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Re: [RC] Sugar in Electrolytes(was Electrolytes: Are "AccuLytes" OK?) - Susan Garlinghouse, DVMNote that one has to be careful on the amount as it takes about twice as much Perform and Win by volume to get the same amount of electrolytes as say Enduromax. Sue G. - would be interested to get your views and a more technical explanation. Gee, Stagg, I don't need to provide a more technical explanantion, yours was great. The bottom line is just that yes, you need a glucose molecule present to transport sodium from the gut into the bloodstream. Chloride comes along as an also-ran and where salt goes, water goes---so fluids get pulled along as well. I think where people get all tangled up is that while glucose is critical to sodium transport, it doesn't absolutely HAVE to be syringed in exactly the same mouthful as the e'lytes, nor does it have to be a precise maltodextrin or sucrose or whatever. Any simple sugar will do from virtually anything vaguely sweet or starchy, and that can be provided from applesauce, pancake syrup, some green grass, a little grain, whatever. So if you're using one of the 'no sugar' elyte mixes, then just make sure there's some sugar source going down at roughly the same time (say, just during the same vet check---if it's being syringed at a quick stop, then yeah, throw in some applesauce or something). On the flip side of that---stomach contents move into the small intestine at different rates based on how concentrated or dilute the contents are. If elytes are very concentrated, then it'll just sit there for awhile until enough fluids are shifted to allow outflow. So let's say you just syringed in an elyte dose into two horses---one of the elytes is a 'no sugar' product and the other includes sugar. Let's say both have to sit for awhile until it's diluted enough to move on. The more concentrated mix with higher salt concentrations is going to be more irritating to the gastric mucosa, and thus potentially more prone to forming ulcers. Sugar does not irritate gastric mucosa and the lower salt concentrations is IMO going to be easier on the stomach. As I've said before, I'm a big advocate of syringing horses with elytes throughout a ride. I won't argue with Heidi's comments that syringed elytes might be contributing to ulcer formation, but IMO, the key factor is concentration and frequency. If the amount dosed is small and frequent rather than lrge and sporadic, I think the risk is minimal. Especially if all the other ducks are in a row to keep adequate water intake going and plenty of other feeds moving through the system to keep everything from slowing down. JMO. Susan G =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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