The kidneys can excrete or reabsorb bicarbonate and acids as needed to
compensate metabolic changes. In addition respiration rate is influenced
by pH.
In the body CO2 is converted to carbonic acid and lowers the pH of the
body. When the body becomes acidic, respiration rate increases to
eliminate CO2 and bring pH back up towards normal. Conversely, when pH
of the body is alkaline, respiration rate will slow down to conserve CO2
and reduce the pH. These respiratory changes are backed up by renal
changes. This is where the terms respiratory acidosis, respiratory
alkalosis, and metabolic acidosis and alkalosis come from.
Our endurance horses, due to many factors including their rapid
respiration rates are alkalotic. If respiration rate increases further,
such as in an inversion the alkalosis worsens and the foundation is laid
for development of thumps (synchronous diaphragmatic flutter) and
rhabdomyolysis (tying up). It is VERY important to keep tuned in to the
horses's respiration rate, it is the only indication of what is happening
metabolically in these animals before disaster strikes. The vets have no
other means of monitoring blood pH.
L. M. Crespo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Pharmacology
Nova-Southeastern University
lynn@alpha.acast.nova.edu
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 1995 16:09:36 -0500
From:RUN4BEAR@aol.com
To: tomydore@goblin.punk.net, llayman@imail.neorx.com
Cc: endurance@moscow.com
Subject: Re: Re[2]: [endurance] heart rates & quilty
I thought we were getting smarter???
Respiration is not very important, and certainly inversions are not uncommon.
A higher respiration almost always indicates the horse is attempting to cool
his body. Take a rectal temp if unsure, is it's below 103, you are usually
okay. This almost always happens in hot weather. In cold weather, I would
wonder if this horse has a respiratory infection.....
Teddy