This study compared the effects of enteral electrolyte solutions with different osmolarities in Holstein cattle. Eighteen newborn calves were evenly divided into three groups and administered the following treatments: hypotonic electrolyte solution (ESHYPO) containing 4g NaCl, 0.5g KCl, 1g sodium acetate, and 7.5g dextrose diluted in 1,000mL water; isotonic electrolyte solution (ESISO) containing 5g NaCl, 1g KCl, 2g sodium acetate, and 10g dextrose diluted in 1,000mL water; and hypertonic electrolyte solution (ESHYPER) containing 6g NaCl, 1g KCl, 3g sodium acetate, and 15g dextrose diluted in 1,000mL water. Solutions were administered at a rate of 15mL kg-1hr-1 for 12 hours in a continuous flow. All three solutions increased the concentration of plasma sodium, but ESHYPO did not alter the serum osmolarity. Both ESISO and ESHYPO resulted in an increase in volemia.

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To investigate the employment of enteral fluid therapy in continuous flow administered by a nasogastric tube in buffalo calves; toassesstheeffectsof a hypotonic and an isotonic electrolyte solutionon: vital functions, blood count and serum andurinary biochemistry profile of buffalo calves. Seven buffalo calves, clinically healthy, were submitted to two treatments. The solutions were administered in continuous flow through a nasogastric tube at a dose of 15 mL/kg/hr for 12 hours. The serum biochemistry profile showed an increase in chloride concentration, decrease in serumurea and osmolarity. In urine, anincrease in sodium and chloride concentrations and a decrease in calcium, creatinine and urea were observed. Enteral fluid therapy in continuous flow proved to beeasy to use and effective in maintaining volemia and concentration of electrolytes in buffalo calves.

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Clinical and metabolic evaluation is necessary for the monitoring of pregnant and lactating mares, as they reflect the health of the animal. The body condition of the mare is an indicator of reproductive efficiency. The study aimed to determine the possible variations in body and metabolic condition in Mangalarga Marchador mares during the transition period. Forty-eight mares distributed in two groups were used: Maintenance Group (MG), composed of non-pregnant and non-lactating mares, and Transition Group (TG), formed by pregnant mares and who after delivery became lactating. Analyzes were performed in the times T-60, T-30 and T-15 before delivery, first six hours (T0) after delivery and T15, T30 and T60 days after delivery. MG was evaluated only at one time (T-60). Body weight and fat-free mass differed (P<0.05) between the groups. The percentage of fat was lower in MG. Mares had a higher fat percentage in TG at T-60 and T-30 times. There was a difference (P<0.05) in the amount of cholesterol between MG and TG (T0, T15 and T30). Triglycerides were different between the groups. TG showed higher concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (P<0.05). There was a higher amount of glucose in TG (delivery and lactation) when compared to mares in MG. Changes in body condition and metabolic constituents occurred in the animals resulting from physiological adaptations of the transition period. The energetic components are the most affected from the transition period, with intense fat mobilization to supply the body demands.

Adaptive changes in metabolism may occur under specific physiological conditions, being necessary the knowledge of the biochemical constituents that can undergo variations during the sixty days before foaling, until the first sixty days of lactation. The present study aimed to identify and evaluate the biochemical profile of Mangalarga Marchador mares during the last third of pregnancy, foaling and lactation. For this, 48 mares were used, which formed a maintenance group (MG), composed of non-pregnant mares and an experimental group, called the transition group (TG), formed by pregnant mares. Blood samples were collected at the following times: MG was evaluated in a single time (beginning of all collections); TG was evaluated in seven times [T-60, T-30, T-15 (days before foaling), T0 (first six hours after foaling), T15, T30, T60 (days after foaling)]. All animals were submitted to biochemical analysis, in which the concentrations of total calcium, chloride, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, uric acid, creatinine, and urea were measured. The two groups differed significantly (P<0.05) in calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, creatinine, uric acid and urea concentration. Variation between times was also observed for these compounds. However, chloride and phosphorus did not differ between MG and TG. It was concluded that the last third of pregnancy, foaling and lactation exerts major influence on the biochemical constituents of blood through adjustments to maintain homeostasis in mares.

Studies on biochemical constituents and hydration of horses in training or competitions are essential for the knowledge of their adaptive physiological and metabolic responses to the type of exercise inherent to the sport. The present research evaluated the effects of exercise on hydric status and physiologic and biochemical profiles in Quarter Horses during a barrel race training session. The design consisted of three evaluation times (T): at rest, before the start of physical activity (T0); immediately after a 10-minute warm-up trot and then running the barrel race courses twice with a 10-minute interval (T1); and after one hour’s rest after the second course (T2). The parameters analyzed were: heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), body temperature (BT) and mucose color; the capillary refill time (CRT), packed cell volume (PCV), total plasma proteins (TPP), serum creatinine (CRE) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were evaluated and used to infer water status; plasma osmolarity (Osm) was measured; the electrolytes sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), total calcium (tCa), total magnesium (tMg) and phosphorus (P), plasma glucose (Glu) and lactate (Lac) and the muscle enzymes creattine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) completed the evaluated parameters. The data for the variables studied were submitted to ANOVA and the Tukey test at 5% probability. After exercise (in T1), HR, RR, BT, PCV, TPP, Glu, Lac, Cre increased (P<0.05), there was also increase in phosphorus and decrease in K (P<0.05), but there was no hypophosphatemia and hipokalemia, respectively. After rest (in T2), only glucose returned to baseline levels (T0) and, with lower mean values, HR, RR, BT, PCV, K and Lac did not return to baseline levels (T0), while P decreased (P<0.05). Osm, BUN, Na, Cl, tCa, tMg, CK and AST did not change between times (P>0.05). It was concluded that the maximum intensity exercise performed on two barrel race courses caused mild hemoconcentration, did not changed plasma osmolality or concentrations of important electrolytes and muscle enzymes of horses, but caused hyperlactatemia without the plasma lactate concentrations being fully recomposed after resting.

In horses, acid-base balance disorders are common after intense exercise, with metabolic acidosis being the most common after high intensity and short duration exercise. Understanding the processes that cause them is fundamental for procedures, which aimed to improve the physical fitness of horses for athletic purposes, with fewer changes in homeostasis. The present study assessed the effect of barrel racing on acid base balance in Quarter Horse, at the following times: T0 - immediately before training; T1 - immediately after the end of the second course; T2 - one hour after the end of the second course. In T1, there was decrease (P<0.05) in the pH, HCO3 -, pCO2, cBase, tCO2 and strong ion difference concentrations, while the plasma lactate and anion gap increased (P<0.05). It was concluded that barrel racing training caused transient metabolic acidosis in the horses, and hyperlactatemia was still present after an hour of rest.