Stress-Pak™ & Powerlyte

Features & Benefits

• Proper replacement of mineral salts lost in sweat
• Easy to Use–Convenient and quick
• Powerlytes Paste–Glucose enhanced for rapid absorption, highly bio-available, and formulated for critical electrolyte loss
• Value Priced–Low cost solution to dehydration

Electrolytes are literally the spark of life at the cellular level. In the body, electrolyte ions are passing in and out through each cell performing very important tasks. Some of the more important functions are:

• Moving electrical charges across cells

• Nerve response

• Electrical change in cells

• Balancing both ph and fluid levels

Stress-Pak™ and Powerlytes contain the same mineral salts lost in your horse’s sweat1,2. The horse’s body is constantly trying to balance the electrolytes in and outside of the cells. The specific electrolytes are:

• Sodium

• Potassium

• Phosphorus

• Chloride

• Magnesium

• Calcium

• Bicarbonates

Not surprisingly these components are minerals found in sea water. Your horse is truly salt water powered! Maintaining this delicate balance of electrolytes will directly affect the health and performance of your horse₁.

The horse’s requirement for supplemental electrolytes becomes necessary when they cannot replace electrolyte loss. For the same reason we drink ‘Gatorade’ or other sport electrolyte drinks, a horse also needs extra electrolytes not provided in their feed. Some special applications are endurance horses, 3-day eventing and horses receiving Lasix (Furosemide).

Endurance horses compete in very strenuous prolonged exercise often resulting in extreme sweat loss. Endurance horses show profound and persistent deficiencies in calcium, bicarbonate, chloride, potassium, and sometimes magnesium after completion of the ride. Horses competing in 3-day eventing have similar levels of sweat loss. Proper electrolyte supplementation is not only important for the horse’s performance during the ride but the recovery period that could be as long as three days.

Horse’s treated with Lasix (Furosemide) are a special concern. Lasix is a diuretic which can increase dehydration if electrolytes are not provided. Most concerning is Lasix causes massive and immediate loss of potassium, a key electrolyte for muscle function. Other electrolytes, e.g. calcium and magnesium, are also lost to a lesser degree, but still critically low. Some horse’s develop ‘Thumps’ (Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter) when on the drug as well as being dehydrated. Consult with your veterinarian for his recommendation for electrolyte supplementation if your horse is using Lasix.

If your horse is worked hard, competing in endurance, or 3-day eventing or any of the factors listed above, you should be supplementing electrolytes to your horse. A simple pinch test can determine the hydration status of your horse:

Pick up a fold of skin on your horse’s neck with you fingers and pinch it. If it does not spring back to its previous state in 3 second your horse is mildly to moderately dehydrated, if it does not snap back in 6 or more seconds, your horse is severely dehydrated!

Electrolytes are best supplemented 30-60 minutes before any stress factor, during and after the event. Some endurance/3-day eventing horses may continue for 3 days or more in recovery. Fresh water must always be supplied with the electrolytes. Stress-Pak™ electrolytes are provided in powder and Powerlytes Paste. The best application for Stress-Pak™ Powder is to add it to your horse’s feed. It is not recommended to be mixed in the horse’s water for it is hard to control dosage and may lower water consumption. Stress-Pak™ Powerlytes Paste is a convenient oral syringe formulated with glucose for rapid absorption for critical electrolyte loss.

Sources

1.) Carlsen, G.P. and P.O.Ocen 1978. J. Eq. Med Surg. 3: 27-32
2.) Kerr, M.g. and D.H. Snow. 1983 Am. J. Vet. Res. 44 (8): 1571-1577