When the sun is at its peak and the humidity soars along with it, you know it is the time for you to drink up your electrolytes especially when you are out in the sun and sweating in the heat.
If this is your case, what about the horses?
Have you ever wondered if your horse requires electrolytes too?
Similar to humans, horses also require electrolytes in the scorching heat. If you are confused about which electrolyte paste for horses to pick, we are here to help.
What are Equine Electrolytes?
Electrolytes are minerals that produce ions with either positive or negative charges when dissolved in our body fluids. This is very similar to a steady electrical current keeping the lights burning strong.
A good balance of electrolytes in the body keeps it going. It helps in chemical reactions, maintaining cell fluid, digestion, nerves, muscle, and heart. Speaking of fluid, usually, that's what people think of when they refer to electrolytes. This is because water and electrolytes create an excellent hydration team.
In general, electrolytes for horses ensure that the water your horse drinks gets to the cell that needs it and keeps its performance and energy level high.
What Electrolytes Does a Horse Need?
At some point, you might have spent too many hours in the sun and forgot to drink enough water, and afterwards gulped down a sports drink to charge yourself. The main electrolytes that charge you from such drinks are also the same for horses except for the supplements.
Usually, an electrolyte paste for horses will include:
- Sodium.
- Chloride.
- Potassium.
- Magnesium.
- Calcium.
Although all of the above ions are essential, however, the salt created with the combination of sodium and chloride is required by horses in the highest quantity, followed by potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
How to Detect Electrolyte Imbalance in Horses?
Just like humans, horses sweat too and they expel huge amounts of water and electrolytes. In general, a worked-up horse expels around 4 gallons of sweat per hour which equates to around 30 teaspoons of lost body salts.
Also, a horse does not need to work hard to expel these many electrolytes. Any horse that is sweating for a long time can deplete these vital minerals to an alarming level.
The common symptoms of electrolyte imbalance to watch out for in horses include:
- Poor performance.
- Fatigue.
- Reduced sweating.
- Decreased drinking.
- Decreased eating.
- Muscle tremors.
Since electrolytes cannot be stored in our bodies, they must be replenished urgently to help horses rehydrate and recover.
When to Give Electrolytes to Horses?
Electrolyte pastes for horses are ideal when they are sweating profusely. You can also give them these pastes under the following circumstances:
- On the Road:
Horses are less likely to drink a solution on the road. In such cases, you can feed an electrolyte paste before and during travel to stimulate their thirst response and keep them hydrated.
- Pre-performance:
Horses require electrolytes to keep them functioning at the required levels. Giving them this paste before a performance will increase their energy, ensure fitter muscles, and a better chance of success.
- Post-performance:
Competing requires a lot of energy from horses, an electrolyte paste after a performance can help ease stress and speed up recovery for tired muscles.
- Excessive Sweating:
Since electrolytes cannot be stored in the body, these need to be replenished. If you see your horses sweating a lot, give them electrolyte paste to replenish the copious amount expelled.
- Weather Changes:
Seasonal and extreme weather can also affect horses and make them dehydrated. An electrolyte paste can help their water consumption to be consistent during abrupt weather changes.
To Sum It Up
Electrolyte paste is an effective way to replenish the lost minerals from horses and help them stay hydrated. If your horse seems lethargic and is losing a lot of sweat, chances are that it needs electrolytes and water.
To provide your horse with the best electrolyte paste in the market, you can order from us at Med Vet Pharmaceuticals.
