Nice to hear from you! I've been thinking about your questions and have
a few suggestions. First, I would defer to a veterinarian's thorough
examination of Shatirr. Not being there and not knowing the details of
your race and your horse, much of what I say is speculation, but worth
discussing with Kerry Ridgway when he visits with you and your own
veterinarian.
As far I understand the problems you encountered, Shatirr developed colic
and cramping at Castle Rock. There are a few questions I have that would
help me
1. At how many miles did this occur?
2. Was he drinking? You mention that hydration paramaters
appeared normal, so I assume the answer to this is "Yes".
3. You administered Equilytes - How much did you give, and
how often?
4. The blood tests you mentioned - When were they taken?
5. How far did you have to trailer to reach the ride and how
far in advance of the ride did you arrive?
Without knowing all this, and I will add, without being a veterinarian
here is my 2 cents worth (and I won't cheat you on words!)
First, trailering alone can lead to dehydration and electrolyte depletion
that can take 24 to 48 hours to compensate for. Even frequent stops
along the way does not allow the horse free access to the water he
needs. After arriving, if the trip was long, water alone may not be
sufficient. I administer electrolytes for the 24 hour prior to the ride
so Cody doesn't start the ride in a depleted state.
Second, Shatirr had another obstacle to overcome with the heat and
humidity. Living in Florida, I can tell you how hard it is to do
anything in those conditions, and I'm used to it! Our horses are the
slowest, most layed back bunch this time of year - asking for much trot
work is like asking giant slugs to run!
As far as the electrolytes are concerned. Even though Shatirr was not
dehydrated, hopefully because he was drinking, he could still have been
in potassium deficiency. 2-4 ozs. of Equilytes at each vet check could
not make up the losses he would incur under such racing conditions. (At
this point I am assuming that is the dose you were using.) It is
possible that his cramping was more related to potassium, and possibly
complicated by alkalosis from hyperventilating during exertion, than due
to calcium.
As far as calcium is concerned, you wanted to know if Equilytes or
Endurolytes contained Vitamin D - to my knowledge they do not. I use
Equilytes and I know they do not contain it, I don't know about
endurolytes, but I doubt it.
The colic Shatirr developed could be due to many factors. First, if you
were administering concentrated electrolytes with calcium that could be
part of the reason. Electrolytes with calcium are essential - but
concentrated salt solutions on an empty stomach after racing an number of
miles in high heat and humidity would make anybody sick. I mix ours with
applesauce and may end up with a total quantity of applesauce (with the
electrolytes in it) of 250 -300 cc. That's about 4-6 syringes of
concoction. I always let Cody eat and graze a little, then give some
electrolytes, graze a little more, more electrolytes, etc.... This way
he is also putting some fiber into his system. This sometimes means he
doesn't leave the check exactly on time. But the extra time we give him
there he more than makes up for in his attitude and superb recovery rates!
As I mentioned before, calcium alone, or unabsorbed in the gut will
inhibit gut motility - it's possible this happened with Shatirr. I have
also heard from both some vets and riders that electrolytes can cause
more problems than they are worth. IMPROPER ADMINISTRATION is more the
problem, without electrolytes a horse's ability to compete, and to
continue competing in the future are severely limited.
Additionally, you did mention that Shatirr's blood tests were all normal.
Did this include an analysis of kidney function? Remember, the kidneys play
a key role in electrolyte balance, pH balance and hydration. If they are
not functioning normally you can count on problems to occur under
stress. Something else to discuss with your vet!
Finally, about alfalfa. Horses fed a steady diet of alfalfa are the ones
at greatest risk of suppressing their production of parathyroid hormone
so that they have reduced absorption of calcium, and reduced ability to
use their own stores of calcium from their bones. We also have poor
quality hay here in Florida, but our horses only receive Coastal hay and
free grazing about 12 hours a day. I don't feed alfalfa at any time.
Truthfully I would suggest you discuss the nutrition in your region with
your veterinarian. Alfalfa fed as a treat won't suppress parathyroid
function, but the horse will not have developed the bacteria in his gut
to digest it properly when he does receive it. That could be even more
of a problem!
Hope this gives you some ideas to consider and talk over with your vet.
If there any veterinarians out there who would like to add their side to
the story I would love to hear from you!
Lynn
"In riding a horse, we borrow freedom."
Helen Thomson, 1943
L. M. Crespo
lynn@alpha.acast.nova.edu
---------- Forwarded message ----------
--- Forwarded mail from "Linda Cowles @ PCB x5624" <lindac>
To: "LYNN M. Crespo" <alpha!lynn@uunet.uu.net>
Cc: lindac
Hey Lynne!!!
I AM impressed!! I have a couple of questions about Shatirr.
At CastleRock, Shatirr's criteria all through the ride were A's for
everything but impulsion, which were consistantly B.
My vet buddies are of the opinion that this is strictly a heat/humidity
problem, because our climate has been 50 to 70's and foggy, with few
exceptions. The only hot/humid day I got to train was a precursor of
CastleRock; his pulse skyrocked when I'd try srotting up a steady grade
and he generally looked worn out at a point where he was normally a rocket.
Thus, when CR ended up being hpot and humid, I got off and walked.
His bloodtests all looked normal; his CPK et al were all in the normal
ranges, his electrolytes were all good, his hydration was good as indicated
by skin tenting and blood testing. His pulse, even while colicing, staid
down under 65 and he had a low respiration.... I forget what it was, but
it was way down there.
The only real problem appeared to be the absence of gut activity and the
cramping... I still need to talk to Dr Robert Steere, who took care of him
at the ride, to get a postmortum (hate that word now!) from him.
I occasionally feed him straight alphalfa, due to the lousy quality of
available oat and grass hays, but he has been on oat for 2 months with
alphalfa occasionally as a treat.
As I was using equilytes, would I need to suppliment with Vit D, or do they
already contain it? I was thinking of switching to Endurolytes. Kerry Ridgway
is a very good friend, and next time he's at our place (middle of August)
I'm going to ask him to look at the two and and give me his opinion....
I've heard some vets say that they suspect that electrolytes _casue_ more
problems than they solve...
All of this makes me envious of your training and background! Please continue
to not be shy, this is so valuable!
Later!
Linda Cowles
Gilroy California