PHYSIOLOGIC ALTERATIONS IN THE HORSE PRODUCED BY FOOD AND WATER-DEPRIVATION DURING PERIODS OF HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURES

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (7) , 982-985
Abstract
Normal horses [8] were held without access to food or water for 72 h during a period of high environmental temperatures. During this period, the horses had an average wt loss of 51.6 kg (10.7% of body wt). Highly significant (P < 0.001) decreases in extracellular fluid volume (18.6 l) and plasma volume (5 l) were observed during this period as compared with base-line values. Plasma protein, Na, Cl and osmolality progressively increased in response to the dehydration; packed cell volume, plasma K, Ca, Mg and phosphate were not significantly altered. The dehydration and clinicopathologic alterations produced were similar to those observed in other species in which the principal problem was a water deficit. After the end of the experimental dehydration period, the horses replaced 62% of the weight loss during a 1-h period with access to water only.