Author: Padraic Guilfoyle

TRM® Nutrition | Equine Health

@TRMNutrition

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Jun 1

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞? Read our advice bl

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Electrolytes & horse – A necessity not a luxury!

Electrolytes are charged particles, which when dissolved in water or body fluids produce positive (cations) and negative (anions) ions. These ions have a crucial role in maintaining normal health and functioning of the body in a horse.

They ensure smooth working of enzymatic pathways, nervous, cardiac, musculo-skeletal and even digestive system, apart from also helping maintain osmotic pressure and fluid balance. As a result, a balanced homeostasis (body’s ability to maintain a stable internal environment) is achieved.

The 5 major ions required by a growing and an adult horse include sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), chloride (Cl^–), calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺).

Functions of the major ions: 

• Sodium (Na⁺) 
  Most abundant extracellular ion, maintains blood pressure and nerve impulse, replenishes negative sodium levels due to sweating while exercising, working and in conditions like diarrhoea.  
• Potassium (K⁺) 
  Present as intracellular ion, maintains nerve impulses, cardiac health and in conjunction with Na⁺ ensures osmotic and acid-base balance.
• Chloride (Cl^–)
  Most significant extracellular anion, helps maintain isotonicity and co-exists with sodium to maintain fluid balance. 
• Calcium (Ca²⁺)
  Present as extracellular ion, regulates membrane potential (neuromuscular) which is crucial for muscle contraction and relaxation including the cardiac muscles. 
• Magnesium (Mg²⁺)
  Second most abundant intracellular cation, works as co-factor of various enzymatic activities in numerous metabolic pathways, phosphate transfers, muscle contractility and neuronal transmission.