Electrolyte concentration in sweat, urine, blood and feces of horses undergone to different temperatures

Abstract

This study aimed to quantify sweat, urine and fecal losses of sodium, potassium and chloride and its variations in blood concentration of equine ones in rest subjected to the climatic predominant conditions in Brazil. Eight 13-mo-old Arabian-crossbred filies were used, four accommodated ones in cages for metabolic individual studies in open shed, covered with roof and exposed to a maximum temperature of 28.33 ± 0.81°C, and four in climatic chamber with environment heated to the maximum temperature of 35.33 ± 0.81°C. Electrolyte concentration in sweat, urine, blood and feces were measured. After 25 days of adaptation to cages, six days for sampling were performed. Individual and daily feed and water intake, sweating rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, urine and fecal excretion were recorded. Significantly higher urinary and sweat electrolyte loss in those animals exposed to hotter conditions indicate the need of an increase in mineral supplementation in equine nutrition in Brazil.