NYTHA Lasix Primer & Letter to NYS RWB

[Riot]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

The same person that finally proved that Lasix was effective under racing conditions also did a study that concluded that Lasix was a performance enhancer. Furthermore, lasix has other effects aside from reducing the severity of bleeding, namely causing a ~3% decrease in body weight (ie upwards to 30lbs) and changing the acid-base balance of the blood (ie the same principle behind "milkshaking" albeit at a less dramatic level). Those potential factors are still on the table, so saying that horses receiving lasix run better simply because they don't bleed is not necessarily accurate.

Well, Rollo learns how to google. Good for you! Please, quote the exact study you are referring to that "lasix is a performance enhancer". I rather know what is being referred to, and I'd like to correct your misunderstanding.

Regarding the weight loss. No, it usually is not upwards of 30 pounds, and please, don't hesitate to quote the specific two studies that examined this very question: does weight loss contribute to increased performance with lasix? Because I guarantee you probably won't like the results.

No, lasix does NOT change the acid-base balance of the blood. Anybody who knows how this loop diuretic works knows that. If that were true, every horse given lasix would have a TCO2 positive.

Stick to being opinionated about racing, Rollo, but as an expert on lasix you're passing on half-baked information that has already, repeatedly, been "debunked".

I'm not talking about you specifically here, Rollo, but I'm tired of the outright medical lies being promulgated over the years by proponents of banning lasix. These lies and their position regarding what lasix does to the horse are at 100% odds with the veterinary and scientific community regarding what lasix does, and it sure as hell is not because they are better educated in veterinary medicine and science. They are ignorant old men, too foolish and set in their ways to leave their "knowledge" from the 1970's behind them. They are a danger to the health and welfare of the race horse.