Sweat osmolarity shows intra-animal regional variation in the horse.

Potts, Samantha; Thatcher, Rhys; Jones, Arwel W.; Warren, Lori K.; Tenbroeck, Saundra H.; Nottage, Florence; McEwan, Neil R.

Abstract

Sweating is important in regulating body temperature, but can cause the loss of both fluids and electrolytes. In terms of studies on horses, the sweating process has been studied, but the variation in sweat osmolarity across the body has not. This work describes an investigation to determine whether there is regional variation in the osmolarity of sweat across different anatomical regions of the horse. Ten horses were used in the study, being animals that were either stabled for riding lessons or which had livery on-site. Sweat samples were collected from five regions on each horse following exercise and the osmolarity measurements were made using an Osmomat 030 produced by Gonotec (Berlin, Germany). Values were analysed by paired t-tests and analysis of variance. Samples from the back and ears had statistically (P < 0.05) lower osmolarity values than those seen for the neck and forelimb, with thigh values intermediate between the other two sets of values. Previous studies have used osmolarity values based on the sweat collected from the horse's back. The current work demonstrates that these values are probably an underestimation of electrolyte loss, which may have implications for the composition and administration of rehydration compounds.

Citation

POTTS, S., THATCHER, R., JONES, A.W., WARREN, L.K., TENBROECK, S.H., NOTTAGE, F. and MCEWAN, N.R. 2015. Sweat osmolarity shows intra-animal regional variation in the horse. Veterinary dermatology [online], 26(5), pages 374-e85. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.12225

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 19, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Jun 30, 2015
• Publication Date: Oct 31, 2015
• Deposit Date: Aug 21, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 21, 2018
• Journal: Veterinary dermatology
• Print ISSN: 0959-4493
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-3164
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 374-e85
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.12225
• Keywords: Horses; Sweat; Body temperature; Rehydration compounds
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/3090