Clinical, biochemical, and hygiene assessment of stabled horses provided continuous or intermittent access to drinking water
Freeman, D.A.; Cymbaluk, N.F.; Schott, H.C.; Hinchcliff, K.; McDonnell, S.M.; Kyle, B.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 60(11): 1445-1450
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 10566825 Document Number: 506820
22 Quarter Horse (QH) or QH-crossbred mares and 18 Belgian or Belgian-crossbred mares in study 1 and 24 QH or QH-crossbred mares and 18 Belgian or Belgian-crossbred mares in study 2 were provided drinking water continuously or via 1 of 3 intermittent delivery systems. Body temperature, attitude, appetite, water intake and urine output were recorded daily. Hygiene of each horse and the stable were assessed weekly. Clinical and biochemical measures of hydration were determined 3 times during each study. Clinical measures of hydration included skin turgor, gum moisture, capillary refill time and faecal consistency. Biochemical measures of hydration included packed cell volume, plasma total protein concentration, serum osmolality, plasma vasopressin concentration, urine specific gravity and urine osmolality. All horses remained healthy. Stable hygiene was worse when horses had continuous access to water. Clinical and biochemical measures of hydration did not differ among water delivery systems. Various continuous and intermittent water delivery systems provided adequate amounts of water to stabled horses to maintain health and hydration status. It is concluded that intermittent access to water may be preferable on the basis of stable hygiene.