Re: electrolyte supplementation

[CMKSAGEHIL <CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com>]

In a message dated 98-04-29 09:28:36 EDT, mlinding@uoguelph.ca writes:

<< One also need to know the decrease in body weight of
 the horse.  >>

You are, of course, right about this.  I forgot to add that on rides where
researchers were present and horses were weighed, my horses have consistently
been among those losing the least percentage of their body weight.  Have had
this done on at least three or four occasions, and feel very comfortable that
we are doing well with our policy of not forcing electrolytes into horses that
do not exhibit a need and who eat well and drink well.

I am not saying that there are not times that one should supplement--horses
are very different as individuals, and some DO require supplementation,
sometimes LOTS of supplementation.  However, one MUST know one's horse, and
not do it just because "everybody" does it.  I also must say that in almost
every case of metabolic breakdown that I have had to treat at rides, with the
exception of the Strongid C horses, almost all have either tried to pre-load
electrolytes or supplement electrolytes as part of the feed program, rather
than having them present for horses to ingest at will to replace depletions.

Heidi Smith, DVM