Treatment of experimental hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis in horses with enteral electrolyte solution containing sodium acetate.
Authors: Monteiro Lorena Chaves, Costa Caio Monteiro, Ermita Pedro Ancelmo Nunes, Júnior Silvio José Printes Gomes, Mattos Felipe Sperandio, Mansur Fernanda Campos, Dos Santos Mayara Oliveira, Alves Samuel Rodrigues, Mafort Erica Garcia, Fidélis Cíntia Fernandes, Avanza Marcel Ferreira Bastos, Teixeira Raffaella Bertoni Cavalvanti, Viana Rinaldo Batista, Filho José Dantas Ribeiro
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
Hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis occurs frequently in horses but evidence-based treatments using enteral electrolyte solutions remain limited; this Brazilian research team therefore designed an experimental study to test whether acetate-based oral electrolytes could correct this condition when delivered via nasogastric tube in continuous infusion. Two formulations with differing acetate concentrations were administered to adult horses with induced hyperchloremic acidosis, with researchers monitoring blood gas values, electrolyte concentrations, and acid-base parameters over the treatment period. The acetate-containing solutions successfully alkalinised the blood and corrected both the chloride excess and metabolic acidosis, with specific improvements in pH, bicarbonate concentration, and strong ion difference, though the findings suggest dosing protocols and acetate concentrations warrant further optimisation. For practitioners managing horses with secondary acidosis—particularly those recovering from severe diarrhoea, intensive sweating, or certain medications—these findings support the use of acetate-based electrolyte solutions as a practical enteral alternative to intravenous therapy. The continuous nasogastric delivery method proves particularly valuable for field cases where IV access is limited or prolonged treatment is necessary, though further work is needed to establish optimal formulations for routine clinical application.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Sodium acetate-based electrolyte solutions administered via nasogastric tube offer a practical enteral treatment option for horses with hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis without requiring IV access
- •Continuous nasogastric flow delivery may be preferable to bolus dosing for maintaining acid-base balance correction in affected horses
- •This approach addresses a common electrolyte and acid-base problem in adult horses using minimally invasive enteral nutrition/medication methods
Key Findings
- •Enteral electrolyte solutions containing sodium acetate effectively corrected hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis in adult horses via nasogastric administration
- •Two different concentrations of acetate were evaluated for alkalinizing effects in experimental acidosis
- •Continuous flow nasogastric delivery of acetate-containing solutions provided a treatment approach for metabolic acid-base disorders in horses