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Re: [RC] ideas - Susan GarlinghouseSo, are there some substances, which could be tested >for, which develop, or intensify in the saliva in a horse >who is dehydrated? Not that I can think of, unless you include the parameter "if the test strip comes back out of the mouth bone dry, the horse may be dehydrated". <g> OK, if not the saliva, what about in the sweat? Not to measure hydration that I know of. However, you might be able to estimate elyte concentrations---I remember some studies in Germany that were using sweat as an external measurement for lactates and electrolytes. You have to be careful about how recently the horse has been rinsed, though. OK, later in the ride, many horses come in dry, but there is sweat under the saddle. Maybe something like moisture in the breath? Nope, expired breath is always 100% saturated. You can do some nifty measurements of aerobic threshold and energetics using inspired/expired oxygen and CO2, but it's not very field friendly. Not as good, but perhaps in the lower intestine, a swab could check for moisture, or what is in that moisture at that minute? Hmmm. Rectal palpations would get pretty old for everyone pretty quickly. :-)) However, I LOVE that you're putting such good thought into this---thanks!!! Susan Garlinghouse, DVM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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