Water and electrolyte intake and output in conditioned Thoroughbred horses transported by road.
Abstract: The objectives of this trial were to measure the water and electrolyte intake and loss, of horses during road transportation in relatively hot environmental conditions. Six mature, Thoroughbred horses in full training were used in a balanced crossover design. The horses were conditioned on a treadmill for 6 weeks before the start of the trial in order to simulate the type of horse that is transported most often over long distances in South Africa. The horses were assigned randomly to one of 2 treatment groups. On a particular day 3 horses were transported, while the other horses served as controls. One month was allowed before the crossover. Horses in the 'transport group' were transported by tarred road in a circular route over 600 km. This allowed the standardisation of measurements and use of the same instruments in both groups. Data were collected in each treatment group during transportation that lasted for 8 h (transport phase) and for 6 h after travelling (recovery phase). The following data were collected or calculated: Water and electrolyte (sodium, potassium and chloride) intake and output, changes in bodyweight and feed consumption. Although water was always available, the transport group failed to drink during transit. Based on bodyweight, the transported horses were 3% dehydrated at the end of transit. This bodyweight loss was corrected within one hour after their return due to a significantly higher water intake compared to control horses. The feed intake in the transported horses was unaffected during travelling, but was decreased for 6 h following transportation. Urinary water loss was similar in the 2 treatment groups during and following transportation. The faecal water loss decreased in the transported horses and remained lower than the control group for 6 h following transit. Total sodium and chloride intake were unaffected, while the potassium intake was decreased during transportation. Sodium and potassium loss via the faeces and urine during the transport period were similar in the 2 treatment groups, whereas potassium output in the transport group was significantly decreased during the recovery period of the study. It was concluded that transportation by road affected the water and electrolyte balance of conditioned horses for a period up to 6 h after travelling.
Publication Date: 1998-08-15 PubMed ID: 9705115DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04104.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study investigates the effects of road transportation in hot environments on the hydration and electrolyte balance of trained Thoroughbred horses. The researchers found that although the horses were dehydrated after transportation, their water consumption restored their body weight, and their feed intake was only decreased for six hours post-travel.
Research Design and Methodology
- The study used a balanced crossover design featuring six mature Thoroughbred horses that were put through a conditioning regimen on a treadmill for 6 weeks.
- The horses were randomly assigned to one of two groups: ‘transport group’ and ‘control group’.
- The transport group was moved over a 600km circular route on a paved road, a scenario designed to mimic common horse transport scenarios in South Africa.
- Data were collected during an 8-hour transport phase and a 6-hour recovery phase. The control horses were subjected to the same measurement procedures without the transport.
Measurements and Findings
- The study collected data on water and electrolyte (sodium, potassium, and chloride) intake and output, as well as changes in bodyweight and feed consumption.
- Notably, the horses did not drink during transit, leading to 3% dehydration as per bodyweight measurements. However, their bodyweight was restored one hour after the journey due to a significantly higher water intake compared to the control group.
- There was no change in feed intake during the journey, but the horses consumed less in the 6-hour recovery period.
- Urinary water loss remained consistent across both groups throughout the experiment, but the transported horses showed a decrease in faecal water loss which remained lower than the control group for six hours after transit.
- The intake of sodium and chloride remained the same, but potassium intake decreased during travel. While sodium and potassium loss was similar in both groups during transit, the transported group’s potassium output significantly decreased in the recovery period.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that road transportation in relatively hot conditions disrupts the water and electrolyte balance in conditioned horses.
- This imbalance can last for around 6 hours after travel, as indicated by the reduced feed intake and decreased faecal water loss.
Cite This Article
APA
van den Berg JS, Guthrie AJ, Meintjes RA, Nurton JP, Adamson DA, Travers CW, Lund RJ, Mostert HJ.
(1998).
Water and electrolyte intake and output in conditioned Thoroughbred horses transported by road.
Equine Vet J, 30(4), 316-323.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04104.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cross-Over Studies
- Drinking
- Eating
- Electrolytes / administration & dosage
- Electrolytes / analysis
- Electrolytes / urine
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Feces / chemistry
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Horses / urine
- Motor Vehicles
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Urination
- Water / analysis
- Water / metabolism
- Weight Loss
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Lindinger MI. Oral Electrolyte and Water Supplementation in Horses.. Vet Sci 2022 Nov 10;9(11).
- Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortázar Schmidt C, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Spoolder H, Stahl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Earley B, Edwards S, Faucitano L, Marti S, Miranda de La Lama GC, Costa LN, Thomsen PT, Ashe S, Mur L, Van der Stede Y, Herskin M. Welfare of equidae during transport.. EFSA J 2022 Sep;20(9):e07444.
- Padalino B, Davis GL, Raidal SL. Effects of transportation on gastric pH and gastric ulceration in mares.. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Mar;34(2):922-932.
- Padalino B, Raidal SL, Knight P, Celi P, Jeffcott L, Muscatello G. Behaviour during transportation predicts stress response and lower airway contamination in horses.. PLoS One 2018;13(3):e0194272.
- Flethøj M, Schwarzwald CC, Haugaard MM, Carstensen H, Kanters JK, Olsen LH, Buhl R. Left Ventricular Function After Prolonged Exercise in Equine Endurance Athletes.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jul;30(4):1260-9.
- Fazio E, Ferlazzo A. Evaluation of stress during transport.. Vet Res Commun 2003 Sep;27 Suppl 1:519-24.
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