General Concepts Regarding Fluid Needs in Dehydrated Horses
General Concepts Regarding Fluid Needs in Dehydrated Horses
Determining Factor
Formula Used
Amount for a 500-kg Horse
Fluid deficit
% dehydration × body weight (kg)
4%–10% × 500 = 20–50 L
Maintenance
50 mL/kg/24 hr
50 × 500 = 25 L/24 hr
Fluid losses
Estimate reflux or diarrhea volume
Rate of administration
50% in 1–2 hr; 50% throughout rest of day
20–35 L in first 1–2 hr; remainder distributed throughout next 23 hr
Adapted, with permission, from Zimmel DN, Management of pain and dehydration in horses with colic. In Current Therapy in Equine Medicine, 5, 2003, Robinson, NE, (ed), Elsevier.
