Enteral Fluid Therapy: Biochemical Profile of Horses Treated with Hypotonic Enteral Electrolyte Solutions Associated with Energy Sources

The present study evaluated the biochemical profile of horses that received hypotonic electrolyte solutions associated with energy sources by enteral route in continuous flow using a small caliber tube for naso-esophageal administration. Experimental design was a latin square 3 × 3 with two replicates and three periods. The assays were carried out with “six adult females horses”, divided into three groups submitted to the following treatments each: electrolyte solution containing dextrose (ESDext)—“5 g sodium chloride, 0.5 g potassium chloride”, 1 g of calcium gluconate, 200 mg of magnesium pidolate, and 15 g of dextrose diluted in 1,000 mL of water with measured osmolarity of 264 mOsmol/L; electrolyte solution containing maltodextrine (ESMalt)—5 g of sodium chloride, 0.5 g of potassium chloride, 1 g of calcium gluconate, 200 mg of magnesium pidolate, and 15 g of maltodextrin diluted in 1,000 mL of water with measured osmolarity of 203 mOsmol/L; and electrolyte solution containing sucrose (ESSucr)—“5 g sodium chloride, 0.5 g potassium chloride”, 1 g of calcium gluconate, 200 mg of magnesium pidolate, and 15 g of sugar diluted in 1,000 mL of water with measured osmolarity of 234 mOsmol/L. The electrolyte solutions were administered at the dosage 15 mL/kg/h during 12 hours. Hypotonic enteral electrolyte solutions that contain maltodextrin (ESMalt) and dextrose (ESDext) were effective to increase glycemia in horses without causing any adverse effects, whereas ESSucr presented slight effect on blood glucose, but without causing electrolyte imbalances.