Venous hemogasometry of equines before and after endurance races

Abstract

During the exercise, the organic systems may suffer water - electrolyte and acid-base imbalances, particularly in the case of blood gases, demonstrating variations from different causes, whether respiratory and/or metabolic. Understanding the physiological adaptations to exercise is essential in the search for the optimum performance. In this way, this study measured the venous blood gases ( pO2, pCO2 ), as well as the oxygen saturation ( SatO2 ) and HCO3 ( bicarbonate concentration ) in healthy equines, Arabian horses before and after endurance races. A total of forty nine Arabian horses were evaluated, between six and sixteen years old, finalists in endurance races. There was a significant reduction in pO2, pCO2, SatO2 and HCO3 after the exercise, however, the values remained within the normality range, and did not change the athletic performance of the animals, indicating a temporary alteration, assuming thus a character of physiological response to the exercise performed. The equines, finalists in endurance races, demonstrated efficient ventilatory process, without any alterations in the athletic performance, being adapted to the type of exercise imposed.