The Effect of Furosemide-Induced Hypohydration on the Athletic Performance of Standardbred Horses
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Authors
Engers, Emery
Issue Date
2002
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Furosemide is a potent diuretic commonly administered to racehorses in an
attempt to prevent exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). However, recent
studies suggest that furosemide administration may have performance-enhancing effects
aside from its effects on EIPH. This study examined the effect of furosemide-induced
hypohydration on the athletic performance of four Standardbred horses. Each horse
received one of three treatments: 1) no furosemide (control); 2) IV injection of 1 mg/kg
furosemide 4h pre-exercise (mild hypohydration); 3) IV injection of 1 mg/kg furosemide
4h pre-exercise followed by a second IV injection of I mg/kg furosemide 2h pre-exercise
(moderate hypohydration). Exercise was performed on a treadmill at a constant speed of
13 m/s until the onset of fatigue. Furosemide-induced mild and moderate hypohydration
produced significantly different body weight reductions of 2.78% ± 0.12 and 3.39% ±
0.40, respectively. We observed an 8.4% and 7.8% decrease in run time with mild and
moderate hypohydration, respectively, however these differences were not statistically
significant. Analysis of physiological factors in response to exercise and during recovery
did not suggest that furosemide administration contributed to the onset of fatigue. We
concluded that the levels of hypohydration investigated in this study had no deleterious
effects on athletic performance. Furthermore, our findings, combined with previous
research, allow for the possibility that furosemide administration prior to racing many
enhance performance through its body weight reducing effects.
Description
vi, 35 p.
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