOsm/kg decreases (P<.05) in P(osm) for 4 l, 8 l, and UW, respectively. Between 20 and 60 min of recovery, WI was 6.2+/-1.5, 1.2+/-0.6, and 1.0+/-0.7 l (P.05) for 4 l, 8 l, and UW, respectively. After 60 min of recovery, persisting BM loss was 1.3+/-0.5%, 1.1+/-0.2%, and 1.0+/-0.2% (P>.05) for 4 l, 8 l, and UW, respectively and P(osm) had returned to pre-exercise values for all treatments. In conclusion, limiting the volume of water initially provided to horses dehydrated by endurance exercise had no significant effect on total WI during the initial 60 min of recovery; however, persisting BM loss was observed with all treatments. Further, following exercise-induced dehydration, the primary stimulus of thirst was an increase in plasma tonicity rather than hypovolemia.
Publication Date: 2003-07-02 PubMed ID: 12834783DOI: 10.1016/s0031-9384(03)00085-4Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study examines the effects of initial drink volume on the rehydration process in Arabian horses post endurance exercise. It concludes that the amount of water provided initially after exercise does not significantly affect the total water intake in the first 60 minutes of recovery.
Research Context
- The study focuses on rehydration in Arabian horses following a 45-km treadmill exercise. The researchers measure body mass, water intake, and plasma osmolality (P(osm)), which refers to the concentration of particles in the horse’s blood plasma; plasma electrolyte concentrations were also monitored. The amount of water given to the horses varied from 4 liters, 8 liters, to an unlimited amount.
Results and Discussion
- During the exercise, the horses lost around 3.2% to 3.3% of their body mass and showed an increase in plasma osmolality, irrespective of how much water was initially provided for drinking.
- In the first 5 minutes of recovery, horses consumed 4 liters, 8 liters, and 9 liters of water respectively for the three groups. This was associated with a decrease in plasma osmolality, indicating a reduction in dehydration.
- Between the 20th and 60th minutes of recovery, the horses were further hydrated, with horses that were initially provided 4 liters drinking the most additional water. The total water intake for 60 minutes of recovery did not significantly differ across the three groups.
- Even after 60 minutes of recovery, there was still a perceptible body mass loss in all groups, indicating that the dehydration due to the exercise was not completely reversed. However, the plasma osmolality values returned to pre-exercise levels for all three groups.
Conclusion
- The researchers concluded that limiting the volume of water initially provided to horses that have completed endurance exercise had no significant effect on total water intake during the initial 60 minutes of recovery. However, some body mass loss persisted, despite rehydration.
- The researchers also deduced that the primary driver for thirst post exercise-induced dehydration was an increase in plasma tonicity (concentration of particles in the blood) rather than hypovolemia (decrease in the volume of blood).
Cite This Article
APA
Butudom P, Axiak SM, Nielsen BD, Eberhart SW, Schott HC.
(2003).
Effect of varying initial drink volume on rehydration of horses.
Physiol Behav, 79(2), 135-142.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0031-9384(03)00085-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, D-202 Veterinary Medical Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1314, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Body Weight
- Drinking
- Female
- Fluid Therapy
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / blood
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Motor Activity / physiology
- Osmolar Concentration
- Physical Endurance
- Thirst / physiology
- Time Factors
- Weight Loss
Citations
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