Effect of sucralfate on total carbon dioxide concentration in horses subjected to a simulated race test. Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997) [Vet J] Journal article

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that sucralfate, a gastric ulcer medication, would alter plasma concentrations of total carbon dioxide (tCO(2)), lactate (LA), sodium (Na(+)), potassium (K(+)), chloride (Cl(-)) and total protein (TP), as well as calculated plasma strong ion difference (SID) and packed cell volume (PCV) in horses subjected to a simulated race test (SRT). Six unfit Standardbred mares ( approximately 520kg, 9-18 years) were used in a randomized crossover design with the investigators blinded to the treatment given. The horses were assigned to either a control (40-50mL apple sauce administered orally (PO)) or a sucralfate (20mg/kg bodyweight dissolved in 40-50mL apple sauce administered PO) group. Each horse completed a series of SRTs during which blood samples were taken via jugular venipuncture at five sampling intervals (prior to receiving treatment, prior to SRT, immediately following exercise, and at 60 and 90min post-SRT). During the SRTs, each horse ran on a treadmill fixed on a 6% grade for 2min at a warm-up speed (4m/s) and then for 2min at a velocity predetermined to produce VO(2max.) Each horse then walked at 4m/s for 2min to complete the SRT. Plasma tCO(2), electrolytes, LA, and blood PCV and TP were analysed at all intervals. No differences (P>0.05) were detected between control and sucralfate for any of the measured variables. There were differences (P<0.05) in tCO(2), SID, PCV, TP, LA and electrolyte concentrations relative to sampling time. However, these differences were attributable to the physiological pressures associated with acute exercise and were not an effect of the medication. It was concluded that sucralfate did not alter plasma tCO(2) concentration in this study.

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997) [Vet J]