Re: Another Electrolyte question

["Anna & Marty D." <diggsma@flash.net>]

> This is very helpful, thank you so much.
> anna
>
> Susan Garlinghouse wrote:
>
> > > Hello,
> > > I've been trying to follow this thread. I have a question. About someone
> > >
> > > saying NOT to give electrolytes if the horse has not had a drink, why?
> > > Is there a medical reason? Please clarify.
> > > thanks,
> > > anna.
> >
> >... So, here's what you do to avoid both of the above scenarios.  If you give
> > electrolytes via syringe in small (ie 1-2 oz) and frequent (every few hours,
> > depending on the ride, heat and humidity) starting before the start of the
> > ride and LONG before the horse has had a chance to get depleted in anything,
> > then that will do two primary things.  1) it's going to get little bits of
> > e'lytes into the system so the horse doesn't get depleted throughout the
> > day, and because the doses are small, there's not as much fluid having to be
> > shuffled into the stomach, plus less upset tummy; and 2) assuming the horse
> > never gets electrolyte-depleted, then the salt concentrations in the blood
> > will get just a little higher than normal---that's perfectly normal, and
> > okay, and what happens is that the slightly higher salt concentration is
> > going to kick in some pretty complex endocrine responses, one of which
> > signals the kidneys to filter out the excess salt, and another of which
> > tells the horse he's thirsty so how 'bout taking a drink.  He's not really
> > dehydrated at that point, but this is a good way to sortof fool the system
> > into thinking he is; and to help get a horse to start drinking earlier in
> > the ride *before* he actually gets so dehydrated that you're running into
> > one of the two scenarios described above.
> >
> > I know this is kind of a Romper Room explanation, but Corrine is right,
> > fluid balance and acid-base is pretty complex and hey, reading ridecamp
> > shouldn't be like studying for an exam.  Anyway, hope this clarified the
> > whole when-to-electrolyte-and-when-not-to-and-why-not thing. :-)
> >
> > Susan G