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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2020; 34(2); 909-921; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15708

Traditional and quantitative analysis of acid-base and electrolyte imbalances in horses competing in cross-country competitions at 2-star to 5-star level.

Abstract: Early recognition and management of acid-base, fluid, and electrolyte disorders are crucial for the maintenance of health and performance in equine athletes. Objective: To analyze changes in acid-base and electrolyte status associated with exercise during cross-country competitions at different levels using traditional and quantitative approaches. Methods: Thirty-eight eventing horses. Methods: Prospective observational study. Jugular venous blood samples were collected before and after the cross-country test of 25 international eventing competitions ranging from 2-star (formerly 1-star) to 5-star (formerly 4-star) level. Blood gas analysis was performed to determine pH, pCO , Na , Cl , and K and calculate HCO , tCO base excess (BE ), anion gap (AG), strong ion difference calculated from Na , K , Cl , and lactate (SID ), strong ion difference calculated from Na , K , and Cl (SID ), strong ion gap (SIG), and total nonvolatile weak buffer concentration (A ). Postexercise acid-base imbalances, diagnosed on the basis of the traditional approach, and the simplified strong ion model were compared. Results: Significant decreases in pH, Cl , SID , pCO , HCO , tCO , and BE as well as increases in K , SID , AG, TP, and A were observed between pre- and postexercise samples. The changes in acid-base parameters were significantly affected by the competition level. Using the strong ion approach, a higher proportion of horses was diagnosed with postexercise metabolic acidosis. Conclusions: Regarding the complex acid-base changes in horses competing at cross-country competitions, the quantitative approach provided a more detailed analysis of the different factors contributing to acid-base balance than did the traditional approach.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2020-01-27 PubMed ID: 31985090PubMed Central: PMC7096635DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15708Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Observational Study
  • Veterinary

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research looked into the changes in acid-base and electrolyte status related with exercise in horses during cross-country competitions at different levels. Analysis was done using traditional and quantitative techniques and showed that the quantitative approach resulted in more detailed and comprehensive information about factors contributing to acid-base balance.

Methodology

To determine the changes in acid-base and electrolyte status in horses during cross-country competitions, the researchers employed a prospective observational study. They monitored thirty-eight eventing horses competing in 25 international competitions, with levels ranging from 2-star to 5-star. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of the horses before and after each cross-country test.

  • The researchers did a blood gas analysis on these samples to determine the pH, pCO2, sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), and Potassium (K).
  • In addition, they also calculated bicarbonate (HCO3), total carbon dioxide (tCO), base excess (BE), anion gap (AG), strong ion difference calculated from Na, K, Cl, and lactate (SID4), strong ion difference calculated from Na, K, and Cl (SID3), strong ion gap (SIG), and total nonvolatile weak buffer concentration (Atot).
  • Postexercise acid-base imbalances were diagnosed using both the traditional approach and simplified strong ion model and the results compared.

Findings

Significant changes in the biochemical parameters were observed in horses after exercise.

  • These changes included decreases in pH, Cl, SID4, pCO, HCO3, tCOb, and BE but increases in K, SID3, AG, total solid proteins (TP), and Atot between pre- and post-exercise samples.
  • The researchers also found that these changes were significantly influenced by the competition level.
  • Using the strong ion approach, they noted that a higher number of horses were diagnosed with post-exercise metabolic acidosis.

Conclusions

The comprehensive analysis of acid-base changes in horses participating in cross-country competitions reveals that the quantitative approach provides more detailed information about the factors contributing to the acid-base balance, compared to the traditional approach. This suggests that traditional methods may not be adequate for understanding the intricate changes in the physiology of athletic horses. The findings of this study have significant implications for the early recognition and management of acid-base, fluid, and electrolyte disorders in equine athletes, which is vital for maintaining health and performance.

Cite This Article

APA
Kirsch K, Sandersen C. (2020). Traditional and quantitative analysis of acid-base and electrolyte imbalances in horses competing in cross-country competitions at 2-star to 5-star level. J Vet Intern Med, 34(2), 909-921. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15708

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 34
Issue: 2
Pages: 909-921

Researcher Affiliations

Kirsch, Katharina
  • Equine Clinic, Department of Companion Animals and Equids, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Sart Tilman, Belgium.
  • German Olympic Committee for Equestrian Sports (DOKR), Warendorf, Germany.
Sandersen, Charlotte
  • Equine Clinic, Department of Companion Animals and Equids, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Sart Tilman, Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Acid-Base Imbalance / physiopathology
  • Acid-Base Imbalance / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Blood Gas Analysis / veterinary
  • Electrolytes / blood
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
  • Horses / blood
  • Horses / physiology
  • Male
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Prospective Studies

Grant Funding

  • German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB)

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Sandersen C, Dmitrovic P, Dupont J, Cesarini C, Guyot H, Serteyn D, Kirsch K. Analytical Performance Evaluation of the New GEM(®) Premier™ 5000 in Comparison to the Epoc(®) Blood Gas Analyzer in Horses. Vet Sci 2023 Feb 3;10(2).
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  2. Lindinger MI, Waller AP. Physicochemical Analysis of Mixed Venous and Arterial Blood Acid-Base State in Horses at Core Temperature during and after Moderate-Intensity Exercise. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jul 22;12(15).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12151875pubmed: 35892525google scholar: lookup
  3. Liedtke AM, Meijer H, Horstmann S, von Reitzenstein C, Rump I, Kirsch K. Modelling Energy Demands of Cross-Country Tests in 2-Star to 5-Star Eventing Competitions. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 17;15(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15121775pubmed: 40564327google scholar: lookup
  4. Navas de Solis C, Ramseyer A, Stefanovski D, Haughan J, Solomon CJ, Kirsch K. Association of heart rate variability, exercise intensity and exercising arrhythmias with competition results in eventing horses. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1446-1456.
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  5. Titotto AC, Santos MM, Ramos GV, Adão MDS, Benvenuto GV, De Lacerda LCC, Lisbôa JAN, Lacerda-Neto JC. Effect of Lactate Minimum Speed-Guided Training on the Fluid, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Status of Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Oct 21;13(20).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13203290pubmed: 37894014google scholar: lookup
  6. Giers J, Bartel A, Kirsch K, Müller SF, Horstmann S, Gehlen H. Blood-Based Markers for Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle Function in Eventing Horses before and after Cross-Country Rides and How They Are Influenced by Plasma Volume Shift. Animals (Basel) 2023 Oct 5;13(19).
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