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Dehydration should be a genuine concern
for all horse owners, whether their horse
is a happy hack or a three day eventer.
Dehydration is caused
when the body loses more water and body
salts than it has taken on and although
hard work is one reason why this could happen,
sweating and water loss caused by the warm
weather, stress, lack of water and illness
are other contributing factors.
When a horse sweats or
removes water from its body through urination
and faeces, it’s not just water that comes
out, a mixture of body salts are also excreted.
These body salts are essential and help
to make the horse’s body function correctly.
When replacing the horse’s lacking water,
it is also important that the electrolyte
balance is restored, as the horse’s body
cannot retain water without these salts.
In the simplest form electrolytes
are just common table salt that can be added
to feed or offered in a block or lick. But
there are five different electrolytes: sodium,
chloride, potassium, magnesium and calcium.
Electrolyte salts from supplement manufacturers
will contain a selection of or all of these
elements.
If a horse is dehydrated,
skin will lose its elasticity and, when
pinched will not immediately spring back,
eyes may become sunken, the horse may show
signs of depression and urine may be dark
in colour. Severe dehydration can lead to
more severe problems including reduced performance,
azoturia, colic and even death. As with
people, a huge amount of the horse’s body
is made up of water and when he or she starts
to lose large amounts of this, the body
cannot function.
However, feeding electrolytes
could not be simpler. Electrolytes can be
provided through a block or through the
horse’s daily hard feed ration or in water.
It is important to remember that some horses
may not like the taste of electrolytes in
their water and therefore a plain water
option should be offered and the salts put
in hard feed or mixed with something the
horse will like such as apple juice. Electrolytes
should be administered regularly and directions
on quantities should be sought from the
manufacturer of the electrolyte you are
feeding or from the vet.
In cases of heavy sweat
loss such as after very strenuous exercise,
electrolytes in the form of a paste can
be administered directly into the horse’s
mouth. This action can greatly help recovery
from fatigue and exhaustion.
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