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Re: [RC] ideas - Stagg_Newman
Susan,
Believe this idea has real merit. We should figure out how to pursue to
see if doable.
Also I believe getting scales at more and more rides (particularly the
high profile rides that bring out "the racing" among lots of horses)
would be a great idea as body weight loss is certainly correlated with
hydration.
SERA has a set of scales that appears at many rides. Truman is collecting
some great data that should be useful on that.
Stagg
"Susan
Garlinghouse" To:
<tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <Stagg_Newman@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Barney"
<suendavid@worldn <endurancevet@xxxxxxxxxx>
et.att.net> cc: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
<AERCMembersForum@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
09/29/2003 08:17 Subject: Re: [RC] ideas
PM
As I see it, we have a problem--horses being overridden, some to their deaths. We have two options--do something, or do nothing. If we opt to do 'something'--then what? If we can't find a "perfect" answer, that satisfies everybody and causes no work for anybody, should we then do 'nothing'? Okay, here's a thought, and it's just a thought at this moment, but maybe somebody on the list has connections/experience in biochemical assays that can further the concept. Truman and I and others have been talking and it appears that the majority of metabolic problems in the horse originate or are complicated by with dehydration issues. Thus, identifying horses at risk may largely boil down to better methods for assessing hydration status. Part of the problem is that the current methods for assessing hydration in the field are highly subjective---skin pinch, mucous membranes and so on are all educated guesses that may or may not accurately reflect true hydration status. By far, the best blood chem parameter to measure hydration is albumin---but, at the moment, that requires a venous plasma sample and laboratory analysis, can't be done on site at an endurance ride. However, there are more and more "snap" tests being developed and marketed for all kinds of stuff---most of them for immunology type things, but lots of other parameters as well. Think of those home pregnancy test kits, where you pee on a stick and it tells you yes or no. Although I am not a chemical engineer, it seems worth looking into to see if a field snap test could be easily and economically developed to measure whether a drop of whole equine blood (possibly collected via a human diabetic lancet) measured albumin above a critical threshold defining clinical dehydration (which then could be used to identify horses in need of being pulled, treated or not starting in the first place). Anybody around with experience in developing these sorts of things? I know a clinical pathologist at Heska that I might go buy lunch for and put a bug in his ear, but maybe someone else knows another route to take. Susan Garlinghouse, DVM +---------------------------------------------------------+ This message may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the addressee or authorized to receive this for the addressee, you must not use, copy, disclose or take any action based on this message or any information herein. If you have received this message in error, please advise the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message. Thank you for your cooperation. +---------------------------------------------------------+ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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