Effect of oral administration of electrolyte pastes on rehydration of horses

Abstract

Oral administration of electrolyte pastes to dehydrated horses increases voluntary WI and improves rehydration during the rehydration period. Rehydration is more rapid and complete when NaCl is a component of the electrolyte paste.

Drinking salt water enhances rehydration in horses dehydrated by frusemide administration and endurance exercise

“…Nevertheless, when coupled with increased absorption of electrolytes and water from the gastrointestinal tract, the 0.9% NaCl solution may have provided sufficient Na + to replace the majority of the deficit. In previous studies of treadmill exercise and frusemide-induced dehydration (Schott et al 2002) in our laboratory, supplementation of NaCl as an oral paste at doses estimated to replace fully the electrolytes lost in sweat or urine was accompanied by increased urinary Na + losses following electrolyte administration. These results suggested that the doses administered were either greater than the losses (unlikely, based on estimated losses) or were greater than needed because a substantial portion of the deficits may have been replaced by intestinal stores.…”

“…Taken together, these observations could support more rapid intestinal absorption of water than saline. More importantly, the fact that plasma [Na+] remained elevated was probably an important stimulus for greater water drinking by both saline groups once water was again offered from 20-60 min of recovery (Schott et al , 2002. Although the composition of the initial rehydration fluid could have also affected gastric emptying rate (GER), it is unlikely that saline solutions slowed GER, as SosaLeón et al (1997) found no decrease in GER with saline solutions with osmolalities up to twice that of 0.9% NaCl.…”

“…Although there have been a number of studies designed to assess treatments used to attenuate or correct dehydration in horses (Schott and Hinchcliff 1998;Marlin et al 1998a,b;Sosa León et al 1998;Düsterdieck et al 1999;Monreal et al 1999;Schott et al 2001Schott et al , 2002, most investigations have studied 'forced' hyperhydration or rehydration by administering solutions via a nasogastric tube or use of oral electrolyte pastes to stimulate drinking. In contrast, there has been little study of voluntary rehydration in which horses are allowed to drink solutions of varying composition.…”

“…Recent studies in both human and equine subjects have clearly demonstrated that postexercise restoration of body fluids and recovery of bwt is more rapid and complete when rehydration solutions containing electrolytes (primarily Na + ) are used in place of water (Hyyppä et al 1996;Nyman et al 1996;Shirreffs et al 1996;Maughan and Shirreffs 1997;Marlin et al 1998a,b;Monreal et al 1999). Although there have been a number of studies designed to assess treatments used to attenuate or correct dehydration in horses (Schott and Hinchcliff 1998;Marlin et al 1998a,b;Sosa León et al 1998;Düsterdieck et al 1999;Monreal et al 1999;Schott et al 2001Schott et al , 2002, most investigations have studied 'forced' hyperhydration or rehydration by administering solutions via a nasogastric tube or use of oral electrolyte pastes to stimulate drinking. In contrast, there has been little study of voluntary rehydration in which horses are allowed to drink solutions of varying composition.…”

Effect of repeated oral administration of hypertonic electrolyte solution on equine gastric mucosa

“…Electrolyte depletion has been well documented in competing endurance horses and is a common factor in several metabolic disease syndromes, including gastrointestinal ileus, synchronous diaphragmatic flutter and exhaustion (Smith 1985;Foss and Wickler 2004). The oral administration of electrolyte pastes has been shown to increase voluntary water intake and improve electrolyte balance and rehydration in dehydrated horses (Sosa Leon et al 1998;Schott et al 2002). The importance of electrolyte supplementation as a tool to minimise the metabolic complications associated with endurance exercise is commonly recognised.…”