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Sweating. Fluid and ion losses and replacement.
Abstract: In the horse, sweat is produced by apocrine glands which are present over most haired and nonhaired skin. Although sweat secretion is initiated under a number of circumstances, the central drive for sweating in response to a thermal stimulus is the primary mechanism for its production. Sweating is an essential and primary mechanism for heat dissipation during exercise or exposure to hot ambient conditions. The rate of sweat production will reflect the interaction of numerous factors, including exercise intensity, ambient conditions, state of hydration, and the training or heat acclimation status of the individual horse. Thus, the sweating rates produced in response to an exercise-induced thermal load can be further increased by high ambient temperature or humidity which reduces evaporative efficiency, thereby contributing to the rate of rise in core body temperature. Equine sweat is an isotonic to slightly hypertonic secretion with sodium, chloride, and potassium contributing the major ionic components. The ionic composition of equine sweat is largely rate dependent and therefore is affected by factors such as ambient conditions and exercise intensity which result in elevations in sodium concentration in response to increases in sweating rate. Large sweat fluid losses associated with prolonged exercise will incur significant ion deficits, leading to alterations in skeletal muscle ion content and the potential for muscular dysfunction. With respect to exercise performance, however, the more important consequence of sweat fluid losses is the impairment of temperature regulation that accompanies severe dehydration. Although it is advantageous to restore a proportion of the fluid and ion losses incurred during prolonged exercise, few strategies will fully and safely replace the electrolyte losses incurred. Nevertheless, daily electrolyte supplementation of a good-quality diet will provide an effective method of replacing sweat ion losses during training and competition under most ambient conditions.
Publication Date: 1998-04-30 PubMed ID: 9561689DOI: 10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30213-4Google 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
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Summary
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The research article focuses on the mechanism and consequences of sweating in horses. It explores various factors influencing the rate of sweat production and its implications on the horse’s health and performance, with emphasis on the importance of replacing fluid and ion losses through electrolyte supplementation.
Initiation and Purpose of Sweating in Horses
The article begins by explaining the anatomy and purpose of sweating in horses. Sweat is produced by apocrine glands, which are found over most of the horse’s skin. Primarily, sweat is produced in response to thermal stimuli, making it a crucial method for controlling the body temperature of the horse during exercise or exposure to hot climates.
Factors Influencing Sweating Rate
- The article discusses that the rate of sweat production is impacted by numerous factors including:
- Exercise intensity: The harder the horse works, the more heat it generates, and the more it needs to sweat to cool down.
- Ambient conditions: Warm and humid conditions can increase the horse’s need to sweat, as they reduce the efficiency of evaporative cooling.
- Hydration status: The hydration level of the horse could affect its ability to produce a sufficient amount of sweat.
- Training or heat acclimation status: A horse that regularly exercises in hot conditions is more likely to sweat at a higher rate than one that doesn’t.
Composition and Impact of Equine Sweat
Technically, equine sweat is isotonic or slightly hypertonic, containing mostly sodium, chloride, and potassium ions. The composition of these ions depends on several factors, including the rate of sweat production. The higher the sweat rate, the higher the concentrations of these ions, notably sodium. Intensive exercise and large sweat fluid losses can lead to significant ion deficiencies, potentially altering the muscle ion content, leading to possible muscular dysfunction.
Performance Impact and Fluid Replacement
Intense sweating could lead to severe dehydration, disrupting proper temperature regulation and impairing the horse’s performance. While it is beneficial to replenish fluids and ions lost during prolonged exercise, not many strategies can fully and safely replace them. Thus, the article suggests daily electrolyte supplementation along with a good-quality diet as an effective way of replacing ion losses during training and competition in most ambient conditions.
Cite This Article
APA
McCutcheon LJ, Geor RJ.
(1998).
Sweating. Fluid and ion losses and replacement.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 14(1), 75-95.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30213-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Electrolytes / administration & dosage
- Fluid Therapy / methods
- Fluid Therapy / veterinary
- Horses / physiology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Sweat / chemistry
- Sweating / physiology
- Water-Electrolyte Balance / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Kerksick CM, Wilborn CD, Roberts MD, Smith-Ryan A, Kleiner SM, Jäger R, Collins R, Cooke M, Davis JN, Galvan E, Greenwood M, Lowery LM, Wildman R, Antonio J, Kreider RB. ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2018 Aug 1;15(1):38.
- Zeyner A, Romanowski K, Vernunft A, Harris P, Müller AM, Wolf C, Kienzle E. Effects of Different Oral Doses of Sodium Chloride on the Basal Acid-Base and Mineral Status of Exercising Horses Fed Low Amounts of Hay. PLoS One 2017;12(1):e0168325.
- Porter AM. Why do we have apocrine and sebaceous glands?. J R Soc Med 2001 May;94(5):236-7.
- Marichal G, Suárez G, Meikle A, Muriel M. Post competition recovery of hydroelectrolytic and acid-base variables under distinct comfort indexes in equines participating in 90 km Federate RAID. Open Vet J 2024 Dec;14(12):3203-3212.
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