Nasal strips do not affect pulmonary gas exchange, anaerobic metabolism, or EIPH in exercising Thoroughbreds.

The research study involved conducting experiments on horses to determine whether the application of nasal strips would have any significant effect on exercise-induced breathing difficulties, aka arterial hypoxemia and hypercapnia, reduce an energy-producing process without oxygen, known as anaerobic metabolism, or alter the rate of a condition causing bleeding from the lungs after exercise or exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). Results from the study showed that nasal strips made no significant changes in these conditions.

Research Methodology

• The study had two sets of experiments – one control experiment and another one that involved the use of nasal strips. These experiments were conducted on seven Thoroughbred horses known for being healthy, without any disease, and accustomed to exercise.
• The horses were subjected to these experiments randomly one week apart to reduce the chances of overlap or interference of results.
• Various measurements were made while the horse was at rest, during lower-intensity and higher-intensity exercise, and during recovery. These measurements included the core temperature, arterial and mixed venous blood gases/pH, and blood lactate and ammonia concentrations.

Findings of the Study

• In both sets of experiments, lower-intensity exercise made the horses breathe faster, whereas higher-intensity exercise led to significant arterial hypoxemia (lower levels of oxygen in the blood), desaturation of Hb (oxygen-carrying component), hypercapnia (increased carbon dioxide in the bloodstream), and acidosis (excessive acid in the body fluids).
• The content of oxygen in the blood consistently increased during exercise in both sets of experiments, while the mixed venous blood oxygen content steadily decreased as oxygen extraction increased.
• Regardless of the treatment, plasma ammonia and blood lactate concentrations increased significantly with exercise.
• However, no statistically valid differences could be observed when comparing the results from the control experiment and the nasal strip experiment.
• All horses in both sets of experiments experienced EIPH.

Conclusion

• Based on the experiments and the data collected, it can be concluded that nasal strip application on horses doesn’t provide any appreciable benefits in terms of improving exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia and hypercapnia, reducing anaerobic metabolism, or reducing the incidence of EIPH in Thoroughbred horses conducting strenuous exercise.